At the outbreak of war in 1914, Rudyard Kipling threw himself into producing works to support the war effort. In 1915, Kipling was approached by the Daily Telegraph to produce short articles on the lesser-known divisions of the Royal Navy. They were combined and published under the title The Fringes of the Fleet in November the same year. Each of the five sections is preceded by a short patriotic poem. These poems were later set to music by Edward Elgar, making their debut at the London Coliseum in June 1917.

This is King George V's personal copy of the book, which he has signed at the top of the front board.