Brackenbury, John William, Admiral, 1842-1918.

The collection is a series of letters written by Brackenbury to his wife, 1870 to 1902. Other than these there are logs, 1862 to 1863, 1879; a diary, 1888; official service documents; official correspondence, 1879, 1881 to 1882, 1884, 1887 to 1892 and 1896; letters from other naval officers, 1879 to 1912, and papers relating to the Vitu operations and the VICTORIA and CAMPERDOWN disaster.

Administrative / biographical background
Brackenbury entered the Navy in 1857, served in the MARLBOROUGH on the Mediterranean Station, 1862 to 1863, was promoted to Lieutenant in 1865, to Commander in 1876 and in 1879 commanded the SHAH's naval brigade during the Zulu war. He became a Captain in 1881 and served in the THALIA during the Egyptian campaign of 1882. From 1886 until 1887 he commanded the HYACINTH, South American Station, and the TURQUOISE, East Indies, from 1888 until 1891, during which time he took part in the operations against the Sultan of Vitu. In 1893 he was Captain of the EDINBURGH and witnessed the collision of the VICTORIA and CAMPERDOWN. From 1894 to 1896 he was in charge of Naval establishments at Bermuda. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1896 and in 1898 served as second-in-command of the Channel Squadron in the MAGNIFICENT. Brackenbury received his commission as Admiral in 1905. Be married Frances Mary Francklyn in 1880.