Officers Log Book for HMS Drake May 1907 - January 1909

Austen Gerald Lilley RN

Published by 1907 - 1909, N/A, 1907

About this Item

Large thick 4to bound in 1/2 brown brushed leather, marbled boards and end-papers. Approx 205pp of handwritten logs and tipped-in hand-drawn maps, plans, diagrams etc (plus approx 120pp unused leaves at rear). Austen Gerald Lilley (1890 1937) joined HMS Drake (launched 5 March 1901, torpedoed and sunk 2 October 1917 by The German U-boat U-79) as a Junior Officer on 15 May 1907 and this is his log book from then until he left the ship on 15 January 1909. The ship spent much of this time in Gibraltar, Lagos and the home ports (including Ireland), with shorter spells in Morroco and Spain. Aside from noting the ships position and events for each day there are 10 beautifully drawn coloured and some plain maps and harbour plans, 14 engineering and armaments drawings, 5 star maps and 1 diagram, all done by hand on thick paper and pasted into the log. There is also a closely written 2 page account of joint fleet manoeuvrers carried out on 18th to 21st July 1908. Captain (later Rear-Admiral) Arthur Hayes-Sadler initialled a number of log entries. Lilley went on to captain a number of ships until his death while on duty in Australia in 1937. Aside from plentiful military records, HMS Drake is an uncommonly well documented ship, including Joseph Minter's 'The Cruise of HMS Drake' (Gale & Polden 1907) and Ian GrahamWilson's 'HMS Drake - Rathlin Island Shipwreck' (Rathlin Island Books 2017), various naval memoirs (including Viscount Jellicoe who was Drake's first commander), and a fair number of news reports during its time as the navy's flagship in Australia and back in the UK on service during the Great War. Its torpedoing and subsequent sinking at Rathin Island was more than a passing news story, since when it has become one of the world's most explored shipwrecks . [CONDITION: VERY GOOD a well preserved book, marbled paper covered boards a little rubbed and dusty, corner tips a little pushed but not worn, some mild tanning to leaves ] . __To see more of our Military books type DbbMILITARY in the Keywords search box . . NOTE: Depending on destination this item may require an extra payment for insurance. If so, orders made by card will be completed only after you have approved any such extra cost. . We always ship in STRONG PROTECTIVE CARD PARCELS.

Seller Inventory # TV230395

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Officers Log Book for HMS Drake May 1907 - January 1909
• Publisher: 1907 - 1909, N/A
• Publication Date: 1907
• Binding: HARDCOVER
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Condition: Very Good