£360
NAVAL INTEREST: Commander C G Chichester, 'Reminiscences 1880-1955': typescript, 96pp plus 2 manuscript diaries covering period July 1914-March 1916, 152 pages with photographs: inc. Admiral Beatty at surrender of German Fleet, stone elephant at Nankin as well as several images of various manoeuvres at sea. The typescript and 2 wartime diaries giving detailed and entertaining account of a distinguished naval officer's career, narrative commencing on the China station at Wei-Hai-Wei during the Russo-Japanese war outlining several skirmishes with the Japanese. He goes on to serve in the North Sea at Heligoland and is present at the Battle of Dogger Bank. Shortly after the battle a Zeppelin drops bombs on the ship...'we had a narrow escape, seven bombs dropped...' 1915, Chichester's ship HMS Forward sent to Mudros, naval base for the Gallipoli campaign, assisting in evacuation of troops from Cape Helles and Suvla, description of bombardment by Turkish guns, saved only by 'the failure of shells to explode'. The Greeks are unreliable hosts ...'the king of Greece is in the German pay, he's playing a double game...he thinks Germany will prevail.' Chichester manages to capture the tedium of war as well as its drama ..'I have come to the conclusion that, after the novelty has worn off, warfare especially naval is a dreary business..' the remainder of the Reminiscences deals with life after the war, including a memorable meeting with Thomas Hardy ...'when having tea one Sunday...I found myself sitting alongside Thomas Hardy...had a most interesting talk with the old man'. (3 Albums)
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