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ABLE SEAMAN REGINALD SANDS : 1928 - 1930 SUPERB ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY AND SCRAPBOOK OF A BRITISH SEAMAN DETAILING THE HMS SUFFOLK ON IT'S IMPORTANT MAIDEN VOYAGE TO THE CHINA STATION AT A CRITICAL TIME IN THE REGION'S HISTORY

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a significant, original 1928 through 1930 manuscript diary and scrapbook created, maintained and handwritten by British seaman Reginald Sands who provides a super almost day-by-day account of the maiden voyage of the storied British warship HMS Suffolk and its critical deployment to the China Station patrol covering the period Feb 7th 1928 to July 19th 1930. Adding tremendous depth to the narrative there are numerous original photographs, newspaper cuttings, postcards, stamps, other ephemera and hand drawn maps that record everything from the mundane routine of daily exercises and manoeuvres at sea but also activities ashore such as visits to the Union Jack Club in Shanghai, diplomatic calls, visits from important political and military and naval persons and much, much more all the more compelling with the backdrop of region's political and military turmoil brewing in China, Japan, the new Soviet Republic and the myriad of other regional problems and events at the time. Using a school-style exercise book Sands begins on Friday June 1st 1928 when HMS Suffolk leaves Portsmouth after completing several months of trials and over approximately 129 pages details a history of the ship and its duties and events of import. He notes events such as: Suffolk's orders to proceed to Nanking to protect and evacuate British residents in the revolt of troops on the Shanghai - Nanking railway. Suffolk Responding to an SOS for the liner 'Jervis Bay'. Visits from and Chinese Government officials and the British Minister Sir Miles Locker-Lampson. Visit from the Japanese Admiral at T'singtao. Accommodating HRH Duke of Gloucester and transporting him on diplomatic mission to Japan. Suffolk's part in the commemoration marking the re-burial of the Chinese political leader Sun Yat-Sen. Participation in a football match on 15th August 1929 in aid of dependants of HMS Devonshire victims [we believe this refers to the death of 17 seamen on board Devonshire the month before in a firing accident]. Suffolk, with HRH Duke of Gloucester onboard, is escorted into Yokohama where Prince Chichibu comes aboard and later escorts the Duke to Tokyo to meet the Emperor. Sands aboard Japanese warship KAKO [with his breakdown of the KAKO's qualities], Suffolk called to assist with fire at the King Edward Hotel in Hong-Kong. Suffolk's attendance at the Review held by Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt on his departure as Commander in Chief of the China Station. Inspection by Emperor of Japan [presumed Hirohito]. Suffolk's part in [Hirohito's] 'Coronation Review'. Illumination of the ship at Nagasaki as part of celebrations of Hirohito's coronation - photo taken and pasted-in. The diary also recounts numerous rendezvous with other ships including: the Kent, the Berwick, Hermes, and Cornwall, and events such as Suffolk winning the sports cup on Sat 7th Sept 1929 at Wei Hai Wei, participation in the Regatta at Wei Hai Wei in August 1929 and Sand's visits to the Shanghai Union Jack - a 5 cents credit has been pasted in. Stamps pasted onto the pages are: WEI HAI WEI - George V One Cent revenue Stamp; Japanese 10 Sen Entronement Hall [Hirohito] stamp; Nagoya Castle 10 Sen stamp; Hong Kong / CHINA - King George V - Four Cents; Egypte brown 5 Cinq Mills; Malta 1 1/2 d George V. The page edges are worn and a little browned and the cover has detached at the staples and there is a faint musty smell but overall G.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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