Background
Murfett, Malcolm Hayden was born on July 4, 1948 in Grove, Berkshire, England. Son of Frank Unwin and Violet Mildred (Hayden) Murfett.
( This volume of essays is designed to fill an existing g...)
This volume of essays is designed to fill an existing gap in the literature devoted to modern British naval history by providing a scholarly analysis of the First Sea Lords from the time of Admiral Fisher to that of Earl Mountbatten. Apart from assessing the role and performance in office of the individual First Sea Lords from the time of the Entente Cordiale in 1904 to the heyday of the Macmillan premiership in 1959, this book also reveals the extent of the influence each of these experienced sailor-administrators exerted upon British naval policy-making in the 20th century. Strongly rooted in primary as distinct from purely secondary source material, these essays are informative, fair and balanced portrayals of the individual First Sea Lords and the impact they have had upon both the Admiralty's administrative and strategic domains. Written by a range of established and emerging naval historians from around the world, this book gives praise where it is due, but it is also sharply critical of the shortcomings of those who, once installed in office, did precious little.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0275942317/?tag=2022091-20
(In 1949, as the Chinese Civil War was about to enter its ...)
In 1949, as the Chinese Civil War was about to enter its final, explosive stage, the small British frigate HMS Amethyst was sent on a dangerous mission up the Yangtze River to protect British citizens in Nanking. En route it was attacked by the Chinese Communists and held hostage on the river for several months before the crew managed to make a daring escape. The Amethyst captured news headlines around the world and became an unlikely symbol of the cold war in Asia. This dramatic episode, hailed in the West as a triumph of the human spirit but bitterly condemned by the Chinese Communists, was to prejudice Anglo-Chinese relations for years to come. Using sources not previously available, Malcolm Murfett has written a book that is much more than an account of a single incident. It provides a sweeping survey of British naval power in China, from its faltering and inept beginnings in the late 1630s right up to the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949. In explaining the importance of the Amethyst episode in the history of Anglo-Chinese naval relations, Murfett suggests that it was the final poignant break with the past. Readers will find Hostage on the Yangtze to be a fascinating tale of high adventure, imperialistic oppression, diplomatic shortcomings, and political repercussions¬―a mixture that culminates in one of the most dramatic and memorable crises of the post-war world.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870212893/?tag=2022091-20
Murfett, Malcolm Hayden was born on July 4, 1948 in Grove, Berkshire, England. Son of Frank Unwin and Violet Mildred (Hayden) Murfett.
Bachelor with honors, University Leeds, England, 1974. Doctor of Philosophy, Oxford (England) University, 1980.
Junior carpet buyer, Webbers, Oxford, 1964-1966; clerical officer, Wantage Research Donations Committee, England, 1966-1969; lecturer, National U. Singapore, 1980-1986; senior lecturer, National U. Singapore, 1986-1994; associate professor, National U. Singapore, since 1994. Visiting associate professor York University, Toronto, Canada, 1989-1990. Visiting fellow University College, U. NSW, Austrlia, 1994.
( This volume of essays is designed to fill an existing g...)
(In 1949, as the Chinese Civil War was about to enter its ...)
Fellow Royal History Society.
Married Ulrike Marianne Kaltner, October 1, 1977. Children: Marianne, Caroline, Nicolas, Stephanie.