Richard Armstrong (18 June 1903 – 30 May 1986)[1] was an English writer who wrote for both adults and children. Most of his books were novels set at sea, or sea stories. For one of those, Sea Change, he won the 1948 Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book by a British subject.[2] He is also known for a biography of Grace Darling in which he challenges the conventional story: Grace Darling: Maid and Myth (1965). He is often described on the cover of his books as "author and mariner".
Ralph Richard Armstrong
Born
18 June 1903 Walbottle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
Ralph Richard Armstrong was born in Walbottle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland on 18 June 1903.[3] He was a blacksmith's son who left school at thirteen to work in a Tynesidesteelworks. He spent three years there, starting as an errand boy and progressing to greaser, labourer and crane driver. His book Sabotage at the Forge (1946), set in a steelworks, is highly regarded for its accurate and effective description of a boy's experience in such an environment. Similarly, The Whinstone Drift (1951) is convincingly set against a Northumberland coal-mining background.[3]
After the First World War he went to sea in the Merchant Service and for seventeen years sailed in many types of vessel, gaining the experience which he later put to use in his books about seafaring.[2] In 1937 he left the Merchant Service and pursued various occupations before concentrating on writing. His first published book was The Mystery of Obadiah (1943), an adventure novel set in Tynedale and featuring Thias Stringer, a 13-year-old boy. Sabotage at the Forge was its sequel, featuring Stringer at the steelworks.[3] Later he drew on his wide-ranging experiences at sea, writing about, for example, cargo steamers (Passage Home), oil tankers (No Time for Tankers), and whalers (The Secret Sea).
Armstrong had a son, John, to whom he dedicated his book Sailor's Luck.[4] He died in 1986.
^"Births, Deaths and In Memoriam". The Times. London. 4 June 1986. p. 18 – via The Times Digital Archive 1785–2008. ARMSTRONG Richard, author, 30th May 1986, aged 82 yrs, 11 months, in good care at the Williton Hospital, Somerset. Private cremation. No flowers.
^ ab (Carnegie Winner 1948) 31 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Living Archive: Celebrating the Carnegie and Greenaway Winners. CILIP. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
^ abc "Ralph Richard Armstrong". The Wee Web: authors & illustrators archive.
^Armstrong, Richard (1965). "Grace Darling, Maid and Myth".
April 14, 2024
richard, armstrong, writer, richard, armstrong, june, 1903, 1986, english, writer, wrote, both, adults, children, most, books, were, novels, stories, those, change, 1948, carnegie, medal, from, library, association, recognising, year, best, children, book, bri. Richard Armstrong 18 June 1903 30 May 1986 1 was an English writer who wrote for both adults and children Most of his books were novels set at sea or sea stories For one of those Sea Change he won the 1948 Carnegie Medal from the Library Association recognising the year s best children s book by a British subject 2 He is also known for a biography of Grace Darling in which he challenges the conventional story Grace Darling Maid and Myth 1965 He is often described on the cover of his books as author and mariner Ralph Richard ArmstrongBorn18 June 1903Walbottle Newcastle upon Tyne NorthumberlandDied30 May 1986OccupationauthorLanguageEnglishNationalityBritishSubjectsea storiesNotable worksThe Mystery of Obadiah 1943 Sabotage at the Forge 1946 ChildrenJohn deceased Contents 1 Biography 2 Selected works 3 See also 4 ReferencesBiography editRalph Richard Armstrong was born in Walbottle Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland on 18 June 1903 3 He was a blacksmith s son who left school at thirteen to work in a Tyneside steelworks He spent three years there starting as an errand boy and progressing to greaser labourer and crane driver His book Sabotage at the Forge 1946 set in a steelworks is highly regarded for its accurate and effective description of a boy s experience in such an environment Similarly The Whinstone Drift 1951 is convincingly set against a Northumberland coal mining background 3 After the First World War he went to sea in the Merchant Service and for seventeen years sailed in many types of vessel gaining the experience which he later put to use in his books about seafaring 2 In 1937 he left the Merchant Service and pursued various occupations before concentrating on writing His first published book was The Mystery of Obadiah 1943 an adventure novel set in Tynedale and featuring Thias Stringer a 13 year old boy Sabotage at the Forge was its sequel featuring Stringer at the steelworks 3 Later he drew on his wide ranging experiences at sea writing about for example cargo steamers Passage Home oil tankers No Time for Tankers and whalers The Secret Sea Armstrong had a son John to whom he dedicated his book Sailor s Luck 4 He died in 1986 Selected works editAdult novelsThe Northern Maid 1947 Passage Home 1952 Film 1955 Sailor s Luck 1959 Children s novelsThe Mystery of Obadiah 1943 Sabotage at the Forge 1946 Sea Change 1948 The Whinstone Drift 1951 Danger Rock 1955 U S title Cold Hazard The Lost Ship 1956 No Time for Tankers 1959 The Lame Duck 1961 Island Odyssey 1963 The Secret Sea 1966 The Mutineers 1968 The Albatross 1970 NonfictionGrace Darling Maid and Myth 1965 5 A History of Seafaring London Benn 1967 69 three 128 page volumes with maps and diagramsVolume 1 The Early Mariners Volume 2 The Discoverers Volume 3 The MerchantmenThemselves Alone The story of men in empty places 1972 Powered Ships 1975 See also edit nbsp Children s literature portalMV San Demetrio Convoy HX 84References edit Births Deaths and In Memoriam The Times London 4 June 1986 p 18 via The Times Digital Archive 1785 2008 ARMSTRONG Richard author 30th May 1986 aged 82 yrs 11 months in good care at the Williton Hospital Somerset Private cremation No flowers a b Carnegie Winner 1948 Archived 31 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine Living Archive Celebrating the Carnegie and Greenaway Winners CILIP Retrieved 2012 08 16 a b c Ralph Richard Armstrong The Wee Web authors amp illustrators archive Dedication of Sailor s Luck 1959 Armstrong Richard 1965 Grace Darling Maid and Myth Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Armstrong writer amp oldid 1133326018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
