Edward Phillips Statham’s The Story of the “Britannia” recounts the history of the famous training ship that educated young cadets for the British Royal Navy. The book describes life aboard the Britannia, the methods of naval instruction, and the development of officer training, including some account of earlier methods and the new scheme introduced in 1903.
Statham conveys the discipline, traditions, and daily routine of the cadets who began their naval careers on the ship, as well as the broader evolution of naval education. The result is both a history and an affectionate portrait of an important institution. For readers interested in the Royal Navy, military and professional training, and the making of naval officers, it offers a detailed and engaging account.