Fascinating little item. The book itself, recounted by one of the Captains of World War I [Later Rear-Admiral], details the refitting of British Merchant Ships being retro-fitted as Men of War. His particular boat was torpedoed, and while sinking managed to sink two U-Boats.
Somewhat ironically, this book custom bound for and owned by Lieutenant C[yril] M[orris] aka "Bill" Boas. Born in 1899 in India, he apprenticed at Sea and became a Captain along the China Coast by 1926. He married there and settled his family in Hong Kong. During the Japanese invasion of 1941, he and his family fled to Australia and began working to supply troops. He was recruited for official duty in 1942 and assigned to the Adele. It sunk under his partial leadership in 1943, though no one was formally implicated in the loss. He was then put in command of the Waree. During severe weather, he ran her aground on a sand bar, the entire ship had to be abandoned, sailors swimming to shore, and the boat was lost to the sea. He was court-martialed.
According to his own attorney, he was an alcoholic. His attorney snuck him beer before his trial because apparently Boas presented better with a little in him than he did sober.
So the author sunk two of the enemy ships and the owner sunk two of their own. I guess the book comes out even.
Bill "Boat-Sinker" Boas was the second owner. It appears he received the book from another Navy veteran, Lieutenant William Field Hook who had been active in World War I.
Gordon Campbell, Rear-Admiral; Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly [Fwd]. Mystery Ships. Illustrated by Photographs and with Sketches by Lieutenant J. E. Broome, R.N. London. Hodder and Stoughton. 1928. 300pp.
Attractive half leather with raised bands, cloth boards with some spotting and rolling where leather meets cloth. Very attractive and sound.
