The Society for Nautical Research

Anderson Medal

Each year, in memory of Dr RC Anderson, the Society awards the Anderson Medal for a book on maritime history published during the previous year. Books published in the last quarter of a year may be considered for the following year (for example, at the January meeting, books published in the previous 15 months would be considered).

What it's for

A published work of non-fiction covering any aspect of maritime history, such as archaeology, biography, economy, exploration, hydrography, industry, navigation, oceanography, science, shipbuilding, strategy, etc. Preference will be given, in order, to the sole work of one author, to joint works by a small group of authors, and then to edited works. Part works and incomplete multi-volumes (eg trilogies) will not normally be considered for the award of the Anderson medal.

How to nominate

Nominations may be made by authors, publishers, members of council or other members of the SNR at any time. They should be on one side of A4 paper and include details of the work and a short review. They should then be sent by email to the Secretary of the Research and Programme Committee (RPC), whose address is on our contacts page.

How the medal is awarded

In January each year the RPC will draw up a shortlist which will take account of all aspects of the work such as literary merit, original research in primary sources, new interpretation of secondary sources, contribution to the wider understanding of maritime history, and the author's lifetime contribution to the written corpus of maritime history. In March, the RPC will make its recommendation to the Council of the Society for Nautical Research. The Council normally announces its decision at the Society's AGM, which is usually in June, and the award is made at the annual lecture held in November.

Presently under consideration are:

  • Barry Gough, Historical Dreadnoughts: Marder and Roskill: Writing and Fighting Naval History
  • Richard Harding, The Emergence of Britain's Global Naval Supremacy: The War of 1739-1748
  • Peter Nash, The Development of Mobile Logistic Support and Anglo-American Naval Policy, 1900-1953
  • Jean Sutton: The East India Company's Maritime Service, 1746-1834
  • Richard Woodman, Fiddlers Green, 1921-2010 (and the previous 4 volumes)

Previous awards

  • 2010: To be awarded 22 November 2011
  • 2009: Nicholas Black, The British Naval Staff in the First World War
  • 2008: Brian Lavery, Shield of Empire: The Royal Navy in Scotland and for his lifetime contribution to maritime history
  • 2007: Marc Levinson, The Box: How the Shipping Container made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger
  • 2006: Roger Knight, The Pursuit of Victory. The Life and Achievement of Horatio Nelson
  • 2005: Richard Woodman, The Real Cruel Sea: the Merchant Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-1943
  • 2004: David Keith Brown and George Moore, Rebuilding the Royal Navy: Warship design since 1945
  • 2003: Lewis Johnman and Hugh Murphy, British Shipbuilding and the State since 1918: a political economy of decline
  • 2002: Tom Pocock, Captain Marryat: seaman, writer and adventurer