Dr Mark “Dicky” Barton served for a full commission in the Royal Navy as a Marine Engineer Officer, recently retiring as a Commander after nearly 35 years. His early career focused on aircraft carriers and naval architecture, and he was involved in the design of the new aircraft carrier. He remains involved with naval architecture, particularly in the work of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) where he is involved in the Professional Affairs Committee conducting academic accreditations. The second half of his career was varied, serving in operations around the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, and as the Commander Engineer on, what was at the time the Fleet Flagship, HMS Bulwark, and writing doctrine. Over the latter years, having become interested in the social history of objects, and having written various historical booklets, he went on to co-author a full book British Naval Swords and Swordsmanship. He then completed his MA, as part of the Advanced Command and Staff Course, and then his PhD in War Studies. His PhD thesis looked at the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s in the Napoleonic Era. He also produced The Engineering Branch of the Royal Navy and Dockyards and Bases of the Royal Navy for the Royal Navy, as well as writing Fighting Instructions Maritime Engineering. He has published more than 30 articles in various journals.

Now retired from the Service and living in Portsmouth, he is pursuing a portfolio career in research and publishing, while continuing his work with RINA and the Methodist Church, in which he is a local preacher and sits on the Methodist Forces Board. He is Honorary Secretary of the Society of Nautical Research.

If you would like one of the talks tailored more to yourselves or your situation or wish me to give a talk on another aspect of what it appears I should be able to cover, feel free to approach me and I probably will happy to do so if I have the time to prepare.