See item level records.

Administrative / biographical background
The first rough copy diary covers the period 5 April 1916 to 7 January 1918. The second rough copy diary covers the period 7 January 1918 to 25 November 1918. The fine copy covers the period 5 April 1916 to February 1919 plus additional material not present in the rough copies/ The fine copy was written later. Smith chartered his voyages on a Royal Mail Steamship Packet map. The Avoca’s service history, as documented by Smith, appears to interweave with a number of significant historical events. As might be expected, the declaration of peace is recorded (as too is Smith’s demobilisation) but there is also a mention of the ship picking up White Russian refugees in 1918. In May 1916 the ship was anchored and coaling at the Falkland Islands when Shackleton arrived having recently made his famous voyage in the ‘James Caird’ – an arrival that is recorded in Smith’s journal. On-board the Avoca, Smith visited the Falklands and Rio, giving short descriptions of both places.