[Royal Navy Ophthalmic Department, Second World War.] Letterbook of Surgeon-Commander Edward John Littledale, Ophthalmic Specialist, of HMHS [Hospital Ship] Maine, containing two hundred AFOs [Admiralty Fleet Orders], circulars, correspondence.

Laid down on 138pp of a quarto volume. The contents are in good overall condition, lightly aged and worn, but the binding of the volume is in poor condition, heavily worn, with the leather spine split and damaged and the front board becoming detached. Meticulously arranged, with autograph thumb-index and list of AFOs at front, and autograph emendations in red ink to various orders, many of which are marked 'Cancelled'. Ownership signature and title on flyleaf: 'E. J. Littledale. | A. F. Os etc dealing with Ophthalmic Department'. Six ink date stamps at rear, give information of Littledale's service on HMHS Royal Fleet Auxilliary ship Maine, and on the ships Collingwood, Daedalus, Excellent, as well as the Royal Navy Hospital, Plymouth. (Full details of the date stamps are given at the end of this description.) Littledale served on HMHS Maine at Malta, between 1943 and 1946. This volume contains a mass of statistical information, instructions and notifications, casting an interesting light on the unusual field of ophthalmology in the Royal Navy, and on wartime public health. Around three-quarters of the AFOs in this volume date from the period of the Second World War. Subjects include: Artificial eyes; Bifocal lenses; Colour vision, disposal of ratings with defective; Eyesight standards for men; Eye strain, R.D.F. operators; Glass eyes; F.A.A. goggles; Lookouts, selection; Monocular Vision; Military Optical Centres; Morse Operator, automatic; Mk III glases, cases; Naval Optical Dispensing Units; Night vision, Gunnery ratings, testing; Night fighter crews, officer volunteers; Observers Mate F.A.A.; One eye, entry of ratings; Ophthalmic Examination; Optical Appliances depot. 2; Presbyopics, glasses; Passive Defence, glasses; Pilots standard; Prescription forms, and price of spectacles; Reading glasses; R.F.R. colour vision defect; Repair and replacement of glasses; Submarine Eyesight Standards; Toric lenses; Unsplinterable glasses; Wafers, Optical; Wren Officers, glasses and vision standards. Among the loosely inserted material are four pamphlets, each a 'Confidential Admiralty Fleet Order', dating from 1943, 1946, 1947 and 1949. Also another pamphlet, 'Medical Categories for other Ranks, 1944'. Also an instruction booklet for 'The Colour Perception Lantern' of Rayner (Rayner & Keeler Ltd), Dispensing Opticians and Instrument Makers. The nine other loosely-inserted are: an autograph list of 'A.F.Os etc.' from 1947 to 1950 (none of which is present here); an autograph memorandum; and six circulars, one accompanied by an ALS from W. E. Betts, New Entry Officer, on letterhead of HMS George. The full details of the six date stamps are: Ophthalmic Department, HMHS Maine, 18 June 1944; Ophthalmic Specialist, HMS Collingwood, 22 March 1946; Ophthalmic Specialist, HMS Daedalus, 21 November 1947; Royal Navy Hospital Plymouth, Ophthalmic Department [no date]; Ophthalmic Department, RN Hospital, Plymouth, 20 May 1948; Ophthalmic Department, HMS Excellent, 7 September 1949. There is a model of HMHS Maine at Brighton Toy and Model Museum.