Letters sent by George Alexander Ballard during the First World War to his mother, sisters, and children. Letters dated August 1914 to April 1916 cover his time as Admiral of Patrols responsible for defending the Eastern Coast of Great Britain. These record the many challenges faced by his command, including mines, submarines, zeppelin raids and false alarms. They also touch on the raids by the German High Seas Fleet on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. Letters from August 1916 to November 1918 were sent while he was Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard and cover efforts to protect allied shipping in the Mediterranean from attack by submarines and wartime life in Malta. Ballard also commented on the general course of the war and on the challenges of cooperation between the Royal Navy, French and Italian forces in the Mediterranean. The final letters are from time spent on half-pay as he moved towards retirement.