[First World War Royal Navy Night Order Book.] Autograph Signed night order book of Lieut. Commander E. T. R. Chambers, relating to the destroyers HMS Kennet, HMS Welland and HMS Otter, and mostly spent around China.

82pp., small 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged paper, in worn black cloth, with large printed official 'NIGHT ORDER BOOK' label on front cover, to which Chambers has added 'Captain's' in large letters, and 'TO BE RETURNED TO MY CABIN'. Ruled pages, with printed 'NIGHT ORDER BOOK, H.M.S. [name of ship in manuscript] | ORDERS.' at head. Entries to 4 November 1911 for HMS Kennet (hornycroft type River Class Destroyer launched in 1903), from 10 November 1911 to 14 April 1912 HMS Welland (Yarrow-built River-class destroyer launched in 1904), and from 24 April 1912 to the end HMS Otter (Vickers three funnel Avon-class 30 knot destroyer launched in 1896). Each entry is dated and signed (until 10 November 1914 'Ennis T. R. Chambers', and from 26 January 1915 to end 'Ennis T. R. Chambers Lieut Comdr.'), with place or route, during 1911 travelling from Chatham to Plymouth, Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Aden, Colombo, Singapore, Labuan, Manila, and from 1912 spent in Hong Kong, Swaton, Shanghai, Nanking, Amoy, Wei Hai Wei [a protracted stay here], Chefoo, Tientsin, Pagoda Anchorage. The entries range from the short (for example 'Tuesday Decr 5th [1911] | Aden to Colombo | Course S 77½ E astern of "Usk." Call me as usual. Keep a good lookout for signals') to long (for example 'At Woosung | Wednesday Feb 7th [1912] | The Quartermaster of the watch is to sound every 20 minutes & keep a good lookout on the lighted buoy to see we dont drag, especially at turn of the tide (about 11.45 pm). He is to call me at once if he thinks we are dragging. He is also to keep a lookout on the Usk in case she should drag on to us. Steam for 15 knots by 8.30 am. Steam for working cables by 8.10 am. Call me at 7.30 am. Steam to be at 15 minutes notice.'). During a protracted stay in Wei Hai Wei an order is given (28 July 1912) for the Otter to be 'cleared for action in every way [...] Ammunition will not be got up till later', and the following day (29 July 1912) Chambers notes that 'We shall be picking up torpedoes for "Defence's" C in C's firing'. There is no change in tone during the First World War period, and there are no references to it. At the rear, and in another hand, are four pages of First Lieutenant's Orders, numbered 1 to 15, signed by Sub-Lieutenant R. M. Alleyne, and two pages of Gunner's Orders, unsigned. Chambers was appointed Lieutenant on 1 October 1906, and Lieutenant Commander on 1 October 1914.