Charles Basil Norton (1887-1968) was born in Worthing, Sussex. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 13 January, 1902. On 22 January 1909 he transferred to HMS Challenger and the Australian Station. The ship was on a tour of duty for training exercises with the Royal Australian Navy.

The journal (3 volumes) covers the period May 1909 to November 1910. The ship visited all the Australian State Capitals, many New Zealand ports (carrying out survey work around the west coast of the South Island), the Cook Islands, the Kermadecs and Fiji. Daily life aboard ship is described in great detail including: regular 'drills'; gunnery practice and equipment (there is a detailed illustration of a torpedo and its mechanisms); communications; diseases; religious observance; 'coaling'; parades and social events. Descriptions include the distances between various ports on each voyage, and notes on the climate and geography of the countries and island groups they visited. Also described are visits to museums, churches, botanic gardens, ceremonial arrivals and departures etc. and other activities during shore leave. Lord Plunket, Governor of New Zealand, was aboard during the Cook Islands visit and Sir Joseph Ward, Premier of New Zealand, returning from the Imperial Defence Conference, was a passenger from Fiji to Auckland. During the second voyage to New Zealand in August/ September of 1909, the ship was sent in search of the Clan Macpherson, reported missing in the vicinity of the Kermadec Islands. The search was unsuccessful but mention is made of Raoul Island and the pioneering Bell family. All three volumes are illustrated by Charles' own remarkable art work which incorporates local postage stamps, programme cards and newspaper clippings of notable or interesting events, as well as numerous photographs taken by himself or other members of the crew. The first volume contains an index to subjects and illustrations (see page 279). The last section of the third volume describes, in detail, life in a Naval Prison as it was then: the punishments, food allowances, work details (with oakum) and general conditions.

The reports and photographs describe missionary work carried out by Rev Barnard in Fiji 1929-1930, and the work of his wife, Winifred Barnard, who ran health clinics.

• Lewis E. Barnard, “Experiences by Land and Sea, August 30, 1929 – Feb. 11, 1930”, Nabouwalu, Fiji, Feb. 1930, Ts., 21pp.
• Lewis E. Barnard, “The Sixty Mile Tramp. Bua Circuit, Fiji. Feb. 1930”, Ts., 9pp.
• 2nd copy: Lewis E. Barnard, “A Sixty Mile Tramp. On tour of inspection of work in Bua Circuit, Fiji. Feb. 1930”, Ts., 9pp.
• Menu, SS Sonoma, en route from San Francisco to Sydney, 3 Mar 1930.
• Photograph album, Sydney and Fiji, 1929-1930. Photographs include: George Brown Methodist Missionary Training College, Sydney; Ah Tam, Health Centre Store; Lautoka, 1929; Davne; Nabouealu Mission House; On the Moraki ; Suva; W. Barnard, first white woman here – Narawai; Peni; Josesi; Ratu George, Willie, Alice; Moraki at Noumea.
• Photograph album. Damaged. Photographs include: On the Moraki; Lautoka Mosque; Win & Lewis; Adi Keva; Nabouwalu; Kabouwalu; Mission House, Nabouwalu; Nabouwalu village; Nabouwalu; View from front door; Mission House – Kolino, Gorieka & Salosi; Native Ministers, Nabouwalu and welcome to us; front verandah, Ratu George and family; Scouts; Santa; Baby Health Centre; Baby health Nabouwalu; Ah Tam; Baby Health Centre; Adi Lagi Lagi & Alice Brown, Toganivalu; Peni, Israli, Sukdao; Scouts; Marioni & Beni Keli; Narawai – 1st white woman there; after the hurricaine; Avenue of mango tress leading to the Mission House; after the wreck; Manasa who gave me the big conch shell; Mecki – Penni; Israle, Joni, Sukdao; Nabouwalu; Joe & Willy; L.E.B.; On Raicakacaka (tour of work): Williami; Luki and family – Native Minister; Esau & Maciea; Esau – Native Minister’s House (bed I slept on); On Raicakacaka; Guard of honour for us; Bua; SS Tui Labasa; Davilevu Fiji; Suva Hospital 1929-30; The Wharf, Suva; Bau; Nabouwalu Post Master and family.
See also PMB Photo 23, BARNARD, Rev. Lewis E., Photographs from the Methodist Mission in Fiji, 1929-1930.