First published three years after the
tercentenary, Rogers’ account of the Dutch attack in the
River Medway received worldwide praise. He wrote it
because previously English works failed to provide a
historical perspective of the raid. His contacts in
England and the Netherlands, which provided access to both
countries’ archives and published works, also permitted
him to provide a more informed account from a fair and
impartial point of view. On the 350th anniversary,
Seaforth has republished this detailed history so new
readers can gain a better understanding of the events
leading up to, during, and following the June 1667 attack.
To the Dutch the raid is the tocht naar Chatham
(trip to Chatham). To the British it remains one of the
worst military and naval defeats in the United Kingdom.
But to best understand how this event came to be, one must
first go back in time to an earlier period in each
nation’s past. The opening chapters recap these countries’
historical development, explain how they became
interconnected, and examine their maritime and commercial
rivalry that ultimately led to the Anglo-Dutch Wars.
Rogers also discusses the English and Dutch navies,
problems plaguing the Chatham Dockyard, and the
battle-readiness of England and the United Provinces of
the Netherlands prior to the raid. He introduces the key
participants, such as Raad-Pensionairis Johan
de
Witt, King Charles II, and Michiel de Ruyter, who was
commander-in-chief of the Dutch fleet.
The second half of the book focuses on the raid itself.
This is where Rogers’ familiarity with the geography
shines through in such detail that readers can easily
visualize these events as they happened. The end result of
the raid was the capture of Sheerness Fort, the Royal Charles,
and the Unity;
the destruction of other Royal Navy vessels; and the panic
that spread through Britain. Its effect on British morale,
the assessment of blame after the raid, what happened to
the key participants, and the lessons learned round out
this volume. A postscript summarizes what occurred at the
tercentenary to which the Dutch were invited.
The Dutch in the
Medway is a well-rounded, easy-to-read, and
comprehensive presentation of the attack. The use of
sources from both countries a non-biased account, and the
insertion of quoted passages from primary documents adds
to the recounting’s immediacy. Maps, footnotes, a list of
sources, the index, and color plates depicting the attack
and the people involved further enhance the reading
experience. This book is also an invaluable addition to
any collection on English, Dutch, and naval history.
Review Copyrighted ©2017
Cindy Vallar
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