The British Navy in Battle

The British Navy in Battle by Arthur Joseph Hungerford Pollen is about Pollen's recollections of the advances of the British navy during a battle on the Christmas of 1915. Excerpt: "To the Admirals, Captains, Officers and Men of the Royal Navy and of the Royal Naval Reserve: To the men of the merchant service and the landsmen who have volunteered for work afloat: To all who are serving or fighting for their country at sea: To all naval officers who are serving—much against their will—on land: Greetings, good wishes and gratitude from all landsmen. We do not wish you a Merry Christmas, for to none of us, neither do you at sea nor to us on land, can Christmas be a merry season now. Nor, amid so much misery and sorrow, does it seem, at first sight, reasonable to carry the conventional phrase further and wish you a Happy New Year. But happiness is a different thing from merriment."