What Ship, Where Bound? (Paperback)

"I would order a semaphore display aloft of Bravo Zulu for David Craddock’s What Ship, Where Bound?"

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord - Vol. 32, No. 3 (Fall 2022)

"Extensively and beautifully illustrated, the book will appeal to present and former mariners familiar with the signals, all those with an interest in naval and maritime history, with particular emphasis on late eighteenth-century signalling practice, artists and ship modellers, graphic designers and seafarers involved in visual communications today."

Paul Ridgeway, Africa Ports & Ships, June 2022

As featured in

Shipping - June 2021

I recommend the book for an interesting read and beautiful illustrations.

Jonathan Seagrave - South West Soundings, South West Maritime History Society

David Craddock, who received his own signals training from a seafarer who served as a boy signaller at the Battle of Jutland, explores 2,500 years of visual communication at sea. Beginning with flag signalling and moving on to semaphore, light signalling and pyrotechnics, Craddock explains the history of signals in naval warfare from the Age of Sail to the modern era. He presents a range of flag systems, which look resplendent in the full colour illustrations, and also demonstrates how they were used, with the famous example of Nelson’s signal at Trafalgar and an extended discussion of signals at Jutland. Peace-time signalling is not the focus, but it isn’t neglected either – commercial codes and signals from ship to shore are also included in this thoroughly accessible history of the technology and practice.

Nautilus Telegraph, July 2021

The book will appeal to mariners and naval historians alike. It is a very well put together book and I would have no hesitation in very highly recommend it to our readers.

Shipping Today and Yesterday Magazine

This extensively and beautifully illustrated book will appeal to present and former mariners familiar with the signals, all those with an interest in naval and maritime history. This excellent little book with its concise text and superb illustrations is probably the best primer currently available on this subject.

World Ship Society - Marine News

‘… a fascinating addition to the literature of the sea.’

The Kedge Anchor

If you have ever wondered what the flags decorating a docked ship are saying, or other examples of signals encountered in daily life, this book has the answer. Interesting and well told, What Ship, Where Bound? It is wholeheartedly recommended.

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Pirates and Privateers

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Bru Ships Youtube Channel

Review by Robin Knight

This is an always interesting window on a little-known (by landlubbers) topic. It will, as the book’s publicity, puts it “both enlighten and entertain.”

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Pangbourne College website

Review by David Hobbs

The author brings to life the methods used by admirals to manoeuvre their squadrons and fleets in the manner laid down in various code books as well as the methods used to send long range messages to deployed fleets. The timelines alone give fascinating insight into the history of naval communications and the publisher’s comments on the back cover claim that this book ‘will both enlighten and entertain’. I think that statement exactly describes What Ship, Where Bound?. It is a delightfully written and illustrated book that will appeal to a wide readership including naval professionals, historians, yachtsmen, modellers and artists. I thoroughly recommend it.

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Australian Naval Institute

“Wow what a splendid book. Amazing amount of detailed research and a must for the bookshelf of all buntings. The illustrations are the best I’ve seen in such a book.”

President of the Flag Institute

This book takes its title from the familiar opening exchange of signals between passing ships, and celebrates the long history of visual communications at sea. It traces the visual language of signalling from the earliest naval banners or streamers used by the Byzantines in AD 900 through to morse signalling still used at sea today. Covering a wide spectrum of visual signalling methods from false fire, through shapes, furled sails and coloured flags to experiments in high speed text messaging by signal lamp, the book also examines the complex interrelation between all three methods under battle conditions. A detailed analysis of visual signal exchanges before and during the Battle of Jutland reveals both the success and ultimate limitations of flag signalling at the limits of visibility. Extensively and beautifully illustrated, the book both enlightens and entertains.

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Julian Stockwin