Tristram was one of eleven Modified R-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in March 1916 as part of the Eighth War Construction Programme.

A total of 296 long tons (301 t) of fuel oil were carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[4] Armament consisted of three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk V guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the funnels.

[4] Tristram was laid down by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 23 September 1916 with the yard number 1482, and launched on 24 February the following year.

[8] On 16 November 1917, Tristram was part of the destroyer screen for the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, led by Lion, that provided distant cover at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight but did not engage with the enemy.

[11] As the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength after the armistice, both the number of ships and personnel needed to be reduced to save money.