Gunboat Flotilla

Brian Withecombe’s historical fiction book “Gunboat Flotilla” takes place in 1855, during the Crimean War. The narrative centers on Rear-admiral Lord Edward Courtenay, who is assigned by the Admiralty to command a small flotilla in the Sea of Azof to obstruct Russian supply channels. Following several incursions and a clash at Kinburn, Courtenay and his flotilla became embroiled in a problem in Egypt about the building of the Suez Canal.