A BARNT Green man has written a new book tackling the subject of cowardice in the First World War which might have led to the battle at Gallipoli where 187,959 Allied personnel were killed or wounded.

Steve Dunn has written the book as a biography of Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge who, as a rising star in the British Navy, took the unusual decision to allow the enemy to escape.

Rear Admiral Troubridge faced the German battle cruiser Goeben in the Meditterranean during the conflict, and his decision to let it escape to Constantinople dominated the rest of his naval career, as well as playing an important role in bringing Turkey into the war on the side of Germany.

Mr Dunn said: “It was a difficult book to write and it was hard to feel any sympathy for Troubridge, who was court martialled on his return for ‘failing to pursue an enemy then flying’. Although he was found not guilty his reputation was destroyed and the Navy and its First Lord, Winston Churchill, made their views clear by ensuring he never commanded at sea again.

“If Troubridge had intercepted the German ships, and sunk or delayed them whilst heavier British forces arrived, the history of the war may have been very different and Gallipoli may never have happened.”

Mr Dunn is launching his book ‘The Coward? The Rise and Fall of the Silver King’ with a book tour, starting off on Saturday, March 14 at Alvechurch Library, before giving talks at the Nelson Museum in Monmouth, the Britannia Naval Research Association Annual Conference at St Anne’s College, Oxford, and at the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre.

He added: “One of the best things about being an author is meeting readers face-to-face and getting their genuine feedback. Because I tend to write about fairly controversial subjects I often end up with a lively debate, which is great because it means people are passionate about what they’ve read.”

The book ‘The Coward? The Rise and Fall of the Silver King’ is available to buy from available from Amazon, Waterstones, Foyles and all good bookshops.