October 1894. Took command of Volage, succeeding Gissing. One of the four sailing ships, the Active, the Commodore’s; Ruby. (Jervis); Calypso (Cross). Harris is the Commodore.

I was staying with Olga and Stephen at Anner Castle, Henry Mandeville’s place, when I heard from Lambton telling me that Lord Spencer had nominated me for this ship. I did not ask for her, nor had I any particular wish to come, but I feel I am put here. It is enjoyable seeing Olga and my boy twice a year instead of a three years’ separation.

We crossed to West Indies. After a fortnight’s buffeting in the Bay of Biscay arrived Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts.

Yellow fever broke out in my ship, one man died of black vomit. A Mid, Dooner, in Sick Bay. Came up to my cabin and recovered. I had everything thrown overboard from Sick Bay and paint scraped. Troubridge, 1st Lt, asked me to leave cabin. Refused.

Got under way at St Kitts and cruised under sail. Quartermaster at wheel fell down one night and said he had fever. High temperature came through fright. Several cases took place in other ships. They called it intermittent fever.

On arrival at Bermuda we were all put into quarantine, though Commodore tried to isolate Volage only.

Went to Horta Fayal and then on to Portsmouth. Dooner’s people came on board and never even called on me and thanked me in any way for the risk I had run and saved his life really.

Atkinson became our Commodore after our cruise to the Canary Islands and we wintered one year making Vigo our Headquarters.

In cruising to the Channel Islands, going through a narrow channel, through which we should not have passed, the Volage touched the edge of the reef, listed over, the Upper Deck rose up before my eyes. Ordered all hands on deck, sounded the well, no water in it, the screw able to turn round. My heart leapt for joy and I thanked God.

Just before I had said to my Navigating Officer, Lieut Martin, that I would like to keep out two points, though following in the wake of Active and made him do so. If we had not done this I should have gone right on to the reef and probably gone down.

A Court of Inquiry was held in Portsmouth. I got off with a caution “Be more careful in future”. I was asked if Navigating Officer had suggested altering course. I could truthfully say no. I cannot remember how the question was put to me, but anyway it enabled me to shield Martin as I told him afterwards, my shoulders were broad enough to shoulder anything, whilst his promotion would be prejudiced.

Shortly afterwards Squadron went to Reykjavick, Iceland, and Spitzbergen - at latter place cricket match was played at midnight. From Iceland, having on board several members of the Expedition for observing the eclipse of the sun, we left for Vardo by ourselves - on the other side of the North Cape.

18 July 1896. On way across was nearly wrecked and all hands lost. The story has come out in the Sunday at Home and the Daily Express and happened as follows.

Last night I shortened sail, as I did not wish to go more than 7 kn and left orders to sound at 4 and every two hours, but not dreaming there was much need for it. We had not had any sights on Friday (yesterday). Morning was overcast and land not very distinctly seen; at 4 no bottom, at 6 land reported to me on quarter.

I sent word to Martin never to mind sounding, but shortly afterwards, I came on deck, and Martin said he thought we should alter course ½ a point as he could not make out the land, I assented but, looking ahead I saw a sugar-loaf island, and Martin taking a cast of the lead got 32 fms; we were under topsails only, yards square; cleared lower deck, made sail and braced up and hauled out 8 points. We were just in the midst of the most filthy ground you could imagine and also on the point of getting ‘embayed’ for the sails were beginning to flap in that most ominous way that foretells a calm, and ship rolling lazily.

For two hours my heart was in my mouth, but we got out alright. We must have passed within 2 miles of ledges of rocks that we thought were thirty miles off, and running straight on to a mass of reefs, only 4 to 5 miles, that must have infallibly wrecked us. I can only account for being out of our reckoning this tremendous amount by there being a very strong current setting us in, and also, I cannot help thinking, by careless steering, for very little out in a course at the speed we have been going at since we took sights, would make reckoning very much out. How thankful I am to God.

Volage crossed the fjord and anchored off Tartary, where Sir Norman Lockyer joined up and trained 70 officers and men, myself included, and put up instruments. The day came and with it wind, and cloudy and nothing could be seen, but a dark shadow sweeping across - gulls shrieking. Off the North Cape, cliffs were masses of sea birds.

October 1896. Eventually I left the ship at the end of 2 years on 1 October 1896 and went on ½ pay - to Quinton Castle.