The diary includes Herman-Hodge's wartime service, starting as a Torpedo Officer on HMS THESEUS in 1914, signal training in 1915 and minesweeping duties on HMS FOXGLOVE from April 1915. He talks of a collision between HMS FOXGLOVE and HMS DAPHNE on 25 November 1915, a near miss by a torpedo and chasing U-boats in 1916.

Administrative / biographical background
The diary covers his engagements during the First World War. He was Torpedo Officer on HMS THESEUS in 1914, and transferred to HMS FOXGLOVE in April 1915, an Acacia-class mine-sweeping sloop. He was awarded the DSC on 2 July 1917 in recognition of his service during minesweeping operations in 1916-1917.