The Great White Fleet was an international goodwill tour which advertised American diplomacy and naval might to the world. This diary was kept by Lawrence Rosenberger Thompson (1883-1973) of Montgomery County, PA, near Philadelphia. It begins with his enlistment in the Navy in September 1907. He was assigned to the battleship USS Georgia. Daily entries begin in Virginia on 16 December, when the Georgia embarks as the flagship of the fleet's second squadron: "Pres. Roosevelt arrives at Hampton Roads at 8 a.m. He is saluted by fleet's ships. . . . The Pres. heads the procession of 16 battleships out the bay as far as Cape Henry where he turns and meets the ships in single file. Each ship fires 21 charges from the saluting guns as he meets them. . . . The spectators show their loyalty by waving flags, handkerchiefs, hats, etc."
From there, the fleet stops in Trinidad, Brazil, Chile, Peru, several ports on the west coast of the United States, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, China, Ceylon, Egypt, and France. The formal reception of the fleet at each port is described, as well as Thompson's personal shore leave adventures in Lima, Peru (late February 1908), Los Angeles, CA (late April), Seattle, WA (late May), Auckland, New Zealand (early August), Sydney, Australia (late August), and Colombo, Ceylon (mid-December). On 28 April 1908 he notes in Santa Barbara, CA: "Bluejackets demolish one of the most prominent restaurants in town for overcharging." On 12 October 1908 he noted "Typhoons, several men of fleet lost overboard. One man (sentry) washed off Minnesota and picked up by Vermont. The fleet in general is well shaken up." The diary ends a month before the ship's return to Virginia. Records show that Thompson remained a machinist with the Navy through at least 1920.
With--a full typescript transcript of the diary One-page manuscript itinerary Folding world pocket map Patriotic bandanna from Camp Hancock, GA Pamphlet titled "U.S. Navy Ports of the World" Pamphlet titled "Old Glory Speaker," 1910 Postcard and Great White Fleet reunion dinner program from 1972--all housed in a period wooden trunk / writing desk, 10 x 9 x 14 inches and 2 silk banners from the USS Georgia in a large frame.