Hostage To Fortune

(Simon Mills)

Wordsmith Publications, 2003, ISBN 1-899493-03-4.

Publisher Details: Wordsmith Publications, Chiltern House, 120 Eskdale Avenue, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 3BD, England, Tel: + 44 (0) 1494 782376, Fax: + 44 (0) 1494 791322,  e-mail: data@wordsmith-uk.com

Details: Hardback, 224 pages
Illustrations: 134 B&W (Including end papers and fold out section) and 27 colour plates.

Comment: By far the most complete book ever written about the Britannic. The fold-out section contains two very detailed rigging plans of the ship (both RMS and HMHS versions). There are also several colour photos of the wreck from the 1995 expedition, biographies and many previously unpublished photos. The Appendix includes the three complete official reports into the loss of the ship and plans of the motor lifeboats. Do not miss it.

Vote:10/10

The Olympic-class Ships: Olympic, Titanic, Britannic

(Mark Chirnside)

Tempus Publishing , 2004, ISBN 0-7524-2868-3

Publisher Details: Tempus Publishing Ltd, The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG, UK , website: www.tempus-publishing.com

Details: Hardback, 351 pages

Illustrations: Many B&W photos (including some previously unpublished).

Comment: Mark Chirnside has managed to write one of the most well-researched books ever written about the three liners. Considered by many the best Titanic-related book of 2004. The Britannic section is more than complete and even includes information regarding all the diving expeditions to the wreck. In the 11 Appendices you will find a list of features showing the main differences between the three vessels, a detailed chronology of the Olympic-class, details regarding Britannic's wreck, comparisons between Britannic and Aquitania, a complete list of Britannic's victims and many additional information regarding the Olympic, the Titanic and the White Star tenders (Nomadic and Traffic).

Vote:10/10

HMHS Britannic - The Last Titan

(Simon Mills)

Shipping Books Press, 1996,2nd Ed, ISBN 1900867001.

Comment: The best book for those who want to discover the Britannic. Contains a fully detailed story of the ship. Modellers will appreciate the vast photographic content. Read a review here.

Vote:9.5/10

The Last Voyage of His Majesty’s Hospital Ship Britannic

(Rev. John A. Fleming with additional notes by Simon Mills)

Wordsmith Publications, Chiltern House, 120 Eskdale Avenue, Chesham, Bucks HP5 3BD. UK. First Published in 1917. New illustrated edition published in 1998.ISBN: 1-899493-02-6.

Comment: Written by the Britannic's chaplain and for decades the major resource about the Britannic. Offers many details from the ship's last moments. The new edition has some excellent photographs.

Vote:9/10

Titanic & her sisters Olympic and Britannic

(Tom McCluskie,Michael Sharpe,Leo Mariott)

Thunder Bay Press,July 1999,ISBN:1571451757.

Comment:Tom McCluskie worked at the archive department of Harland &Wolff. As an insider offers us many details about the building of the 3 Olympic liners. Some very rare photos are included but the overall impression is not very positive because there are many mistakes.

Vote:7+/10

Lost Liners

(Robert D Ballard, Rick Archbold,Ken Marschall)

Madison Press Books, 1997

Comment: The book is not entirely dedicated to HMHS Britannic but the artwork of Ken Marschall  makes it a "must" for all Britannic researchers.

 Vote:not reviewed

Titanic Survivor - The Memoirs of Violet Jessop Stewardess

(Edited and annotated by John Maxtone-Graham)

Sutton Publishing Limited,1998,ISBN:0-7509-1758-X.

Comment: Violet Jessop served aboard all 3 Olympic class liners. Only 2 of 34 chapters are about the Britannic. Mrs Jessop was aboard one of the lifeboats sucked by the propellers and escaped death for seconds. Her vivid recollections from the blood-painted waters alongside the sinking giant are the best existing testimony of the horror of that November morning in the Aegean. The rest of  the book offers some fragments from the extraordinary life of a  really courageous woman-including the Titanic tragedy.

Vote:7/10

Journals

The Titanic Commutator

Comment: This is the official journal of the Titanic Historical Society (THS). It is an international organization with nearly 8.000 members worldwide and is considered the core of the Titanic community. Several Commutators have hosted important articles about the Britannic. For more  information  you can visit their website (see link near the bottom of this page).

The Cousteau Odyssey:Calypso's Search for the Britannic  (VHS/DVD)

Warner Bros Video, 1976

Comment:A TV documentary of Cousteau's discovery of the wreck. If the divers had  modern diving and photographic equipment it would have been the best documentary about the Britannic. Amazing shots of the remains of the Grand Staircase and the wheelhouse but poor image quality.

Vote: 8+/10

Titanic's Lost Sister (VHS/NTSC)

NOVA/WGBH, 1997

Comment:A TV documentary of Dr Bob Ballard's 1995 expedition to the Britannic.Exceptional image quality but no penetrations inside the wreck. Buy it at  NOVA's Online Shop.

Vote:8/10

Britannic (VHS/DVD)

Regent Entertaiment, 2000

Comment:A good spy thriller with excellent cast but not historically accurate. Outstanding digital effects by Corbitt Design.

Vote:8/10 (valid only for the video effects)

Titanic's Sister HMHS Britannic (VHS/NTSC)

Periscope Publishing Ltd, 2001

Comment:The story of the 1998 diving expedition.Some nice underwater pictures of the wreck but short running time (only 30'). A missed opportunity. Buy it at Periscope Publishing.

Vote:7/10

Inside The Britannic (TV)

Brentwood Publications, International Inc., 2002

Vote:not reviewed

The Doomed Sisters Of The Titanic (TV)

MPH/History Channel, 1999

Vote:not reviewed

The Railway And Travel Monthly

 Scans of 9 pages from the April 1914 issue (No.48,Vol.8) regarding Britannic's launch.Click here.

The Imperial War Museum

Click here for a list of Britannic-related documents.These documents are available for consultation by appointment,Monday to Saturday,10am to 5pm.(The Sunday service is restricted and it's better to get in contact with the members of the Archive Department before visiting).