In ’Naval Occasions’ the Author has strung together a few sketches of naval life afloat in the past ten years. They relate to ships mainly of the "pre-Dreadnought" era, and officers (those of the Military branch at least) who owe their early training to the old _Britannia_. At the same time, for all the outward changes, the inner work-a-day life of the Fleet remains unaltered. With this, and not in criticism of things old or new, these Sketches are concerned. Pathos and humour continue to rub elbows on either side of us much as they always have, and there still remains more to laugh about than sigh over when the day’s work is done. DEVONPORT, 1914 *NOTE.* With the exception of "A Committee of Supply," "That which Remained," "A Galley’s Day," "C/o G.P.O.," "Watch there, Watch!" "A One-Gun Salute," "The Greater Love," "A Picturesque Ceremony," and "Why the Gunner went Ashore," the following Naval Sketches were published originally in ’The Pall Mall Gazette.’ The first three exceptions appeared in ’The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News,’ ’The Magpie,’ and ’The Naval and Military Record’ respectively. The remainder have not before appeared in print. The Author’s best thanks are due to the Editors of the above Journal and Periodicals for their ready permission to reproduce these Sketches. *CONTENTS.* I. "D. S. B." II. CAPTAIN’S DEFAULTERS III. A GALLEY’S DAY IV. "NOEL!" V. THE ARGONAUTS VI. A GUNROOM SMOKING CIRCLE VII. THE SHIP-VISITORS VIII. THE LEGION ON THE WALL IX. A TITHE OF ADMIRALTY X. THE CHOSEN FOUR XI. A COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY XII. THAT WHICH REMAINED XIII. THE TIZZY-SNATCHER XIV. "C/O G.P.O." XV. THE "LOOK-SEE" XVI. "WATCH THERE, WATCH!" XVII. "FAREWELL AND ADIEU!" XVIII. THE SEVENTH DAY XIX. THE PARRICIDE XX. THE NIGHT-WATCHES XXI. A ONE-GUN SALUTE XXII. CONCERNING THE SAILOR-MAN XXIII. THE GREATER LOVE XXIV. "A PICTURESQUE CEREMONY" XXV. WHY THE GUNNER WENT ASHORE *NAVAL OCCASIONS.* *I.* *"D. S. B."[#]* [#] Duty Steam Boat. "The songs of Greece, the pomp of Rome, Were clean forgot at seventeen. Oh Lord! At seventeen!" —G. STEWART BOWLES. The Midshipman of the Second Picket Boat—that is to say, the boat with the bell-mouthed funnel of burnished brass and vermilion paint inside her cowls—was standing under the electric light at the battery door reading the Commander’s night order-book.