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ALFRED FREDERICK BELL WOODHOUSE, COMMANDER ROYAL NAVY : 1911 + 1914 - 1915 SUPERB ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A KEENLY OBSERVANT AND DEDICATED DIARIST OF THIS BRITISH NAVAL COMMANDER'S SERVICE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF WORLD WAR I

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is the original pre-World War I and early commencement of the War manuscript diary of Commander Alfred Frederick Bell "AFB" Woodhouse Royal Navy. Entries date from June - August 1911 and May 1914 - April 1915 providing a unique pre-War commentary and then leading up to the actual conflict. Woodhouse begins on HMS Fantome off north west coast of Australia surveying: "...Shifted camp to Byron Islands for 4 days. Got there by 11am. Comber went away sounding in steamboat. I first saw the camp rigged up & then went away coastlining in 2 whaler......Away coastlining again at 7am nearly finished Byron Islands by evening. Enormous number of small islands had to be put in.......Coastlining longcreek about 5 miles in & then small mangrove swamp...Dozens of flies about appallingly stung....Practically no sleep last night owing to bites. Away 7am, started near Beehive. Fixed one point & when turning found myself in whirlpool pass. Went down with flood... Whaler hole in side. Camp - no rum, no sugar, no flour, no tea, very little water...". Then HMS Research (May 1914) off Ireland and Scotland: "...Weighed at 9.30 after the first mail had come on board & proceeded to the entrance to Wexford. Picked up tide pole & then to Blackwater Bank. Went away in motor boat with Hazlefoot but too misty to see anything. Returned at 3.30 & ship started for Larne. Then HMS King Alfred (August 1914): "...After dinner joined King Alfred from Research as my war appointment.....We are at present ammunitioning & getting ready as quickly as possible. Invincible in harbour. (List of officers).....12 Midnight War declared against Germany...My first gun crew do not appear to know much about their drill but they are enthusiastic which is something & I have an excellent gun-layer...Submarine gun crews told off & stationed...Everyone pleased we are getting away but do not know where we are to go. Azores seems popular.....Received orders to proceed to Scapa Flow...Ships here are all King Edwards 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron. Drake & 2 Edgar Cyclops & a good number of scouts, light cruisers & destroyer. All are painted light grey in different parts & black elsewhere so as to be difficult to take ranges on & also distinguishes them very well.......We are painting our funnels & masts light grey & are chipping as much paint as possible off the ship.....proceeded round west of Orkneys. At about 11.30 the Drake stopped a Russian barquentine but allowed her to proceed later. We stood by for firing practise.....The Drake stopped & boarded a Norweigan steamer but let her proceed afterwards. Sighted a battle cruiser in evening. Heard that a German submarine had been sighted....Received news that German ships were in Norweigan fjords. Ordered by c-in-c to support Alsatian who is to patrol 20 miles from coast...Sighted Alsatian an enormous liner carrying as far as I could see only 8 4.7in or 6in. One shell would probably finish her....In afternoon intercepted signal from c-in-c to destroyers to attack enemies submarines which were apparently sheltering in Linza Sound Stronsea (Orkney Is).....Our army according to Poldhu message has held its own in Belgium but has had 2000 casualties, German losses unknown but believed to be very heavy....Heard the Monarch had a torpedo fired at her which only just missed......Sighted Drake in dog watches she told us that 1 BCS had had a scrap on friday morning with a good deal of success. Light cruisers, destroyers & 1 BCS raided near Heligoland & intercepted German cruisers & destroyers returning on friday early. Result 2 German L cruisers & 2 destroyers sunk, 1 L cruiser & several destroyers badly damaged...At 6.30 suddenly sounded off night defence stations. Falmouth had seen a submarine following the G??? into harbour & had waited till her conning tower came up & then fired at her. She says she hit her twice....Superb fired twice at supposed submarine....First shots fired in earnest today.....We have received orders to convoy floating dock from Pentland Firth to Cromarty....The Pathfinder & Speedy have been blown up by mines but little loss of life...Got news that the Aboukir was sunk by submarine & that the Hague & Cressy going to her assistance were also sunk. It appears that a flotilla of submarines attacked them. 21 is the first score to their submarines. Ships are not much but loss of life was heavy I believe....Ships company & officers warned by captain about spreading any information about movements of ships or anything else.....Proceeding to the HMS Devonshire (October 1914) "....Drove to Scabster in a motor lorry, got the mail packet at 4am to go to Scapa Flow. Arrived 7am got on board at 9am The Anglia one of the LNWR steamers which is acting as a fleet ??????....There was a big submarine scare during the day & all ships have left. Destroyers were hunting the submarines & say they got 3 but I rather doubt it....Went to a funeral in charge.....Received orders to proceed on board Cyclops for passage to Devonshire in the Dryad.....At 7pm the Dryad ran on to the rocks near Stromness....By 6pm I was on board the Devonshire after a week trying to get to her.....I am to be tanky & prize officer & keep 4 watches.....Proceeded on 24th 4pm & swept down to Heligoland way. Our aeroplanes bombed Cushaven & ships there on christmas day....Rear Admiral Pakenham hoisted his flag in Devonshire....Rendezvous with grand fleet & proceeded southward. Battle cruisers & light cruisers fought an action with German B Cruisers sinking the Blucher & severely damaging Deiflinger & Molke. We chased after them...The Lion was badly damaged by mine or torpedo as well as gun fire. The ships hit were only Lion 18 times Tiger 3 times the rest not at all.....There are some dummy ships in harbour (Liverpool) with wooden turrets & superstructures, they are very good imitations from a little distance.....Left Scapa Flow & joined 3rd CS at sea. While proceeding into harbour on afternoon of 14th we passed down a whole line of submarines each one near a sailing ship painted white. We opened fire at them all but I dont think hit. They did not seem to fire at us but one cannot be sure....". Covers measure approx 7 1/4" x 4 3/4" (18cm x 12cm) Cloth bound with 91 sides of entries. Covers heavily marked, with some ink staining and wear, some minor marking inside, about fair condition. Overall G.. Book Condition: Good+

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