Field Papers at the National Maritime Museum
A List of the papers of Admiral Sir Arthur M. Field in the possession of the National Maritime Museum, London.
Contents
- 1 FIE/1
- 2 FIE/2
- 3 FIE/3
- 4 FIE/4
- 5 FIE/5
- 6 FIE/6
- 7 FIE/7
- 8 FIE/8
- 9 FIE/9
- 10 FIE/10
- 11 FIE/11
- 12 FIE/12
- 13 FIE/13
- 14 FIE/14
- 15 FIE/15
- 16 FIE/16
- 17 FIE/17
- 18 FIE/18
- 19 FIE/19
- 20 FIE/20
- 21 FIE/21
- 22 FIE/22
- 23 FIE/23
- 24 FIE/24
- 25 FIE/25
- 26 FIE/26
- 27 FIE/27
- 28 FIE/28
- 29 FIE/29
- 30 FIE/30
- 31 FIE/31
- 32 FIE/32
- 33 FIE/33
- 34 FIE/34
- 35 FIE/35
- 36 FIE/36
- 37 FIE/37
- 38 FIE/38
- 39 FIE/39
- 40 FIE/40
- 41 FIE/41
- 42 FIE/42
- 43 FIE/43
- 44 FIE/44
- 45 FIE/45
- 46 FIE/46
- 47 FIE/47
- 48 FIE/48
- 49 FIE/49
- 50 FIE/50
- 51 FIE/51
- 52 FIE/52
- 53 FIE/53
- 54 FIE/54
- 55 FIE/55
- 56 FIE/56
- 57 External Links
FIE/1
Private journal kept by John Bousquet Field, Arthur Mostyn's father, as a midshipman on HMS PICKLE in 1839. The dates of his birth, marriage and death were added inside the front cover in January 1870 by his elder son George Mostyn Field.
FIE/2
Journal kept by Arthur Mostyn Field as a midshipman on HMS Trafalgar, 1 October 1870 to 10 December 1871 on a cruise in the Mediterranean. It has inserts of plans, sketches and maps drawn by Field, and includes an account of how he and a friend made a climb round the Rock of Gibraltar on 26 December 1870.
FIE/3
Diary of Arthur Mostyn Field for 1 January 1881 to 31 December 1881. It covers a period as a lieutenant on half-pay and his appointment to his first independent surveying commission of the Oil Rivers of West Africa.
FIE/4
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Sydney and Fiji, 29 April 1896 to 15 May 1896. They contain detailed accounts of hydrographical and surveying work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"1896 Sydney, 29 April, dep[art] Sydney 2 May with Professors and boring gear on board". Bad weather. Suva May 15".
FIE/5
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Suva, Fiji to Funafuti and return, 17 May 1896 to 27 June 1896. It contains detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Notes to bundle: "May '96 Death of paymaster on passage to Funafuti. June '96 Adventure of Waugh in steamboat. Difficulties of boring. Return to Suva from Funafuti".
FIE/6
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, at Suva, Fiji, 27 June 1896 to c.30 June 1896. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information.
FIE/7
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Suva, Fiji to Funafuti, 1 July 1896-12 July 1896. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"July 1-12 '96 2nd cruise to Funafuti. More boring troubles (last page otherwise all personal)".
FIE/8
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Funafuti and Ellice islands, 14 July 1896 to 15 August 1896. It contains detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"July 14 '96 - August 15 Funafuti survey and return to Suva with Professors and boring plant".
FIE/9
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, at Suva, Fiji, 10 August 1896 to 12 August 1896. It contains detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"At Suva August 1896. 28,29,30".
FIE/10
Three letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, at Suva, Fiji, 18 August 1896 to 26 August 1896. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"At Suva August 1896. 31,32,33,34,35,36 (Mostly personal but interesting especially pages 6,7). 26 August trouble with steward".
FIE/11
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, at Suva, Fiji and Rotumah Island, 29 August 1896 to 30 September 1896. Contains sketch of Rotumah Island and detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"29 Aug - Sept 27 Rotumah and banks. 37-40 (pp.17 etc. mostly personal/neuralgia)".
FIE/12
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, at Suva, Fiji, 2 October 1896 to 6 October 1896. It contains detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"Suva October '96. 42-44 practically all reply to LMF [his wife]".
FIE/13
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, around Suva, Fiji, 9 October 1896 to 16 November 1896. Includes details and sketch of the banks and reefs surveyed as well as accounts of the daily life of the ship and personal information. Note to bundle:"Letters 45-49 Oct 9 to Nov 11 1896. Banks cruise from Suva. Much misery (50 all reply to LMF)".
FIE/14
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel at Suva, Fiji, 17 November 1896 to 22 November 1896. It contains detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"Nov - December 1896 Suva Auckland Hobart".
FIE/15
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Suva, Fiji to Auckland, 24 November 1896 to 6 December 1896. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information.
FIE/16
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Auckland to Hobart, 12 December 1896 to 25 December 1896. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information.
FIE/17
Eight letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, at Hobart, 27 December 1896 to 21 February 1897. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"Hobart Jan Feb '97, 61-75 Troubles with Paymasters".
FIE/18
Five letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Hobart and Sydney, 25 February 1897 to 28 March 1897. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"76-80 Feb March '97 Hobart to Sydney, Sydney".
FIE/19
Four letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Sydney to Suva, Fiji, 29 March 1897 to 27 April 1897. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to undle:"81-84 1897. Sydney March-April 9 (Paymaster still) Sydney to Suva April 13. 85 [April] 27. (Pasco p.5. Theories of coral atolls p.10.11)".
FIE/20
Three letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, from Fiji, Phoenix Islands, Palmyra, Kingman Reef, Fanning Island and Honolulu. Dated 1 May 1897 to 22 July 1897. Includes sketch of Palmyra and atoll and detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"86-92 May June July 1897. Suva - Honolulu July 22 via Sydney Island (page 11 May 15). (Cable line) Palmyra May 23. Fanning June 21 (pg.8 "Providence"). An interesting batch of letters and much more cheerful than '96".
FIE/21
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, at Honolulu, 23 July 1897 to 24 July 1897. It contains detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"93-94 July 1897 Honolulu. Paymaster (93) then mostly social)".
FIE/22
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, at Honolulu, 25 July 1897 to 12 August 1897. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"95-98 July-August 1897 Honolulu. Funeral of Consul General."
FIE/23
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, Honolulu to Fanning Island and Suva, Fiji, 16 August 1897 - [29 September 1897]. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. A newspaper cutting is included, dated Thursday 8 July 1897 regarding Rear-Admiral Wharton's tenure as Hydrographer and the need to limit the term of each incumbent. Field has marked up the cutting and added comments and corrections in the text of the letter. Note to bundle: "99,100,101 August-September 1897 Honolulu, Fanning, Palmyra, Sidney Islands Suva. (Cutting) about Hydrographer and comments. Funeral (contd)".
FIE/24
Seven letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, from Suva, Fiji and Pasco Bank to Auckland, Hobart and Sydney, [3 October 1897] to [10 December 1897]. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"102-108 October November December 1897. 102-4 Final banks cruise and returnto Suva. 105,107 passage to Auckland and Hobart. 108 Sydney December 10".
FIE/25
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, from the Tongan Islands, 19 June 1898 to 7 July 1898. It contains detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"2nd series, Vavau and Haapai, Letters 1-3 (Sand??ey incident p.11) June-July 1898".
FIE/26
Five letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, from the Tongan Islands, 10 July 1898 to 29 September 1898. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"Letters 5-21 Vavau Haapai Tongan Islands, July August September 1898".
FIE/27
Letter to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, from the Tongan Islands, 2 October to 24 October 1898. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information. Note to bundle:"22-31 Tonga October November December '98. 31 passage to Sydney, p.14 King of Tonga".
FIE/28
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, from Nukualofa and Vavau, Tongan Islands, 27 October 1898 to 28 November 1898. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information.
FIE/29
Two letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessel, off Nukualofa, Tongan Islands, 2 December 1898 to 21 December 1898. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information.
FIE/30
Three letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS PENGUIN, surveying vessell, from Sydney, 23 December 1898 to 9 January 1899. They contain detailed accounts of his hydrographical work and daily life of the ship, as well as personal information.
FIE/31
Twenty one letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH, surveying around Ireland, 3 May 1900 to 31 May 1900. Mostly personal information but also contain details of the controversy over the Antarctic expedition, between Sir Clements Markham and Sir William Wharton.
FIE/32
Twenty six letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH surveying around Ireland, 2 June 1900 to 29 June 1900.
FIE/33
Eleven letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH surveying in home waters and cruise from Devonport to Brest, 1 July 1900 to 28 July 1900.
FIE/34
Letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH surveying around Scotland, 10 April 1901 to 14 June 1901.
FIE/35
Letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH surveying around Scotland, 10 October 1901 to 23 October 1901.
FIE/36
Letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH surveying in home waters, 5 May 1902 to 7 July 1902.
FIE/37
Letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH surveying in home waters, 15 October 1902 to 31 October 1902.
FIE/38
Letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH surveying around Scotland 11 May 1903 to 25 June 1903.
FIE/39
Letters to his wife from Arthur Mostyn Field when captain of HMS RESEARCH, surveying vessel, Scotland and Falmouth, 24 October 1903 to 27 October 1903.
FIE/40
Personal reminiscences of Arthur Mostyn Field relating occasions in his life at sea when he believed situations had been saved in answer to prayers. Undated.
FIE/41
Album of newspaper cuttings 1893-1904 with loose cuttings from 1916, and a copy of Field's obituary from the Times 1950. Includes Field's letter concerning the discovery of Scapa Flow as an anchorage and correcting Lord Fisher's account of this.
FIE/42
Copy of 3rd edition of "Hydrographical Surveying" by Admiral Sir Willam Wharton, revised by Arthur Mostyn Field, belonging to Field, with manuscript emendations and inserted loose sheets in preparation for a fourth edition.
FIE/43
Typed account of service on HMS BRITON on the east coast of Africa and Zanzibar in 1873, by G. Keith Gordon, a junior officer on the ship which was involved in the suppression of the local trade in slaves. The account was written in 1932. Gordon was with Field on HMS FAWN and sent him the memoirs when Field contacted all the watchkeepers on FAWN on the fiftieth anniversary of the commissioning of the ship. The account contains details of the privations suffered during excursions after slave-carrying dhows, malaria treatments, local stories, surveying, and Henry Morton Stanley and David Livingstone.
FIE/44
Field's copy of the "Active List of all Commanders and Lieutenants of the Royal Navy" for 1878, annotated by him with the list of the holders of the Beaufort Testimonial, including himself in 1875.
FIE/45
Field's copy of the "Active List of Flag Officers and Captains of the Royal Navy" for 1879.
FIE/46
Field's copy of the "Promotion and Retirement of Flag Officers and Captains, 1898, with annotations.
FIE/47
Duplicated papers concerning the survey of Funafuti 1896 to 1898.
FIE/48
Printed pages from "Proceedings of the Royal Society" and the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, concerning the boring at Funafuti and Geology of Rotuma. Cover inscribed, presented to Field by J. Stanley Gardiner.
FIE/49
Programme for the visit of the French Fleet, Isle of Wight, 7 to 9 August 1905. Includes a map printed on satin showing the positions of the French and British fleets in the Solent published at the Admiralty 1 August 1905 under the superintendence of Capt A.M. Field Hydrographer.
FIE/50
Menu card dated 17 July 1905, with signatures on the reverse.
FIE/51
Printed souvenirs of the Surveying Service Reunion Dinner, 3 December 1937, comprising invitation, guest list, menu and copy of speech by Vice-Admiral Sir William James.
FIE/52
Wooden lid from a case of instruments with silver plaque inscribed: "Presented to Mr A.M. Field, Chief Captain of Cadets HMS Britannia July 1870". Maker's label inside for W. Heath, Plymouth, Optician.
FIE/53
Leather lid from a case lined in silk with inscribed metal plaque: "Presented to LIEUT. A.M. FIELD R.N. By Lords Coms of Admy Oct 1875". Maker's label on the reverse for Gould and Porter, optician and mathematical instrument maker, indicating the original contents of the case.
FIE/54
Letter to Arthur Mostyn Field, 5 April 1930.
FIE/55
Autographs, comprising two sheets of paper with autographed names.
FIE/56
Printed card from Arthur Hinks, Christmas 1935.
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