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Catalogue No. 175 “Graspan”
August 2021
I have pleasure in presenting another catalogue of almost entirely new stock, with works of great interest and rarity in all sections. Notably, there are several scarce Boer War items among the selection of memoirs etc. of Victorian campaigns, and throughout the catalogue various memoirs and histories of the Royal Engineers from a fine private collection. I hope you will find something of interest within.
We are a leading dealers in rare and second hand books on British military history from around 1800 to 1945. The Great War, 1914-1918, has always been our speciality and we hold extensive stocks of regimental and divisional histories, official histories, standard works, memoirs, Rolls of Honour, Army Lists and so forth. For more information see www.turnerdonovan.com. |
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Boer War Episodes. [Comprising:] Vicissitudes of a Transvaal Dorp [bound with:] With Lord Methuen and the First Division [and:] Incidents in the Western Transvaal.
 Herbert Melville Guest was a Printer & Publisher at Klerksdorp, Transvaal, Proprietor of "The Mining Record" & during the Boer War a member of the Klerksdorp Town Guard. He published these three personal records between 1901-1902 (one or possibly more edition each of the first & third parts, four editions of the second part, but all doubtless in small numbers, issued in printed wraps. not present in this version). His son issued this combined edition, from the "few copies now available" of the original sheets in 1939. He states that "The value of the volume lies in the fact that it was written & produced when Klerksdorp was practically in a state of siege. Orig. red cloth, titled in black to front & sp., little stained & a little shaken, generally VG & these works scarce in any form. See illustrations on our website. 1939 £225
"Not so Quiet..." Stepdaughters of War.
 Promoted as the frank personal story of a VAD, later WAAC driver, Western Front ("An honest, unsentimental, savage record of a girl ambulance driver in France"), & frequently cited as such by historians, but Evadne Price never served in the forces or even visited France during 1914-18. Orig. cloth, titled in red to front & sp., VG in chipped but attractive dw & uncommon thus. See illustrations on our website. 1930 £125
Reports on the Raising, Organising, Equipping & Despatching The City Imperial Volunteers to South Africa.
 Consists of detailed reports on the raising of the C.I.V. in 1900 including several rolls of those involved on the various committees established at the time (Finance, Transport, Clothing & Equipment, &c.) & of the volunteers for the unit, all ranks, noting their parent regiment, &c., plus supplementary drafts. These four parts were prepared in 1900 (but here published for the first time) & are followed by an Appendix compiled in 1902 consisting of further rolls & details, those mentioned in despatches & otherwise honoured, &c. Near fine copy of the superior edition for presentation to those involved in the raising of the C.I.V. Extremities little rubbed o/w near fine & an exceptionally interesting example. See illustrations on our website. £375
The Dardanelles. The Landing of the 29th Division in Gallipoli & Four Months After.
 The anonymous author was an officer of the 1st West Riding Field Co., Royal Engineers. Contains: "Extracts from my Private Diary, with slight extensions & additions. From leaving England Match 18th [1915], with the 29th Division, to returning from Gallipoli, Aug. 25th." He landed from the 'River Clyde' at V Beach on 25th April 1915, participated in the establishment of the beachhead & first line & subsequent operations until evacuated to a hospital ship (whether wounded or sick is not stated) on 12th August, sailing for the UK on 29th August. A small but appealing & rare work, evidently privately printed. No copy on Library Hub (formerly COPAC). See illustration on our website. £165
The Light Track from Arras: A Descriptive Account of the Activities of the 19th & 31st Light Railway Companies, Royal Engineers, during the World War.
 Rare history, hand printed text & plates from real photos. The author was a cpl. in charge of Tractor Drivers in 19th LRC & was assisted by several other former officers & men in the compilation of this book. VG orig. blue cloth with paper label to front. See illustration on our website. £145
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One Mole Rampant.
 Rare & most appealing privately printed memoir & diary chronicling Gardner's enlistment in the HAC (Infantry) in 1914, service in France from September (Kemmel trenches &c.) then commissioned RE in March 1915 & (having studied mining engineering) attached 172nd Tunnelling Coy., giving admirable notes on ops. at Hill 60, the Bluff, St Eloi &c. until posted home to the Ministry of Munitions in the latter part of August 1915. He was MiD for tunnelling work in 1915. All copies of Gardner's memoirs were given to friends & acquaintances, this example ink-stamped to tp No. 330. Orig. wheat cloth, gilt, little worn/stained, VG. See illustration on our website. 1920 £260
Tanks, Light, Marks IIA & IIB Instruction Book 1933.
 Detailed descriptions of engine & systems, maintenance & running instructions, with equally detailed drawings of various components. Contents retained by cord in official buff printed paper covd. wraps with cloth backstrip, titled to front: "Instruction Book for Light Tanks All Marks." VG & scarce (750 copies printed) with contemp. ownership inscrip. of Capt. E.R. Litchford (Royal Tank Regiment, later Lt.-Col.). See illustrations on our website. 1933 £145
19th Field Survey Company Royal Engineers: Overseas Service 1939-1946.
 Illustrated map of Europe & African continents depicting movements & activities of the unit from Iceland to PAIFORCE & Italy, Germany & France, with letterpress history 1939-46 (approx. 1500 words) & attractive marginal sketches & decorations, plus explanation: "During almost six years of war the 19th Field Service Coy. RE has travelled many miles in three continents, ranging from the Icelandic winter to the South Persian summer... This memento of out travels together is but a brief outline... The good times are well remembered & the not so good times are covered by a mask of humorous incident..." Dec. wraps., attractive & scarce. See illustrations on our website. £95
Memories of Arthur Simmons.
 Memories and recollections by his brother officers in 6th (Home Defence) Brigade of Lieutenant Arthur D. Simmons, 189th (Naval) Squadron Royal Air Force, who was killed in a flying accident on 26th February 1919 and is buried in Knottingley Cemetery. Includes accounts of flying Bristol fighters during German raids and two of Simmons' own reports of previous air crashes. Indeed, he had only recently rejoined the Squadron when he had his final crash, and it is indicated that he was not fully fit. Orig. blue cloth with printed paper labels to spine & front board. VG. See illustration on our website. £225
Arthur Leahy, Colonel, Royal Engineers
 Dedicated by the compiler "To my Godson, Believing that in after years the following brief memoir of your father may be of interest... I have had it reprinted from 'The Royal Engineer Journal,' for which it was written... Our acquaintance commenced in the Camp before Sebastopol in 1854..." Leahy was commissioned in 1848, served in the Crimea &c. Contemp. full chocolate calf, gilt title to front, gilt & blind rules to edges, little rubbed, generally VG & a unique copy with author inscrip. to Mrs Arthur Leahy, Xmas 1880, with another family inscrip beneath: "In Loving Memory to Edith Constance Leahy from Beatrice Marion Leahy August 1934." Five Victorian photo. portraits pasted to front blanks, at least two presumed to be Col. Leahy, also two of a lady (probably his wife). One photo. appears to have been removed, & loosely inserted is a contemp. photo. of a memorial to him & his brother in an unidentified English church. See illustrations on our website. £120
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