http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/255 2026-06-21T04:19:10Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33440 Title: Precedent, principle, and practice: The role of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in the parliamentary debates on the American Revolution, 1765-1776 Authors: Maib, Nicole Abstract: This thesis analyses the British parliamentary debates in the House of Commons and House of Lords from the years 1765-1776 and the private correspondence of select MPs and Peers to explain and discuss the arguments presented in Parliament during the course of the conflict between Britain and the American colonies which culminated in the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776. When viewed from the perspective of the parliamentary debates, MPs and Peers consistently based their decisions regarding the conflict on past precedents established within the realm of Great Britain and Ireland, thus the countries of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Parliamentarians used these precedents to argue for the case of principle (whether it was right to act) or practice (whether it was wise to do so) on the proposed measures, whether that be conciliatory or coercive. More significantly, Parliamentarians became increasingly concerned about how their responses and actions towards the American colonies could alter the terms of Parliament’s sovereignty and its relations and authority over nations throughout its realm, most especially with Ireland and Scotland. There was real potential for the British American conflict to inspire and provoke similar rebellious movements for independence in other parts of the British realm, most particularly in Ireland. This thesis concludes that Parliament’s steadfast reliance on and concern to uphold historic policy precedents set with Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, became a key strategy for managing the evolving political crisis with the American colonies during this period. This approach, however, failed to consider the American colonies’ unique status within the realm. In turn, this clouded and impeded Parliament’s decision-making process because, to Parliament, it was not purely a case of maintaining its authority and sovereignty over the American colonies, but also over those nations much closer to home, namely Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31460 Title: Spices in early modern England – a cross disciplinary study Authors: Dasgupta, Bhaskar Abstract: Reading popular English literature of the last hundred years would lead one to believe that English food always has been bland. This is surprising, considering that England, during the early modern period (1500-1850 AD) established the East India Company, partially for the spice trade and became the largest global spice merchant, centred on London. Hence, it cannot be that the English spice trade did not influence English Culture. What happened during the early modern period that significantly changed the usage of spices in English culture? Using an enhanced food choice model, this dissertation analyses how factors such as imports, exports, storage, consumer income, historical/geographical antecedents, spice production and pricing influenced the spice supply into England, which then impacted spice-buying behaviour and usage. The research has used primary data sources from the British Library’s East India Archive, UK National Archives, Newspaper Archives and English Ports Data, and relied on secondary academic data sources. This data was used for an economic historical analysis of the English spice trade, spices used as financial assets, crimes, spice usage in food and medicine, its representation in art and literature, religion, magic, perfumes, fashion, and clothing. The findings show that spice usage was common until 1800-1850. Thereafter, cultural, political, and scientific factors led to its decline. War necessitated distinguishing bland English food from spiced French food after Waterloo; the repudiation of the medical humoral theory positing that spices heal the sick; and a rise in atheism/non-religiosity and better education combined to substantially reduce spice usage across many aspects of English Culture. Since mid-twentieth century, the Chicken Tikka Masala curry has become the English national dish. This is no novelty. The study shows that English food has been spiced since Roman Times; the century of bland food (1850-1950) was an aberration. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/30848 Title: Development and learning at the operational level in the British and Indian armies during the second world war Authors: Halstead, James Abstract: Contextualised with an examination of pre-war doctrine and military thought within both the British and Indian Armies this thesis examines doctrine, training, and selection of personnel to understand how the British and Indian Armies developed more effective ways of conducting warfare at the operational level between 1939-1945. It argues that the War Office failed to settle key doctrinal and organisational questions before the war, and subsequently failed to centralise authority over doctrine and training during the war. This meant that there was limited uniformity in doctrine and that this negatively affected the ability of the British and Indian Armies to learn and adapt together. Ultimately the War Office preferred to influence military conduct through the Military Secretary’s branch which instituted increasingly centralised control throughout the war. This thesis therefore emphasises the agency of national armies, local theatre headquarters and individual commanders in controlling their own individual courses of development over the central control of the War Office. This thesis offers a new perspective on the extent to which the armies of the British Empire worked and learned as an integrated ‘Imperial Army’ during the Second World War. Recent research has emphasised the integrated, and Imperial nature of the British, Indian and Commonwealth Armies. This especially emphasises their ability to work together, it is claimed, because of shared doctrine and staff procedures. To date, research has focused upon pre-war War Office doctrine and examination of military activity at the tactical level. This thesis has a different scope and conducts a comparative examination of the development and conduct of the operational level within the British and Indian Armies. This, therefore, studies the development of the British and Indian Armies and their doctrine at the operational level from across the world, not just that which was produced by the War Office. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/29011 Title: Submarines and naval layered defence in the first world war Authors: Metcalfe, Robert Abstract: This dissertation provides an entirely new understanding of British submarine policy and Royal Navy submarine operations during the First World War. British submarines operating in the North Sea were an enabling technology that freed the different surface warship types to be used to achieve their full potential. The Admiralty was thus able to implement flexible layered defence systems that were developed and modified to meet the changing strategic demands. The immediate prewar commissioning of overseas type submarines capable of conducting an observational blockade off the German North Sea littoral relieved the dangerous need for surface warships to operate such a blockade. These submarines provided a solution to the “North Sea Problem” that had been causing such great concern to the Admiralty. This rather than secret and unwritten plans to defend Britain by so-called ‘flotilla defence’ drove British submarine policy. During the war, the Admiralty was very quick to identify new operational requirements and new submarines were designed and built to provide specialist capabilities. The infrastructure to support submarine operations was also established with fixed bases and mobile depot ships. Submarines were integrated with surface warships in mutually supporting layers. In addition to the observational roles, the fleet submarines were to accompany the Grand Fleet, and in a fleet action to manoeuvre to attack the High Seas Fleet on its disengaged side. Minelaying submarines penetrated deep into the Heligoland Bight to positions inaccessible to surface minelayers. In anti-U Boat warfare, submarines were positioned in layered patrol areas integrated with surface warships. Weapon systems and equipment were also developed rapidly that expanded submarine capabilities. Postwar layered defence systems continued to be enhanced with new naval technologies and new strategic requirements, and they are still relevant today. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z