FORCES

[Sir Dermot Boyle, Marshal of the Royal Air Force and Chief of the Air Staff.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr. Dean’, regarding a signed photograph he is sending in place of a ‘very bad one’ which he urges him to destroy.

Author: 
Sir Dermot Boyle [Sir Dermot Alexander Boyle] (1904-1993), Marshal of the Royal Air Force and Chief of the Air Staff
Publication details: 
9 August 1963; on letterhead of Pauls Place, Sway, Hampshire.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. At the foot of the second page, in another hand (no doubt that of the recipient) are written Doyle’s details in red ink. Signed ‘D. A. Boyle’ and addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Dean’. He is returning the photograph he has sent, ‘endorsed in the way you ask’, but his wife agrees with him that ‘the photo you have got hold of is a very bad one so I am sending you another - also enclosed - which I hope you will use for your collection and destroy the other’.

[Hong Kong; natural disaster] Typed Letter Signed, cover for instructions etc (3 pp) J. B. Keenan, to C. A. A. Nicol, enclosing 'our instructions in the event of a civil disturbance or natural disaster eg Typhoon', map and 'warning signals'.

Author: 
Major J. B. Keenan, Royal Artillery, Camp Commandant, Land Forces Hong Kong [C. A. A. Nicol (1921-2012), Special Branch, Malayan Union Police Force and Royal Malaysian Police]
Publication details: 
Letter from Camp Office, Headquarters, Land Forces Hong Kong, British Forces Post Office 1; 18 October 1973.
£250.00

Totalling 4pp., sm.fol. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter (1p., 8vo) is a circular, and in it Keenan writes: 'Do not be alarmed at the sudden appearance of these instructions. Rather accept them as a fact that some one has your interests at heart'. The instructions (2pp., 8vo) are headed 'APPX 3 TO ANNEX D | CAMP HOLF SOP NO 2 | INSTRUCTIONS TO FAMILIES'. Divided into 13 sections, under the headings: Introduction; Wardens; Precautions; Children; Shopping; Special Warning Procedure; Leave; Finally.

[Sylvester, Lord Glenbervie and Thomas Steele, Joint Paymasters General of the Forces.] Both men's Autograph Signatures, with seals, to document witnessed by P. George Craufurd and Harry Harmood, appointing their attorneys.

Author: 
Sylvester, Lord Glenbervie [Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie] and Thomas Steele, Joint Paymasters General of the Forces; Patrick George Craufurd and Harry Harmood of Army Pay Office
Publication details: 
'this 26th. day of March In the Forty first Year of His Majesty's Reign, and in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and One.'
£250.00

See the entries for Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie (1743-1823), and Thomas Steele (1753-1823) in the Oxford DNB. The two men served as Joint Paymasters General of the Forces, 1801-1803. 2pp, foolscap 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip from mount adhering to the reverse of the leaf. Embossed tax stamp at top left of first page. The signatures of 'Thos. Steele' and 'Glenbervie' are at bottom right, with the men's seals in red wax beside them (Steele's in fair condition, and Glenbervie's lacking a segment from chipping). Witnessed at bottom left by P.

[Lord Charles Somerset and George Rose, Joint Paymasters General of the Forces.] Both men's Autograph Signatures, with those of witnesses Henry Hallam, William Stewart Rose, Henry Wrottesley and [Mark?] Blyth, to document appointing attorneys.

Author: 
George Rose (1744-1818) and Lord Charles Somerset (1767-1831), Joint Paymasters General of the Forces; Henry Hallam, historian; William Stewart Rose; Henry Wrottesley; [Mark?] Blyth
Publication details: 
'this 8th. day of November one Thousand Eight Hundred and five, in the forty Sixth Year o f His Majesty's Reign'.
£200.00

For information about George Rose (1744-1818) and Lord Charles Somerset (1767-1831) see their entries in the Oxford DNB. The two men served as Joint Paymasters General of the Forces, 1804-1806. Rose, who was a close friend of Lord Nelson, was mocked by Cobbett for enriching his family at the public expense. The present document, witnessed by one of his second sons the poet William Stewart Rose (1775-1843), appoints his eldest son, the future Sir George Henry Rose, (1771-1855), as one of the two attorneys of his office.

[John Hiley Addington and Thomas Steele, Joint Paymasters General of the Forces.] Signatures of the two men, with their seals under paper, and signatures of Augustus Hill Bradshaw, William Wood, Thomas Gibbes, to document regarding payment in Ceylon.

Author: 
John Hiley Addington (1759-1818) and Thomas Steele (1753-1823), Joint Paymasters General of the Forces; William Wood; Thomas Gibbes; Augustus Hill Bradshaw (c.1769-1851) [Ceylon]
Publication details: 
'this third day of January, in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and three [1803], and the Forty third year of His Majesty's Reign'.
£300.00

1p, foolscap 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to blank reverse. Folded twice. Embossed tax stamp at head. Twenty-three lines of text in a secretarial hand, signed at foot by 'Thos. Steele' and 'J. Hiley Addington', both signatures accompanied by seals under paper. To the left of the signatures: 'Sealed and Delivered being first duly Stamped in the presence of | Wm. Wood'. (Wood was a cashier in the Army Pay Office.) At foot of page: 'Entered in the Office for Auditing the Public Accounts 10th.

[ Sir Henry Torrens, Adjutant-General to the Forces. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Henry Torrens | Mil Secty.'), regarding the payment of 'the Extraordinaries of the Army'

Author: 
Major-General Sir Henry Torrens KCB (1779-1828), Irish soldier, Adjutant-General to the Forces
Publication details: 
Place indecipherable. 15 August <1809?>.
£180.00

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Reads: Dear Sir - | I am directerd by the Commander of ther Forces to request that you will pay the enclosed on account of the Extraordinaries of th Army.' Torrens was Military Secretary between 1809 and 1820.

[ Val Gielgud and Nicholas Vane. ] Unpublished Typescript 'Death Comes to the Hibiscus. A New Play by Val Gielgud and Nicholas Vane'.

Author: 
Val Gielgud (1900-1981), actor, director and author; and 'Nicholas Vane' [ Francis Durbridge (1912-1998), playwright and author ] [ BBC Radio; British Broadcasting Corporation ]
Publication details: 
'Val Gielgud | Broadcasting House [ BBC ], London, W.1.' and 'Nicholas Vane | (Francis Durbridge) | c/o Christopher Mann Ltd, 45, Fountain House, Park Lane, London, W.1.' Undated [ circa 1941 ].
£450.00

149pp., 4to. Carbon copy. On rectos of leaves only, and bound in a buff card folder with metal clasps. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding. The play centres around 'the "Hibiscus" night-club, one of those London resorts which are alike the despair of Social Reformers and the delight of the Forces when on Leave. It is situated somewhere between Berkeley Square and Dover Street.' The typescript is clearly an actual play and not a radio play, but there is no record of it having been performed on stage.

A List of the Flag-Officers of His Majesty's Fleet.

Author: 
[Royal Navy List, 1779; naval and maritime]
Publication details: 
January 1, 1779.
£300.00

12mo (dimensions of leaf 18 x 8 cm): [iii] + 16 + 34 pp. No title leaf and publisher not stated. Printed on the versos only of 53 leaves. Unbound. In contemporary marbled-paper and cloth-spine wraps. Text clear and entire, on aged and lightly stained paper. Loss and staining to rear wrap. A few annotations in pen and pencil in contemporary hands (for example 'Horatio Nelson' is marked out as 'Lord Nelson'). Ownership inscription of Jane Hume. From the papers of her relative, Charles William Paterson, Admiral of the White.

A List of the Flag-Officers of His Majesty's Fleet.

Author: 
[Royal Navy List, 1782; naval and maritime]
Publication details: 
January 1, 1782.
£220.00

12mo (dimensions of leaf 18 x 7.5 cm): [v] + 18 + 16 pp. No title leaf and publisher not stated. Printed on the versos only of 39 leaves. Unbound. In contemporary marbled-paper wraps. Dogeared and worn, on aged paper. Damage to last leaf causing loss of one word of text. From the papers of Charles William Paterson, Admiral of the White.

A List of the Flag-Officers of His Majesty's Fleet.

Author: 
[Royal Navy List, 1761; naval and maritime]
Publication details: 
July 1, 1761.
£220.00

12mo (dimensions of leaf 17.5 x 8 cm): paginated [5] to 20. No title leaf and publisher not stated. Printed on the versos only of 19 leaves. Unbound. In contemporary marbled-paper wraps. Dogeared and worn, on aged paper. A few annotations in a contemporary hand in pencil and ink. From the papers of Charles William Paterson, Admiral of the White.

[Sir Harry Calvert, Adjutant General of the Forces.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Calvert') to 'Mr. Ridge', regarding the conveyance of the 'Clothing for M: General Wattevelle's [sic] Regiment' following the Siege of Cadiz.

Author: 
Sir Harry Calvert [Henry Calvert] (1763-1826), Adjutant General of the Forces [Major Generral Louis de Watteville (1776-1836); Watteville's Regiment; The Siege of Cadiz, and War of 1812]
Publication details: 
Horse Guards [London]. 17 October 1812.
£140.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on aged paper, with slight wear to one edge. Regarding their previous correspondence, Calvert has 'directions to request' Ridge to inform him, 'if you are aware of any Steps having been taken, for conveying back the Clothing for M: General Wattevelle's [sic] Regiment, from Sicily to Cadiz - where that Corps is now stationed'. From Cadiz the Watteville's Regiment would be transferred to Upper Canada, where it would take part in the War of 1812.

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 copy of sermon to the British Eighth Army, headed 'CHRISTMAS 1942. | SERVICE BROADCAST FROM BETHLEHEM | "Of His Kingdom there shall be no end." St. Luke, I, v.33.'

Author: 
[Frederick Llewelyn Hughes (1894-1967), Archdeacon of the Forces and Dean of Ripon, 1961-1967; General Montgomery of Alamein; British Eighth Army]
Publication details: 
[British Eighth Army, Bethlehem, Palestine.] Christmas 1942.
£280.00

2pp., foolscap 8vo. On two leaves stapled together. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. This item is discussed in M. F. Snape's 'God and the British Soldier: Religion and the British Soldier in the First and Second World Wars' (London: Routledge, 2005). Montgomery described Hughes as 'the ideal of what an Army padre should be', and according to Snape: 'A major theme which seemed to emerge from the collaboration of Montgomery and Hughes in 1942 was the notion of the consecration of British arms to a higher purpose.

Three Autograph Letter Signed (all 'Eric') from Sir Eric de la Rue, 3rd Baronet, one to his father and two to his sister Diana, written during the Second World War as a Captain in the Notts Yeomanry, Middle East Forces (Egypt and Benghazi).

Author: 
Sir Eric de la Rue [Sir Eric Vincent de la Rue] (1906-1989), 3rd Baronet, son of Sir Evelyn Andros de la Rue (1879-1950) [Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry; British Army, Middle East Forces]
Publication details: 
Letter to his father: 17 March [1944]; 'H.Q. 215 Town Mayor M.E.F.' Letters to his sister: 4 May [1944] and 4 October [1944]. Both addressed from the MEF.
£220.00

All three are air mail letter cards. Each with 'Field Post Office' postmark and censor's stamp. The three in fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Letter One: To his father, 17 March [1944]. Addressed to 'My dear Father', with the envelope addressed to 'Sir E. de la Rue Bart. | The Sol | Cookham | Berkshire | England.' 1p, 4to, and 1p., 12mo. A light-hearted letter, in which he jokes about his father's inability to read the word 'Aviv' ('I suppose a series of "i"s and "v"s is rather difficult even if printed') and find the place on the map ('it is much larger than Bournemouth').

[Manuscript Notebook] "Officers of Land Forces | 1763".

Author: 
[British Land Forces in 1763]
[Manuscript Notebook] "Officers of Land Forces | 1763".
Publication details: 
[1763?]
£600.00
[Manuscript Notebook] "Officers of Land Forces | 1763".

Notebook, 7pp. used, 12mo, some staining and chipped corners but mainly good. A handwritten compilation of the commanding officers of British Land Forces at the conclusion of the Seven Years' War (The French and Indian War, 1756-1763).

Regulations for the Entry and Examination of Naval Cadets.

Author: 
Examination of Naval Cadets, Admiralty, 1865 [Royal Navy]
Publication details: 
Admiralty, 6th February, 1865. [Printed by 'W. Woodward, The Hard, Portsea.']
£35.00

Printed on one side of a piece of grey paper, 22.5 x 16 cm. Text clear and complete. In fair condition: lightly-aged and with remains of stub adhering to the blank reverse, on which a clean closed tear has been unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Nine regulations are listed, from 'I. No Person will be nominated to a Cadetship in the Royal Navy, who shall be under 12 or above 14 years of age at the time of his first Examination.' to 'IX. After having completed twelve months' instruction, exclusive of vacations, in the Training Ship, a Cadet will have to undergo the final examination.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Felicity Hill'). Together with autograph signature (also 'Felcity Hill').

Author: 
Air Commodore Dame Felicity Hill [Felicity Barbara Hill] (1915-?), Director, Women's Royal Air Force, 1966-1969
Publication details: 
Undated; from Worcester Cottage, Mews Lane, Winchester, Hants.
£35.00

The six-line letter, which is laid down on a slightly larger piece of lilac paper, was originally on one side of an octavo leaf, but it has had a strip (presumably carrying the name and address of the recipient) beneath the address cut away. It is now in two pieces: 5 x 15.5 and 12 x 15.5 cm. Otherwise very good. Laid down on the top piece is a slip of paper in Hill's hand, reading 'From: Air Commodore Dame Felicity Hill D.B.E. WRAF (retd)'. In the bottom right-hand corner of the second piece of paper is a strip carrying Hill's autograph.

Fragment of Autograph Letter Signed to 'Lt Colonel Buchanan - 9th Regiment'

Author: 
George Robert Gleig
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but docketed in pencil 'Garrison Chapel Portsmouth Oct. 1874'.
£28.00

Scottish 'Chaplain-General of the Forces' (1796-1888) and military historian. On piece of paper roughly 4 1/4 by 4 inches. Folded once. Very good. Reads 'Sincerely yours - | G. R. Gleig. | Lt Colonel Buchanan - | 9th Regiment' and on reverse '<...> the music of the Te Deum with which I was so greatly pleased, when I heard it sung by your Choir - You have got together an admirable body <...>'.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr. W. Blanchard'.

Author: 
William Devayne [the Committee of the General United Society for supplying His Majesty's Sea and Land Forces with Extra Cloathing]
Publication details: 
Dover Street | the 8th. Feb[ruar]y. 1794.'
£85.00

One page, 4to. Very good, though on discoloured paper, and with traces of grey-paper mount adhering to blank reverse and minor damage at foot affecting one word. Reads 'I am favored with your Letter of the 1st. instant, enclosing One Guinea subscribed by Rudston Calverley Rudston Esqr.

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