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Desert Sailor: A War of Mine, James T. Hewitt, (Canadian Peacekeeping Press, Nova Scotia, 1998). 192 pp., ISBN 1896551-17-3,$24.
To this reviewer's knowledge this is only the second book published by a Canadian naval officer on his Gulf War experience.' LCdr Jim Hewitt kept a journal during his time with the Coalition Forces. He has edited and smoothed the entries into a fascinating book. Also included is a comprehensive history of sea mine warfare compiled from lectures presented by the author during this time at HMS ['ernon, the British mine warfare training centre.
As the title implies, this is both a personal account and an account of the sea mine warfare aspects of the 1991 Gulf War. Hewitt is a Canadian from Niagara Falls who joined the Royal Navy, subsequently became a Mine Warware specialist and commanded the minehunter HMS Wilton. He returned to Canada in the 1980s and transferred to the Canadian Navy as it began rebuilding its capability in Mine Countermeasures (MCM). Sent to...