David Armine Howarth

David Armine Howarth (28 July 1912 – 2 July 1991) was a British naval officer, boatbuilder, historian and author.

Biography

Early life and career Howarth was born in Kensington. His father worked first for the Admiralty then as Secretary of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Howarth attended prep school in Horsham and public school in Tonbridge.

After graduating from the University of Cambridge in physics and maths, he first worked for John Logie Baird designing circuits for the developing technology of television. He then joined the BBC, working in sound recording, with Richard Dimbleby, pioneering outside broadcasts, including at the fire that destroyed Crystal Palace. The King also made Howarth a Chevalier First Class of the Order of St Olav. He finished the war as a Lieutenant Commander. . He also made some travel documentaries for the BBC.

Personal life Howarth was married first to Nanette, from Shetland, for over twenty years. They had six children. After the marriage ended, he married Joanna White in 1981. Dawn of D-Day: These Men Were There, 6 June 1944 (1959)An account of the landing in Normandy, with many observations from participants. Panama: Four Hundred Years of Dreams and Cruelty, or The Golden Isthmus (1966) Waterloo: A Near Run Thing, or Waterloo: Day of Battle (1968)Analysis of the Battle of Waterloo, from the reports of those who fought it. Great Escapes (1969) Trafalgar: The Nelson Touch (1969)Account of the Battle of Trafalgar, between the navies of France and Great Britain in 1805. Sovereign of the Seas: The Story of British Sea Power or British Sea Power: How Britain Became Sovereign of the Seas (1974)The story of British sea power. Waterloo: A Guide to the Battlefield, or Waterloo: A Guide (1974) The Greek Adventure (1976)Narrative describing the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s. 1066: The Year of the Conquest (1977)A historical narrative of the personalities and events of 1066 AD and how they changed Britain. The Dreadnoughts (1979), part of The Seafarers SeriesA look at the development and use of battleship technology in the First World War. The Men-of-War (1978), part of The Seafarers Series, in association with Time-Life editors, published by Time-Life BooksSailing war-ships from the 16th to 18th centuries. Famous Sea Battles (1981) The Voyage of the Armada, or The Voyage of the Armada: The Spanish Story (1981)An account of the Spanish Armada of 1588, seen mostly from the Spanish perspective. Much of the account references newly available Spanish material. Tahiti: A Paradise Lost (1983), pub. Harvill PressThe decline of Tahiti, from its discovery by H.M.S. Dolphin in June 1767 The Story of P&O: The Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (1986), with Stephen Howarth

True events The Shadow of the Dam (1961)

Adaptations

Suicide Mission (1954), film directed by Michael Forlong, based on book The Shetland Bus: A WWII Epic of Escape, Survival, and Adventure, and also on book None but the Brave by Frithjof Sælen Nine Lives (1957), film directed by Arne Skouen, based on book We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance