Preston-Thomas, Quintin Bernard (sold)
Quintin Bernard Preston-Thomas (November 10, 1880 - November 30, 1950) was a career officer in the British Royal Navy. Born in Weybridge, Surrey, he entered naval service in July 1894 and trained aboard H.M.S. Britannia until July 1896, when he was promoted to midshipman and assigned to H.M.S. Talbot. In March 1899, he transferred to the training ship H.M.S. Champion, remaining aboard until the vessel was retired on October 30 of that year. The following day, Preston-Thomas and the rest of the Champion's crew transferred to the newly commissioned H.M.S. Minerva. He left the Minerva upon his promotion to sub-lieutenant in January 1900 and subsequently advanced to lieutenant on April 1, 1902, and lieutenant-commander on April 1, 1910. After serving aboard numerous vessels, Preston-Thomas was appointed commander of H.M.S. M.33 upon its commissioning on June 24, 1915. During the Gallipoli Campaign, it was deployed to the Dardanelles, where it provided covering fire for the landing of reinforcements along the southern coast of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Preston-Thomas remained with the M.33 in the Aegean until May 1918; the vessel survives today as a museum ship maintained by the National Museum of the Royal Navy. He retired from active service with the rank of commander on August 26, 1924. On April 4, 1923, he married Marjorie Frances Rashleigh (1903 - 1989), with whom he had one son.
Journalistic logbook offering unique insight to the shipboard life of a turn-of-the-century midshipman.
This is a 1900 logbook and journal kept by Quintin Bernard Preston-Thomas. As a midshipman, keeping a logbook was part of the required training - this example, however, is most unusual in that, in addition to recording routine shipboard matters, it also serves as a journal with rich personal and topical content. It offers unique insight into the life of a midshipman at the turn of the century. (more details)