At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ENE force 2 to 4 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.96 inches rising to 30.06 at noon before falling to 29.97 at 1600 and finishing at 30.05 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 89F. 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 165 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. HMS Marathon sailed. Cheered ship.  Discharged hold to HMS Elgar. 1700. Quarters. Special leave to starboard watch. One Stoker returned from hospital. 1920. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ESE force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and occasional squalls. Barometer 30.04 inches rising to 30.14 at noon and finishing at 30.07 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F (94 F at 1600). 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 108 lbs of fresh beef and 54 lbs of vegetables plus 120 lbs of bread. HMS Elgar sailed. Watered ship. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. General leave to port watch. One Q.S prisoner from cells.  1930. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.03 inches rising to 30.04 at 0800 before falling to 30.01 at1600 and finishing at 30.03 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F.  0400. Raised steam in cutter. 0720 20 divers and 2 Leading Hands commenced scraping ship’s bottom. Received 116 lbs of fresh beef and 38 lbs of vegetables plus 153 lbs of bread. One Cooper joined from HMS Bonaventure. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. Gave General leave to starboard watch. Make and mend clothes. Read Warrant number 46. Discharged prisoner to garrison cells. 1700. Quarters.  Landed patrol. 1930. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind calm with broken cloud becoming ESE force 1. Barometer 30.03 inches falling to 29.92 at 2000 before finishing at 29.94 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F. 0400. Raise steam in cutter. 0640. RIMS Mayo arrives. 0700. 23 divers and two Leading hands commence diving. Received 116 lbs of fresh beef and 58 lbs of vegetables plus 150 lbs of bread.  0910 Italian gun vessel  Andrea Doria arrives. Employed as requisite. 1130 Italian sloop arrives. 1503. Native divers finish ship’s bottom. Gave special leave to port watch. Quarters. Discharged one Q. Signalman to HMS Bonaventure for passage (Invalid). 1925. Drew fires in cutter. Lost overboard – crutches, brass.  Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind calm becoming NE force 1 then SSE force 2 before returning to calm all with broken cloud. Barometer 29.91 inches rising to 29.97 at noon and finishing at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F.  Midnight. HMS Minerva arrives.

0400. Raised steam in cutter. HMS Endymion arrives.
0815. Royal yacht arrives flying standard of King of Siam Dressed ship rainbow fashion. Fleet saluted with 21 guns which the yacht returned. HMS Flora arrives. Cleaning ship. Paid monthly money to Ship’s company and issued soap and tobacco.  HMS Flora sailed. Special leave to starboard watch. Sent 2nd Range party. First Range party returned. HMS Endymion and HMS Minerva sailed.
1915. Fired royal salute on King going onboard. Undressed ship.
1930. Drew fires from cutter. Midnight. Siamese Yacht sailed.  Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Right elevation, deck plan and hull section as depicted in Brassey’s Naval Annual 1896

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind S force 2 to 4 becoming S by E before becoming calm at 1600.  Broken sky throughout. Barometer 29.92 inches rising to 30.01 at noon before falling to 29.96 at 2000 and finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0630. Raised steam in cutter. Sent church parties. Received 156 lbs of soft bread. Divisions. Sent church parties to BONAVENTURE. 1115. Church parties returned. Special leave to starboard watch. Quarters. 1930. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind S by E force 2 to 4 becoming calm at 0800 then becoming S by E followed by ESE al at force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.02 at 0800 before falling to 29.98 at 1600 and finishing at 30.00 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 114 lbs of fresh beef and 57 lbs of vegetables plus 173 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. Quarters. Special leave to starboard watch. The Italian gun vessel Andrea Doria and the MAYO sailed. 1930. Banked fires in cutter. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 1

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ESE force 1 with broken cloud.  Barometer 29.94 inches rising to 30.04 at 0800 before finishing at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. Received 114 lbs of fresh beef and 57 lbs of vegetables plus 135 lbs of bread.  0600. Spread fires in cutter. 0800. Divisions and prayers. HMS Eclipse arrived and anchored. Employed as requisite. 1600. HMS Eclipse came into harbour. Special leave to port watch. Discharged one Leading Stoker and 3 Stokers to HMS Bonaventure for passage. 1930. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ESE force 1with broken cloud. Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 30.00 at noon before finalising at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 87F. 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 112 lbs of fresh beef and 56 lbs of vegetables plus 132 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. Ordinary Seamen at Seamanship. 1300. Discharged Mr F. S P Haigh to HMS Bonaventure. Employed as requisite. Quarters. Gave General leave to starboard watch.  2000. 10 Boys joined from HMS Eclipse. 1930. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

HMS Eclipse

This is photograph Q 21204B from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 2107-01)

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud becoming south then NE again. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.02 at 0600 before finishing at 29.95 at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 116 lbs of ???  (Unable to read handwriting but certainly not beef) 58 lbs of vegetables plus 140 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. Boys at signals. Discharged one SBS to ?? (Unable to read handwriting) Invalid.  Make and clothes. General leave to port watch. One Shipwright joined from HMS Bonaventure. Discharged one Leading Shipwright to HMS Bonaventure. HMS Bonaventure sailed. Cheered Ship. Quarters. Discharged 3 Seedies to HMS Eclipse. 2nd Range party returned. RMIS Mayo arrived. 1930. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind SSE force 2 with broken cloud becoming calm before becoming south and then NNE force 1. Barometer 29. 94 inches rising to 29.99 at 0800 and finishing at 29.95 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F.  0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 118 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 135 lbs of bread. 0600. Italian Andrea Proraus (Provaus?) arrived. Cleaning ship. 1900. Royal Mail Ship Clive arrived. Quarters. Four stokers joined from HMS Eclipse. Range party – Marines – returned. 2015. Drew fires in cutter. 1900. RMS Clive sailed. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ENE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud becoming NE then south increasing to force 4. Barometer 29.93 inches rising to 30.00 at 1000 before finishing at 29.94 at midnight. Temperature at noon 91F.  Received 179 lbs of soft bread. . 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Sent church parties ashore. 0800. Church parties returned. Divisions. Performed Divine Service. Special leave to watch. Lt A H. Oldham joined from P & O. Quarters. 1930. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind calm with broken cloud becoming NNE; ENE then east force 2 later. Barometer 29.92 inches rising to 29.96 at 1600 and finishing at 29.94 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 91F. 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 62 lbs of vegetables plus168 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Reeving new boat’s falls and as requisite. 1630. HMS Eclipse proceeded. Quarters. Discharged one Stoker to hospital. 1930. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind East force 2 with broken cloud becoming ESE later. Barometer 29.92 inches rising to 30.01 at noon before finishing at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F. 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 172 lbs of bread. 0800. One Seedie joined. Divisions and prayers. Party hauling up gig for repairs.  Remainder as requisite. 200. Quarters. One Stoker returned from hospital. Andrea Provana? Sailed. 1930 Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ESE force 2 to 4 lessening to 2 later with broken cloud. Barometer 29.94 inches rising to 29.99 at 0800 before falling to 29.92 at 1600 and finishing at 29.97 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 168 lbs of bread.  0800. Divisions and prayers. Rove new boat’s falls. Employed as requisite. 1300. Pointing ropes and as requisite. General leave to port watch. Quarters. Landed patrol. 2000. Drew fires in cutter. 2300. Patrol returned. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ESE force 2 with broken cloud increasing to force 3 at noon before reducing to force 2. Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 30.00 at 0800 before finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. 0430. Raised steam in cutter. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 139 lbs of bead. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. Gave general leave to starboard watch. Make and mend clothes. Quarters. Party returned from range. Landed patrol. 1930 Drew fires in cutter. 2300. Patrol returned. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ENE force 2 with broken cl0ud reducing to force 1 later. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.04 at noon before falling to 30.94 at 1600 and finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0230. Raised steam in cutter. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 171 lbs of bread. Discharged Lt H.J.O. Miller to P 7 O for passage home. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. PM. Employed as requisite. Quarters. Read Warrant number 45. Discharged one Q Sig to prison. Remainder of Range Party returned. 1930. Drew fires in cutter. Special leave to port watch. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

At single anchor in Aden Harbour.  Wind ENE force 2 increasing to 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.96 inches rising to 30.01 at noon and finishing at 30.00 at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0600. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 183 lbs of bread.  Cleaning ship throughout. PM. Cleaning ship throughout. Special leave to starboard watch. Discharged one Leading Stoker to hospital. Quarters. Slung clean hammocks. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 4.