Books by Steve J Plummer

The story of Will Sterling of Her Majesty's Grenadier Guards continues with this, the second volume of his journals. We find Will reluctantly travelling with his hedonistic and despotic officer, Sebastian D'Arkley as they sail into the Black Sea and the tumult that is The Crimea just as Britain enters the violent argument brewing between Turkey and the mighty Russian Empire. As D'Arkley careers from embarrassment to disaster and back again, Will is expected to discreetly save him from himself, from Russian bullets, from the outrage of his fellow officers and from D'Arkley's own self-created reputation as a master tactician and war-hero. And all the while, he must keep under wraps the increasing list of crimes and indiscretions that are collecting in D'Arkley's past. While every volume stands on its own, it is recommended that you read them in chronological order, starting with 'The Sterling Papers - Volume One: Sterling Goes East'.

Re-worked to mark the centenary of the Armistice, 'Enlist!' is the result of many years of tenacious detective work. Using family papers, photographs and official records, the author weaves an account of the Great War which resonates with authenticity. Denied the chance to join up in August 1914, Talbot Wheelwright had to lie in order for the Army to accept him. Nominated for a commission, he is soon posted to the Western Front but in the horror of battle, Talbot's Battalion Commander is seriously wounded. His replacement, newly promoted and supremely self-confident is instantly disdainful of both Talbot's civilian background and his humanity. With connections within the highest reaches of the War Cabinet, the new Colonel quickly contrived to have Talbot home in disgrace. Convinced that every available man is needed on the Front Lines, Talbot petitioned his senior officers until finally he is allowed to return - to one of the harshest battle zones of the Great War.

Will Sterling was no more than a teenager when he was tricked into enrolling in The Royal Navy in 1849. Finding he had little aptitude as a sailor, he was transferred to The Royal Marine Infantry, guarding a forgotten garrison on the Island of Saint Helena. There, he came across an old school adversary who, due to his family's social position and wealth, had purchased a commission in the Grenadier Guards. The officer quickly decided that he is in need of a soldier-servant - and so begins a string of misadventures, the bullish officer dragging Will, now his reluctant orderly, into ever deeper trouble as he blunders through a military career based on blatant exaggeration and lies.

Jack Wheelwright was a talented artist and designer with a promising career when war broke in 1914. He volunteered for the Royal Navy and within weeks became one of the Royal Naval Air Service's first airship pilots. He saw action in the Dardanelles and then over the North Sea, defending convoys against enemy submarines. His greatest contribution, however, was his imagination and ability to adapt and design, transforming the Admiralty's fault ridden fleet of airships. The Suvivor of several air crashes, Jack volunteered again in 1939, putting his skills to use once more, this time fighting to prove the value of his work with barrage balloons. This is a story of human endeavour, generously illustrated with contemporary images and re-worked with greater detail. Chiefly, however, it is the story of a man of extraordinary ability, energy and determination.

A register report is one of the clearest and most comprehensive ways to record a family tree - and is certainly far easier to handle than acres of family charts! This is a clearly presented register report with a full alphabetical index for the Wheelwright family. A companion volume to 'The Wheelwright Family Story', it follows their history from Lincolnshire, England to The Americas and back to England, Africa, Australasia and beyond. Spanning 400 years, 13 generations and over 2,000 individuals it is an essential resource for anyone researching the history of New England's founding families.