I haven't heard of "the Islanders", but I have an article in front me which is in encyclopaedia of ca 1909. It has a table of various types of warships, , leading naval nations, and the number of each class of warship. It shows that we have twice as many Battleships as any other nation; more than twice as many cruisers as any other nation; More in fact of every class of naval ship other than submarines and torpedo boats -where the UK is second to France. In message <6E89B32AA69E43CEA740DFC4884662DE@usered3851f9e7>, Carolstree <carolstree@btinternet.com> writes >Found amongst possessions of the COPLAND family of Sheerness is a membership >booklet belonging to L C SHRUBSOLE Esq. of ' The Islanders'. The policy >of the society was >to try to ensure that ' two British ships shall be laid down for every >one of the next strongest >European Power'. No date, but a 1909 House of Commons speech by A J >Balfour is quoted from. >Entrance fee 2/6, no annual subscription. > >I think this may be Lewis Charles SHRUBSOLE born 1865 Sheppey. He is >not related to my >family and I don't know how they acquired the document, but I would >like to know more >about the society. Has anyone heard of it? Google not helpful. > >Carol > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >KENT-ENG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- Chris Whitehead