A NEW book by Bury author Steve Dunn has thrown new light on a World War One maritime disaster.

The publication marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the HMS Formidable, the first British battleship to be lost to submarine action.

In the book, entitled "Formidable. A true story of disaster and courage," Mr Dunn uses the personal stories surrounding the dead and the survivors to reveal the truth behind the catastrophe.

The author, who was born in the town and attended Bury Grammar School between 1962 and 1971, hopes that 'Formidable' will serve as a memorial to nearly 600 men and boys who died, as well as a tribute to those who lived and those who risked everything to rescue others.

Mr Dunn says he tells a "very different" story to the one that, at the time, was turned by the Government and press into a propaganda triumph. He blames the poor decision-making of the admiral-in-charge ,Lewis Bayly, who refused to acknowledge the threat posed by the new technology — U-boat submarines.

He said: "Bayly, like many of his contemporaries, couldn’t accept that the world was changing and hung onto the belief that to ambush a ship unseen, from below the surface, would be ungentlemanly and therefore unthinkable, so despite the threat from u-boats, he kept his ships at sea.”

As a result, 583 sailors, from a total of 780, lost their lives 20 miles south of Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast.

The author uses the heartbreaking and heroic stories of individuals to explore how the ethos of the time shaped the behaviours and the destiny of the crew.

He continued: "It was an emotional story to write. But I hope I have done justice to those involved in the tragedy and that the book will act as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by our First World War sailors, which are often overlooked when compared to the massive slaughter of the Western front.”