Below are excerpts from the reviews of “White Ensign Flying,” published in several national and international magazines, journals and newspapers.

Roger wishes to express to each reviewer his gratitude for their time reading and reviewing “White Ensign Flying.”

REVIEWS

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord
-Canadian Nautical Research Society

“Ships lend themselves to biographical studies as readily as people. Roger Litwiller’s White Ensign Flying, a scholarly but highly readable account of a Royal Canadian Navy corvette with a short and eventful career, is a ship biography at its best.  Litwiller’s account of Trentonian and the experiences of her crew give a comprehensive chronological account of one corvette that combines elements of the extraordinary and the mundane in every chapter.  Researching and writing the ship’s story required twelve years, and Litwiller’s devotion to this task shows in the wealth of details he provides.  White Ensign Flying is a terrific contribution to the ship biography genre in general, and to the literature on the allied corvettes of the Second World War in particular. I highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in both Canadian and twentieth-century naval history, and as an essential addition to the library of historians of the Battle of the Atlantic.”

Maritime Engineering Journal

“Litwiller’s skill as a story-teller makes the reader feel like a member of the Trentonian crew from the time of its launch at Kingston harbor on Sept. 1, 1943 until its torpedoing by the German submarine, U-1004. It might be an overworked phrase, but ‘labour of love’ best describes the obvious effort Litwiller has put into this detailed history of HMCS Trentonian. Not only did he scour newspaper reports, journals, diaries and official documents in researching this gripping narrative, he also made contact with surviving crew members and relatives to add an enlightening layer of anecdotes to the mix.”

SeaBreezes Magazine

“Along with using the official records of the ship, the author has interviewed many of the men who served in Trentonian who each have a unique personal perspective. Photographs from the private collections of the crew and military archives bring the book to life, illustrating this testament to the ship and the men who served in it.”

Starshell Magazine

“It takes unedited quotations from participants and those outsiders associated with these ships, recorded thoughts and comments at the time by crew, to bring the story alive with people. Litwiller’s familiarity with naval language at the least, and extensive research in original archival records and the excellent records kept by the sponsoring committee in Trenton, Ontario, the tale serves as a very full record of one ship’s life. More should follow this example. Well worth adding to your bookshelf.”