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[ General Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor, English soldier. ] Unpublished duplicated typescript giving an 'account of the Western Desert Campaign, the period of my Command in Cairo, and the story of my capture'.

Author: 
General Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor (1889-1981), English soldier, Commander of the Western Desert Force, North Africa, 1940-1941
Publication details: 
The first part dated from the 'Prisoner of War Camp, Sulmona, Italy'. 20 April 1941.
£600.00

116pp., 4to. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. On loose leaves, loosely inserted in a buff card folder. A negative duplication from microfilm, with the typed letters showing as white against a grey background. In three parts: 'The First Lybian Campaign' (86pp.), 'Period from end of 1st Lybian Campaign to the beginning of the 2nd Campaign' (12pp.) and 'Cyrenaica Again' (8pp.). A final 10-page section begins '11. 6th April'. With six parts of pages, giving clearer versions of passages unclear in the main typescript.

[ Commander Augustus Jacob, RN. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Augustus Jacob') to his brother 'Gay', one written from Balaclava Harbour during the Crimean War, the second describing an action he was involved in with cossacks and field guns.

Author: 
Commander Augustus Jacob (1839-1893), RN [ The Crimean War; FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan ]
Publication details: 
First letter [from Balaclava Harbour in the Crimea ] on board HMS Leopard, 12 December 1854. Second letter on board HMS Excellent, 7 December 1859.
£280.00

Jacob was one of the ten children (seven sons) of Archdeacon Philip Jacob (1803-1884). Both items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: 'HMS Leopard | Dec 12th. 1854'. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium on grey paper. To 'My dearest Brother'. The fifteen-year-old Jacob has a shaky grasp of spelling and punctuation.

[First World War Royal Navy Night Order Book.] Autograph Signed night order book of Lieut. Commander E. T. R. Chambers, relating to the destroyers HMS Kennet, HMS Welland and HMS Otter, and mostly spent around China.

Author: 
Lieut. Commander Ennis Tristram Ratcliffe Chambers (b.1884), Royal Navy [HMS Kennet; HMS Welland; HMS Otter; Commander R. M. Alleyne, RN]
Publication details: 
In 'S.553' Night Order Book ('Revised December, 1910') by Waterlow & Sons Limited, Printers, London Wall, London. 25 October 1911 to 4 March 1915.
£400.00

82pp., small 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged paper, in worn black cloth, with large printed official 'NIGHT ORDER BOOK' label on front cover, to which Chambers has added 'Captain's' in large letters, and 'TO BE RETURNED TO MY CABIN'. Ruled pages, with printed 'NIGHT ORDER BOOK, H.M.S. [name of ship in manuscript] | ORDERS.' at head.

[Harold Tomlins, Master, the Apolline.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H. J. G. Tomlins') to the ship's owners Messrs. Hankeys, explaining why he has had to put into port at Queenstown, Ireland, while transporting troops to Bermuda. With copy letter.

Author: 
H. J. G. Tomlins, Master of the Apolline brig, the property of Messrs. Thomson Hankey & Co., London merchants and banker; Captain W. Mosse; Edward Walker [Admiral Sir Henry Ducie Chads (1788-1868)]
Publication details: 
Tomlins to Hankeys: 'Ship "Apolline" | Queenstown Ireland'. 13 December 1856. Copy letter from the 'Hired Freight Ship | Apolline'. 10 December 1856.
£130.00

On 29 November 1856 The Times had reported that 'The 26th company of the Royal Engineers, under the command of Captain G. E. L. Walker, R.E., will leave the head-quarters of that establishment at Brompton Barracks, Chatham, this morning for Gravesend, where they will embark on board the Appoline, [sic] for Bermuda.' Both items in good condition, on lighty aged and worn paper. Both docketed by the recipients. ONE: Tomlins to Hankeys, 13 December 1856. 3pp., 4to. Bifolium.

Signature (and a few words) only, "Hill"

Author: 
General Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill, GCB GCH (1772-1842), became Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in 1828
Publication details: 
No place or date
£28.00

Signature cut from document, 4 x 2", stating, "humble Servant | Hill | General Comdr in Chief", with a few words in a different hand on the reverse.

15 items relating to Lieut. A.H. Ross's service in the Second World War as Platoon Commander in the Hertfordshire Battalion of the Home Guard, including Platoon photographs, Special Army Orders, service certificate, letter from Lt-Col. H. K. O'Kelly.

Author: 
Alexander Howard Ross (1880-1965), Commissioner, Southern Province of Sierra Leone, 1920-1928, Platoon Commander, Hertfordshire Battalion, Home Guard, 1940-1944 [Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Kane O'Kelly]
Publication details: 
Items from the War Office, London, and Hertfordshire. From 1940 to 1944.
£750.00

The fifteen items in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, laid down or pinned to leaves removed from an album. Items One to Three: three black and white landscape photographs, each around 15 x 20 cm. The first photograph, captioned 'November 1940', shows Ross standing in a field, in front of a platoon in two columns, shouldering rifles with bayonets. The second photograph, captioned '7. C. Coy of Batt., Herts Home Guard 1943', shows twenty-six officers, in three rows, in front of the entrance to a municipal building. The front row, seated, consists of seven senior officers with batons.

Typed copy of 1920 letter by Lieut Trevor Orchard Chichele Plowden, describing the Bolshevik massacre at Odessa of 'Denikens Volunteer Army', with Autograph Letter Signed by him while on HMS Firedrake in 1916, and three related items.

Author: 
Commander Trevor Orchard Chichele Plowden (1896-1942), RN [HMS Firedrake; HMS Ajax; Royal Navy]
Publication details: 
Autograph Letter on letterhead of HMS Firedrake, 18 November 1916. Typed Copy of Letter from HMS Ajax, Mediterranean Fleet, 19 February 1920, Constantinople
£400.00

For biographical information about Commander Plowden, see the Times obituary quoted at the end of this description. All five items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Item One: Typed copy of letter from 'Trevor' to 'Mother and Pater'. 2pp., 4to. Headed 'Copy'. With envelope addressed to Miss Martin Wood, c/o Lt. Gen Phelps, Woodbourne Grange, Edgbaston. (As Item Three shows, this copy was made by Plowden's mother for his aunt.) 'I told you we expected to go to the Black Sea from here and we did very shortly afterwards, to Odessa.

Autograph Signature ('J. C. Sherbrooke.') of Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, 'Commander of the Forces', Governor of Nova Scotia and Governor General of British North America.

Author: 
Sir John Coape Sherbrooke (1764-1830), Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and Commander of the Forces, Governor General of British North America
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£200.00

On piece of 6 x 8.5 cm. laid paper, cut from a document, with discoloration and traces of glue from previous mounting. Sherbrooke's signature is large and firm, with the words 'Commander of the Forces' in another, contemporary hand, beneath it. A scarce signature.

Mimeographed typed Armistice 'Special Order of the Day by General Hon. Sir J. H. G. Byng, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.', 'To all Ranks of the Third Army'. With two leaves of mimeographed extracts from The Times and Morning Post regarding 'the Iron Division'.

Author: 
Field Marshal Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy, Commander of the British Third Army in the First World War [The Great War; Armistice Day, 11 November 1918]
Publication details: 
Special Order of the Day dated 11 November 1918. Extracts from three newspaper articles, dated 1 October (2) and 11 November 1918.
£360.00

The three items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. All three are 1p., 4to, and printed in purple on government 'S O | ABSORBENT' paper. Item One: Special Order of the Day, 11 November 1918. Signed in type at foot: 'J. BYNG, General, | Commanding Third Army.' It begins: 'The operations of the last three months have forced the enemy to sue for an armistice as a prelude to peace. | Your share in the consummation of this achievement is one that fills me with pride and admiration.

Signed Typescript of the unpublished Second World War memoir of Commander Geoffrey Scott Stavert, Royal Artillery, 'Goodbye Campo 49. (A Slow March through Occupied Italy)', regarding his imprisonment and escape from a POW camp. With autograph note.

Author: 
Commander Geoffrey Scott Stavert (d.2002), of 155th Battery, 172nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery [J. L. H. Batt [Jack Lynden Batt] (b.1922],
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated. [Southsea, 1970s?]
£900.00

298pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper in blue ring binder. From the collection of J. L. H. Batt, who writes the following autograph note: 'Lt. Geoff. Stavert was E. Troop Commander of 155 Battery at Sidi Nsir Feb. 1943, & was my Troop Commander. On 26. 2. 43 I was up at the O.P as a Signaller on Hill 609.

Part Printed, part Manuscript Passing Certification, that H.A. Norman is fully capable of filling the situation of a Lieutenant in His Majesty's Fleet. Signed by Three Captains.

Author: 
[Naval Examination]
Publication details: 
Signed on board Bellerophon at Malta, 10 March 1837.
£125.00
Naval Examination

One page, folio, foxed, four small tears with no textual loss, fold marks, text legible and complete. It refers to the order for the examination being given by Admiral Sir Josias Rowley, gives details of his career in the Royal Navy (ship, entry, discharged, time, etc columnised), mention of certificates from his Captains (see #s9958-9962 in my inventory), statement of his competence, signed by three examining Captains naming their ships (Bellerophon , Samuel Jackson, Revenge, William Elliott, and Asia, William Fisher.

Reference in secretarial hand Signed G Trefusis (Captain, HMS Sapphire)

Author: 
Captain Hon. George Rolle Walpole Trefusis, Captain, Royal Navy
Publication details: 
No place given, 5 Jan. 1833.
£45.00
Captain Hon. George Rolle Walpole Trefusis

One page, c.18 x 11cm, trimmed, some foxing, but text clear and complete. As Commander of he Sapphire, he's certifying that H. A. Norman served as College Volunteer on the Sapphire from 10 Oct. 1832 to [15 Jan. 1833] with diligence, sobriety, etc.

Reference probably in secretarial hand Signed HJCodrington (Commander of the Orestes, later Admiral)..

Author: 
H.J. Codrington, sometime Admiral
Publication details: 
[Orestes] At Sea, 30 April 1836
£56.00
H.J. Codrington, sometime Admiral

One page, 20 x 16cm, some staining, but text clear and complete. As Commander of he Orestes he's certifying that Henry A. Norman served as midshipman on the Sloop Orestes from 7 Dec. 1835 to the date hereof and conducted himself with diligence, sobriety & attention, and was always obedient to command.

Autograph Reference Signed W Wellesley (Captain, HMS Winchester)

Author: 
Hon. William Wellesley, Royal Navy, Captain
Publication details: 
No place given, 1 May 1833
£45.00
Autograph Reference Signed W Wellesley (Captain, HMS Winchester)

Seven lines, one page, c.18 x 12cm, some staining, but text clear and complete. As Commander of he Wincheser, he's certifying that Henry A. Norman served as midshipman on the Winchester from 6 Jan. to 12 June 1833 and behaved with diligence, attention and sobriety, & was always obedient to command.

Reference in secretarial hand Signed W Wellesley (Captain, HMS Sapphire)

Author: 
Hon. William Wellesley, Royal Navy, Captain
Publication details: 
Sapphire, Halifax Harbour, 9 October 1832.
£45.00
Reference in secretarial hand Signed W Wellesley (Captain, HMS Sapphire)

One page, c.19 x 23cm, some foxing, but text clear and complete. As Commander of he Sapphire, he's certifying the Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy that H. A. Norman served as College Volunteer of the Ist Class on Sapphire and conducted himself with Diligence, Sobriety, etc.

Reference in secretarial hand Signed Jas.R.Dacres (Captain, HMS Edinburgh)

Author: 
James Richard Dacres, Royal Navy, Captain
Publication details: 
HMS Edinburgh, Malta Harbour, 6 Dec. 1835
£56.00
Reference in secretarial hand Signed Jas.R.Dacres (Captain, HMS Edinburgh)

One page, c.20 x 16cm, some foxing, but text clear and complete. As Commander of he Sapphire, he's certifying the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy that H. A. Norman served as Midshipman on the Edinburgh from 18 Nov. to [1 Dec. 1835] with diligence, sobriety, etc.

Autograph Letter Signed ('W. W. Fisher') from Admiral Sir William Wordsworth Fisher to 'My Dear Chief'.

Author: 
Admiral Sir William Wordsworth Fisher (1875-1937), Royal Navy, captain of a battleship at the Battle of Jutland, subsequently Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet
Publication details: 
4 June [no year]. Place not stated.
£56.00
Admiral Sir William Wordsworth Fisher

4to, 2 pp. Fourteen lines. Text clear and complete. Begins 'With my wretched attainments as a cricketer & golfer how otherwise can I do credit to my revered Chief and his band of brothers than by trying to keep my wicket up in this job?' Discusses 'those Jokers [members of a club?] whom HM has still to honour': 'we all consider that to be a Joker at all is quite enough for any man'.

Autograph Manuscript Notes for 'Deputy Controller's Course', in official Royal Air Force notebook. With two mimeographed typed documents relating to the Course, including one with introduction by Wing Commander Bradford.

Author: 
A. H. Anderson, L.A.C.; Wing Commander J. R. Bradford, Fighter Command, Controllers' Training Unit [Royal Air Force; Deputy Controllers' Course; Second World War]
Publication details: 
Notebook dated by Anderson on cover 'Woodlands, Clamp Hill, Stanmore. 27 October 1941.' One of the mimeographed documents dated from Woodlands, 26 June 1941.
£250.00
[RAF] Autograph Manuscript Notes for 'Deputy Controller's Course

4to 'Royal Air Force. Notebook for use in Schools', with Anderson's notes in pencil on all but 11 of its 96 pp. Text clear and complete, written in a neat, tight hand, with diagrams and tables. Fair, on aged paper, with slightly dog-eared corners, in worn and creased wraps. Ownership inscription on front cover of 'A. H. Anderson L.A.C. | Deputy Controller's Course | Woodlands. 27.10.'41'. Providing important first-hand insights into the procedure of the RAF during World War II. Subjects include 'Fighter Command Organisation', 'I.F.F. (Identification friend or foe)', 'P.P.L.

Typed Letter Signed ('Oliver Locker Lampson') to Dr E. E. Lewis.

Author: 
Oliver Stillingfleet Locker-Lampson (1880-1954), British Conservative Member of Parliament for North Huntingdonshire, Commander of an Armoured Car Unit in the First World War
Publication details: 
23 July 1913; on embossed House of Commons letterhead.
£100.00

One page, folio. Very good on lightly creased paper. Headed 'FIGHTING FUND' and listing the members of the 'PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE' (including Lampson as Honorary Secretary, and the Duke of Westminster and Earl of Malmesbury). Communication of twenty-seven lines, with decided proto-fascistic overtones.

Scrapbook entitled 'Lightning and other Records.'

Author: 
Commander James Liddell, Royal Navy, of Bodmin, Cornwall [thunder and lightning; thunderstorms; natural phenomena; meteorology; the weather]
Publication details: 
1860-1879.
£225.00

Small quarto of around forty pages, covered in easily in excess of a hundred press cuttings, primarily relating to lightning strikes, thunder storms and other natural phenomena. Internally loose but in reasonable condition, but externally in need of attention: the heavily worn original quarter-binding, has the leather spine worn away. Manuscript label, in Liddell's hand, laid down on the marbled front board. Several of the cuttings reproduce letters from Lidddell himself, the first, dated 'Bodmin, Dec.

Printed circular letter from Auchinleck 'To all officers whether belonging to the Staff or to the Services who are working in Headquarter Offices in this Command'. Consisting of a celebrated (and spurious) quotation from Wellington, and two cartoons.

Author: 
Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck, Commander in Chief, Middle East Command [Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington; military history; Second World War; British Army]
Publication details: 
01/05/42
£75.00

A celebrated and scarce piece of Second World War ephemera. Printed on one side of a piece of paper 33.5 x 21.5 cm. Text and illustrations clear and complete. In good overall condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper with small damp stain to top left-hand corner and repair on reverse to small closed tear. The text consists of a supposed 'Extract from a letter written by The Duke of Wellington from Spain, about 1810.

Autograph Note Signed ('E R Fremantle') to William Henry Kearsley Wright (1844-1915), Plymouth Borough Librarian, naval historian and antiquary.

Author: 
Sir Edmund Robert Fremantle (1836-1929), English naval officer, Commander-in-Chief at Devonport
Publication details: 
9 August 1898. On embossed letterhead of the Commander in Chief's Office, Devonport.
£28.00

12mo, 1 p. Very good on lightly-aged paper. Reads 'Dear Mr Wright, | I am sending you a photograph which I hope you will like, | Yours faithfully, | [signed] E R Fremantle'.

Printed handbill, with facsimile signature, of statement by Churchill beginning 'On what may be the eve of an attempted invasion or battle for our native land'. Addressed to Surgeon Commander Paterson, H.M.S. Victory.

Author: 
Winston Churchill [Winston Spencer Churchill; Surgeon Commander A. C. Paterson, H.M.S. Victory]
Publication details: 
Headed '10, DOWNING STREET, | WHITEHALL', and dated in print '4th July, 1940.'
£100.00

Printed on one side of a piece of unwatermarked cream wove paper. Dimensions roughly 24 x 19 cm. Folded and lightly creased, and with some staining (not affecting the text, which is entirely legible) to left-hand margin and top left-hand corner. 24 lines of text. According to Churchill's memoirs, this 'admonition' was 'circulated throught the inner circles of the governing machine' and then read to the House of Commons the following day.

Printed letter, with autograph additions and signature, from Hall to Paterson, concerning his 'plan for the quick application of mats for stopping leaks in Iron Vessels'.

Author: 
Captain Robert Hall (1817-1882), The Secretary of the Admiralty, Whitehall, London [Commander Paterson, RN; Victorian inventions]
Publication details: 
2 March 1876; Admiralty [London].
£85.00

Foolscap bifolium (leaf dimensions 33 x 20.5 cm). Good, on aged and lightly creased paper. The letter, the printed text of which invites the recipient to 'forward to this Office a clear description' of his invention, is on the recto of the first leaf. Particularising details and signature by Hall, who has addressed it to 'Commander Paterson R.N. | Brockhurst House | Brockhurst | Gosport | Hants'. Docketed and initialed by Paterson at head. The recto of the second leaf contains a printed 'Memorandum' by W. G.

Autograph Letter Signed ('J. R. Drummond | V Adml | Comr. in Chief') to Sir George Granville Randolph (1818-1907) ('Rear Admiral G. Randolph, C.B.').

Author: 
Vice Admiral the Hon. James Robert Drummond (1812-1895), Royal Navy, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean [Victorian; naval and maritime]
Publication details: 
H M S Lord Warden Malta | Feb 23rd. 1874'.
£85.00

12mo, 2 pp. On Drummond's embossed crested letterhead. Good: on lightly aged paper with corners a little dogeared and slight discoloration along one margin. Small glue stain from previous mounting at foot of reverse (not affecting text). Headed 'General Memo -'. Instructing Randolph 'to conduct all necessary evolutions relative to the exercise of guns, Sails, Boats - small arm | men landing, & Marines - on acting permission for the same from my Flag as he may find conducive to the instruction of the Ships of the Ships herein named of the squadron [five ships named at end of letter]'.

Typed Letter Signed ('O Locker Lampson') to unnamed female correspondent.

Author: 
Commander Oliver Locker-Lampson (1880-1954), Conservative MP for North Huntingdonshire (1910-22) and Handsworth (1922-45) [Hands Off Britain "Clear out the Reds" Campaign; communism; anti-communist]
Publication details: 
Undated; on letterhead of the 'Hands Off Britain "Clear out the Reds" Campaign', St. Stephen's House, Westminster.
£56.00

4to, 1 p, 9 lines. On behalf of his 'Committee' acknowledging his correspondent's 'kind letter with its generous contribution to the funds of our Campaign', adding 'a message of individual thanks from myself to you for your mostt encouraging support'. 'Our Campaign is prospering, and we hope soon to complete our success by the early expulsion of the Reds.' His correspondent's 'welcome help' is of 'great value'.

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