Personal papers of Commander H O Hill:

Box 1: Spurling paintings from the covers of the 'Blue Peter' with articles on the same vessels (naval vessels).

Box 2: Spurling paintings from the covers of the 'Blue Peter' with articles on the same vessels (merchant vessels).

Box 3: Dimensions of the SUSSEX MAID, log of the schooner BOHEMIAN GIRL (England to Madiera, 1851). Articles on sailing vessels from the 'Blue Peter' and 'Trident' magazine, including details of luggers, dhows, schooners and ketches.

Box 4: Extracts from 'Geographic' magazine, including fishing for pearls in the Indian Ocean and 'Under canvas in the atomic age'. Amount of correspondence taken from 'Trident' magazine, photograph of Royal Navy Mine Watching Service dinner, Greenwich Section [1958 Reunion?]. Articles form the 'Nautical magazine', 'Blue Peter' and two lists of small sailing vessels taken from Lloyd's Register, 1870-1871 and 1876-1877.

Related Material further papers in MSS/70/131

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Administrative / biographical background
Hill was an early member of the Society for Nautical Research and became well-known for his valuable work in recording traditional working craft of the British Isles, such as Brixham trawlers and Cornish luggers. Following his education at Uppingham School and Cambridge University, he worked on marine oil engines at John I. Thornycroft & Co Ltd. At the outbreak of the First World War he joined the Navy as an engineer officer. He served on the battlecruiser HMS TIGER, being present at the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915 and the Battle of Jutland in 1916. After demobilization in 1919, he established a marine engineering business and later worked in road transport. He lived at Newlyn in Cornwall and started to study at first hand the local schooners, ketches and fishing boats. He was recalled to active service at the start of the Second World War. He was promoted to the rank of engineer commander in 1943 and mentioned in dispatches in 1944. Hill worked at the National Maritime Museum during the 1950s and after retirement passed over his large collection of negatives to the Historic Photographs collection. He was made Honorary Vice-President of the SNR in the year before his death.