A history of the first hundred years of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), covering the founders, early vessels, its expansion to the East, its fortunes through the years, and service in the First World War. There are illustrations of the following ships: William Fawcett; Precursor; Hindostan; Ripon; Chusan; Himalaya; Ceylon; Britannia; Peninsular; Caldedonia; Medina; Carthage and Stratheden. Appendix 1 contains a fleet list and silhouette sketches of the vessels showing the change in design between 1837 and 1937. Appendix 2 relates the development of the fleet. Appendix 3 gives details of P&O capital.