George Shipway

George Shipway (1908–1982) was a British author best known for his historical novels, but he also tried his hand at political satire in his book The Chilian Club.

George Frederick Morgan Shipway was born on the 25th May 1908 at Allahbad in India and was educated at Clifton. He then attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned on to the Unattached List for the Indian Army on the 30th August 1928. He arrived in India on the 5th October 1928 and was attached to a British regiment, the 2nd battalion The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire) for one year from 14 October 1928.

After his year he was appointed to the Indian Army and posted to the 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers on the 20th November 1929.

He spent two years (1936-1938) as Adjutant of the Mekran Levy Corps. After attending the Quetta Staff college in 1940-41 he became a General Staff Officer, 3rd grade at General Headquarters, India. He remained on the staff until 1944 when he was posted to serve with the Hyderabad Lancers, an Indian State Forces unit.

He retired a Major and honourary Lieutenant-Colonel on the 9th January 1948. After retiring he became a teacher at Cheam School in Berkshire for 19 years before becoming a novelist.

His cavalry background served him well when he took up writing; his descriptions of cavalry battles are full of minute detail and his works generally were meticulously researched.

In his 1969 novel Knight in Anarchy Shipway describes the life of Humphrey de Visdelou as he follows Geoffrey de Mandeville to his doom. In the book Shipway indicates that he lives on the estates that de Visdelou once owned.

He died in 1982.

Bibliography

• Imperial Governor (1968), Boudicca and Roman Britain. ISBN 0-432-14750-0
• Knight in Anarchy (1969), in the time of Stephen & Matilda. ISBN 0-432-14751-9; American title The Knight
• The Chilian Club (1971), ISBN 0-432-14752-7; American title The Yellow Room
• The Paladin (1972), the story of Walter Tirel, killer of William Rufus. ISBN 0-432-14753-5
• The Wolf Time (1973), sequel to above ISBN 0-432-14754-3
• Free Lance (1975), the British in India during the Napoleonic wars. ISBN 0-432-14755-1
• Strangers in the Land (1976), The Indian Mutiny ISBN 0-432-14756-X
• Warrior in Bronze (1977), the story of Agamemnon. ISBN 0-432-14757-8
• King in Splendour (1979), sequel to above. ISBN 0-432-14758-6

References

• Indian Army List (various dates)
• London Gazette (various dates)