Part of autograph 'Diary of the War' of Assistant Paymaster (later Rear-Admiral) Noel Wright, describing three months of his service with Jellicoe's Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow, and reporting the Battle off Texel and sinking of HMS Audacious.

163pp., 12mo. In a sturdy notebook, with brass clasp, covered in grey paper. Wright has written '4 | N W' on the front board. On the recto of the first leaf he gives the addresses of 'T', 'C', 'J', 'Adml Campbell' and 'Young'; and on the verso he writes the title 'DIARY OF THE WAR | VOLUME II', above the oval stamp 'SUPPLIED FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE'. He signs 'Noel Wright' at head of the recto of the second leaf. The diary, paginated 1-158, begins on the reverse of second leaf, and is followed by pages listed 'Places visited between 17th October 1914 and 4th January 1915', 'Coalings', 'Distances steamed', and then six pages carrying lists of British, French, Russian, German, Austrian, Turkish and Japanese losses. In landscape across the last two pages Wright gives a list of 'Bank Notes', with 'Number', 'Amount', 'Received from', 'Date', 'Disposed of to', and 'Date'. A valuable document, giving day-to-day news of the doings of Jellicoe's Great Fleet for a three month period at the beginning of the war, written by an intelligent and well-informed young officer. There are numerous references to news received from 'Poldhu', i.e. the Marconi transmitter at Poldhu, Cornwall. On 20 December 1914 Wright is one of a party who transfer to HMS Benbow, apparently from HMS Dreadnought. The diary begins on 18 October 1914 with Wright reporting news of the previous day's Battle off [sic]: 'Apparently the "Undaunted" was accompanied by 4 destroyers of the 3rd Flotilla & the action took place off the Schelt. No news yet as to whether any of our ships were damaged. Also no further news of the submarine at Scapa. We are now using Boradfoot Bay & Lough Swilly as bases. | We had a bad fright yesterday. The "Antrim" made a signal saying that she had sighted a submarine & then signalled "Am being attacked by submarines". Then a silence. C-in-C asked her if she was all right, but no reply came. We were all fearing that she had been sent to the bottom when she signalled that "submarine previously reported was evidently a "fish" blowing." It relieved the tension a lot!' At 10pm on the same day 'C-in-C [Jellicoe] had decided that "Iron Duke" [his flagship] & 4th B.S. should go into East Loch Roag (Lewis) early tomorrow. Now however submarines are reported to be in the trench: so we are not going in now, but the C-in-C is.' The following day Wright reports that 'Submarines were reported as having been seen yesterday as "oiling" from a steam oiler. We are trying to catch the gentlemen & then cut the submarines off. This morning we came across the Armenian oiler "Platuria" & have put a prize crew on board & sent her into Stornaway: reason, for having contraband of war on board. Unluckily she isn't the one we want.' After giving further news of the Texel engagement, he writes: 'Our "emploi" is intercepting trade & capturing any ships that have cargoes on board which we think may be intended for Germany.' On 21 October they pass St Kilda, and tipped in to the volume is a 13.5 x 32 cm sketch by Wright of 'St Kilda. (from the North)'. At 11pm on 27 October he reports news which would be kept from the British public for four years: 'The "Audacious" has gone! It is a terrible show & makes one wild with rage when one thinks of it. What we know is as follows. The second B.S. was to have done squadron firing about 40 miles away from here. 4 ships were just commencing a run at the target. The "Audacious" was 3rd ship in the line. The 1st & 2nd ships had just turned & the "Audacious" was in the middle of the turn when she struck a mine. This in the open sea! Everybody thought she had been attacked by a submarine &, in compliance with the recent order, rushed away from the scene. Apparently the "Audacious" was struck somewhere amidships as two of her engine rooms were flooded. [...] It makes one's blood boil to think of it. These devils have laid mines in the open sea! And, this is the worst part of it, their intention was to sink merchant ships entering the Irish Channel from the north. One merchant ship has already been blown up. The news is not yet made public, but when it is I feel sure there will be thousands who feel as I do & vow never to take one of these devil incarnate prisoner but to let them either drown or burn - the latter perfectibly.' On 31 October he writes: 'We had quite a nice little scare last night. About 10 pm the C-in-C suddenly made a signal to man all anti aircraft guns & searchlights as an attack by Zeppelins was believed to be imminent. All lights were extinguished. Unluckily nothing happened! | This place is rather mysterious. For one thing signalling which we dont undertand takes place on shore at nighttime usually on top of the surrounding hills. The "Bellerophon" saw signalling going on yesterday in the daytime & was ordered by the C-in-C to keep a look out last night & if she saw flashing going on to land an armed party & seize the signallers & their plant.' The entry for 3 November begins: 'Great excitement! All orders are cancelled, we are raising steam for full speed as soon as possible & are evidently leaving here as soon as ever we can. Evidently it is thought that the enemy is coming out at last.' The following day he writes: 'The mystery deepens! We altered course SW about 10.30 last night & here we are now just commencing battle practice against the Bills Rocks off Clew Bay. Apparently after doing this we shall wend our way to Scapa, but the reason of our leaving Lough Swilly so suddenly yesterday is unknown. No news from the North Sea. In fact we are absolutely in the dark.' On 18 November he writes notes that 'The Germans are piling up a big score.' The entry for 19 November carries a drawing of Wright's identification disc, which he describes as 'made out of a kind of thin galvanised iron & I should think would be dear at a farthing a gross'. On 24 November he reports: 'C-in-C has made two signals. One "that the German flotillas have been warned to be ready for sea tonight", the other that it is probable our fleet will be attacked by destroyer during the night.' The following day's entry begins: 'No attack on us occurred during the night. We are still steering north.' On 6 December he writes that the 'Morning Post' of 3 December has published 'a stinging article "We never mention it" about the loss of the "Audacious". [A cutting of the article is inserted in an envelope at the end of the volume.] [...] Personally I agree with it as regards the not publishing the fact now the German & American papers have got hold of it, but I disagree in toto when it says that the fact should have been made known at once.' On the same day he reports the arrival, 'Much to everyone's surprise', of 'a dummy battleship [...] I have not seen her myself yet but apparently she is an imitation "Temeraire", a big tramp steamer converted. This looks as though we were up to some devilment or other. Rumour has it that nine more are coming. Can it be that we are going to try & get them all torpedoed & sunk by submarines so as to give the Germans the impression that they have seriously depleted our battle fleet, in the hope that they will then come out & fight?' At 9pm on the same day he reports seeing 'two bogus dreadnoughts': 'They are really excellently faked. In each case a big tramp has been taken & had her sides heightened: a false bow added & a solitary piece of plating inserted under her counter so as to give the effect, when seen broadside on, of a pukka "Dreadnought" stem. The superstructure, turret, signal bridge, light guns, wireless - everything in front - are all complete. From a distance of say half a mile & looking at them broadside on one would be deceived. Of course from ahead or astern they are given away by the swell of their bows & counters, but even that would not be very noticeable from say 2 or 3 miles.' On 11 December: 'Yesterday was a great day as regards news. I was in the Wardroom last night playing bridge with the Secretary, Waller & Parsons, when we got the news that Sturdee's squadron had sunk the "Nurnberg" (on Dec 8th). The "Dresden" was still being chased! Sturdee's lot have done excellently! The only ships the Germans have outside the North Sea now are the "Dresden" "Karlsruhe" & possibly "Danzig".' On 14 December he is awaiting news 'as to when we are to transfer to "Benbow". I wish we could get over there & get settled down.' A fold-out tipped-in map, drawn by Wright, titled'Situation 3pm 16th December', shows manoeuvres by the Grand Fleet in the North Sea, and accompanies a detailed entry of that date. On 17 December he exclaims: 'These devils bombarded Whitby!' and the following day's entry begins: 'Poldhu gives a short account of the shelling of Hartlepool Whitby & Scarboro'. On 20 December, 'About 9.30 it was suddenly decided to transfer flag to "Benbow". It was a bit of a tall order but we dug out & finally had all office & private gear ready at about 3 pm. We had two "drifters" to transfer our bags & chattels in. I went over with the second load about 5pm. "Benbow" had only just finished coaling & it was pitch dark. Everything was filthy & chaos reigned! I was lugged into the Wardroom by Tyrrell & presented with a telegram from home saying "All's well." Greatly relieved. We dug out in the office & about midnight got things fairly straight. [...] Gunroom seems pretty comfortable, my cabin with a little care, & though it is a potted air one, ought to be, & the bath room is top hole.' Frustrating inactivity continues, the entry for Boxing Day 1914 beginning: 'Went to Action Stations at about 7.15 am & remained there until about 10am. Nothing doing!' On 4 January 1915 he writes: 'Last day of this volume of my diary. I wonder if starting a new book - and the third volume, too - will bring luck! | G.F. order just received says that one of our submarines attacked a German battle squadron off mouth of Wiser on 17th December but the Germans threw the submarine out by constant zigzagging. She fired 1 torpedo but missed. Had to dive to avoid being rammed.'