Supplement to the 'London Gazette' of 4 July 1916, with an offical account of the battle of Jutland.

'A Short Note on the design and issue of Postage Stamps, Prepared by the Survey of Egypt for His Highness Husein, Emir and Sherif of Mecca and King of the Hejaz', November 1918.

Commission as paymaster lieutenant, HMS VICTORY and TIGER (and amendment), September 1928.

Commission as paymaster commander, HMS PENELOPE, May 1941.

Copy of 'The Illustrated London News, 15 November 1941, with an article concerning the PENELOPE.

Official Report 'The Narrative of HMS PENELOPE During the Engagement of Italian Convoy by Force K on 9th November 1941'.

Official Report 'The Narrative of [the] Action off Cape Spartivento 9th November 1941.
'Ciano's diary 1939- 1943', excerpts of conversations with Mussolini concerning the projected Axis attack on Malta,1941 [These appear to be from a senior member of the Italian naval staff but this is not clear].

Notes concerning the ship's ledgers, HMS PENELOPE, 29 September 1942.
Reports and newspaper cuttings relating to the war in the Mediterrnean, the Malta convoys and HMS PENELOPE.

Supplement to the 'London Gazette', 16 Spetember, 1947, containing an official account of the battle of Sirte [which the PENELOPE was involved in], June 1942.

Large scrapbook containing press cuttings relating to the PENELOPE and war in the Mediterranean. Also includes several official naval signals and congratulations and a report 'The Narrative of HMS Penelope, engaged in sinking two enemy supply ships... 24 November 1941'.

Copy of 'Everybody's Weekly', 15 June 1957, with an article about the PENELOPE.

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Administrative / biographical background
Robert Frederick Sheppard was born in 1896 and became an assistant clerk in the Navy in January 1914. A year later he was promoted to clerk and by July 1917 had become assistant paymaster. He served on HMS CENTURION, ADVENTURE, AUSTRALIA, CANADA and DILIGENCE before becoming paymaster lieutenant in April 1919 when he became secretary to Admiral Madden on HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. During the Second World War Sheppard served as paymaster commander on HMS PENELOPE, a cruiser based at Malta. In November 1941, PENELOPE was part of Force 'K' which attacked an Italian convoy, sinking 4 destroyers and most of the supply ships. PENELOPE continued active in the convoy actions against Italian shipping in the Mediterranean, greatly hindering Italian operations in North Africa. In March and April 1942 Luftwaffe air raids over Malta caused great destruction and PENELOPE was badly damaged, enduring 16 consectutive days of bombing. Despite the continuing air raids, she was hastily repaired and sailed to Gibraltar under repeated air attack, arriving in late April battered but afloat, earning the sobriquet HMS 'Pepperpot'. Following participation in the Allied landings in Italy, PENELOPE was sunk by torpedoes from the U410 in February 1944. She sank in 10 minutes, 415 of the ships company of 650 being lost. Service record (up to 1919) available online at The National Archives ADM/196/174