The Jena Campaign, 1806 by F. N. Frederic Natusch Maude

The Jena Campaign, 1806 by F. N. [Frederic Natusch] Maude lands on the shelves of my shop.

Greenhill, 1998, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Maps; Fold-Out Maps [4];

From the cover: Napoleons total defeat of the Prussian Army at the battle of Jena was one of the most dramatic actions of the Napoleonic Wars. In a balanced and gripping narrative, F. M Maude gives a key insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the two opposing armies as well as relating and analysing every move of the campaign. This volume is required reading for students of military history, combining the unfolding drama of one of the most mobile wars in history with a thorough and scholarly approach to each significant lesson taught by success as well as by failure.

With diagrams illustrating the combat tactics of the various arms of the opposing forces as well as excellent maps, which allow the twists and turns of a campaign that was fought across the breadth of Germany to be followed with ease, The Jena Campaign, 1806 is a classic of its kind and a vital addition to any Napoleonic library.

Colonel Frederic Natusch Maude was a noted historian of the Napoleonic Wars and of the military forces of the era. He was the author of numerous books and studies, including The Leipzig Campaign, 1813.

In the Napoleonic Library series.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Gently faded at the spine of the dust wrapper otherwise a very well presented copy.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [VIII] 202 pages. 8¾” x 5½”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Colonial Small Wars, 1837-1901 by Donald Featherstone

Colonial Small Wars, 1837-1901 by Donald Featherstone lands on the shelves of my shop.

Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1973, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Diagrams; Maps; Plans;

From the cover: Queen Victorias long reign was constantly disturbed by almost ceaseless warfare that flared along the extending frontiers of the British Empire, indeed there was not a single year in which somewhere in the world British soldiers were not in action.

From 1837 to 1901 in Canada, Afghanistan, India, Africa, and elsewhere, military expeditions were undertaken to protect British interest, extend a frontier or repel an unprovoked attack. It became in the Victorian era an accepted way of life.

In this lively and useful study Donald Featherstone, after defining small wars and describing the Victorian soldier and his weapons, covers all these minor actions in detail. Most of the accounts are complemented by specially drawn maps and plans which have never before been collected together in a single volume.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Gently bruised at the spine ends and corners with commensurate wear to the dust wrapper which is lightly pulled at the head of the upper panel. Text complete, clean and tight.

Blue boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 223 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9¾” x 7½”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Military Badge Collecting by John Gaylor

Military Badge Collecting by John Gaylor lands on the shelves of my shop.

Leo Cooper, 1983, Hardback in dust wrapper.

3rd (revised) edition, 1st printing, [First Published: 1971] Illustrated by way of: Black & White Drawings;

From the cover: It is an interesting paradox that, in spite of the rundown in strength of the British regular army and the cutbacks in the reserve forces, interest in military traditions has grown apace and many of those who were never called upon to do National Service are now collecting what are probably the most readily-found of militaria regimental cap-badges.

In this, the third edition of his book, John Gaylor, who is the Honorary Secretary of the Military Historical Society, treats every aspect of this fascinating hobby. He tells of the evolution of the present regimental badges from the numbered regiments of foot up until 1881, of the Volunteers, of the Territorials, the Home Guard, military cyclists, Kitcheners Army and many other unusual units. He gives much useful advice on the acquisition, mounting and storing of badges. New appendices deal with the tartans worn by Scottish infantry regiments and a full listing of all the infantry Volunteer battalions in 1908, just before the creation of the new Territorial Force.

With photographs of over 750 badges from 1881 to 1983 this book will continue to be invaluable as a guide and a work of reference to beginner and to experienced collector alike.

Very Good in Poor Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper heavily sunned at the spine, a little rubbed at the edges. Pages lightly age-tanned.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 163 pages. Index. 8¾” x 5¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Somerset at War, 1939-45 by Mac Hawkins

Somerset at War, 1939-45 by Mac Hawkins lands on the shelves of my shop.

The Dovecote Press, 1990, Hardback in dust wrapper.

2nd printing. [First Published: 1988] Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles; Maps; Tables;

From the cover: This is the first book to document the history of Somerset during the Second World War, and is thus one of the most important books on the county to have been published, for the story it tells is as dramatic as any in Somersets past.

The outbreak of war in 1939 left its mark on every parish in the county, and over the next five years was to bring the black-out, bombing raids, airfields, evacuees, American troops, nights on Home Guard duty or days in the Land Army, sons and daughters away in the Services, tales of heroism and hardship that even today have lost none of their impact.

Yet despite the suffering, an indomitable sense of humour shines through on every page. For in telling the story of Somerset at war, Mac Hawkins has left no stone unturned, evoking a period that will bring back a whole host of memories to those who lived through the war and yet is still relevant today. Two years of detailed research have gone into a text that is both accurate and readable, whilst the 200 illustrations, most of which have never been published before, superbly document what the realities of war meant to the people of Somerset between 1939 and 1945.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Price Clipped. Previous owners’ inscription to the first blank.

Green boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 216 pages. Index. 10½” x 8″.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Shooting Leave: Spying Out Central Asia in the Great Game by John Ure

Shooting Leave: Spying Out Central Asia in the Great Game by John Ure lands on the shelves of my shop.

Constable, 2009, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Drawings; Maps to the endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: Snow leopards and Cossacks can both be dangerous. But for young British officers in the mountains and steppes of Central Asia in the nineteenth century, the most excitement came from spying out those uncharted lands and impeding Tsarist Russias advance towards the frontiers of the British Raj. When both sporting and spying activities combined known euphemistically as shooting leave adventures followed thick and fast.

John Ure tells the thrilling story of the dashing cavalry officers who volunteered for these adventures individuals of talent and courage as well as disturbing prejudice, aristocratic arrogance, missionary zeal and trigger-happy temperament. But whatever their specific task, one factor remained common to officers sent out on covert and exploratory missions: they were expendable. Here they are brought to life as characters in their own right as well as players in the Great Game; the real stories behind the phantom worlds of Kipling, John Buchans heroes and Flashmans villains.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XXVII] 275 pages. Bibliography. 8¾” x 5½”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Drawing Fire: The Diary of a Great War Soldier and Artist by Len Smith

Drawing Fire: The Diary of a Great War Soldier and Artist by Len Smith lands on the shelves of my shop.

Collins, 2009, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles; Colour Drawings;

From the cover: To the reader.

In reading this diary it will be well to remember that it has with definite reason not been embellished or altered in any way from the original scrawl in an old French notebook.

I preferred to retain a faithful copy of the diary as written on the spot the spot being sometimes sordid, noisy, terrifying, wretched and utterly uncongenial to clear thought and orderly writing. And thus, tho it does not possess literary style, easy to read and understand. Yet I feel even in this very fact, it rings true and therein lies some claim to your kindly interest, as a faithful portrayal of the atmosphere which at that time prevailed.

It is a jotted down, rambling description of events day by day, strung together anyhow (as life was then) with no definite aim in view either to use or publish. Rather a mere pastime, just as one would take a hand at cards, or play the mouth-organ.

Remember too, there was always the persistent thought in the back of ones mind that it was all too foolish anyway that no effort was very worthwhile, there might never be a tomorrow”. Therefore friend, take it as it is written, a simple narration of how that big war in our time, touched the life of one, Smithie in France.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Gently bruised at the head of the spine and the top corners of the boards with commensurate wear to the dust wrapper. Text complete, clean and tight.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 381 pages. 9½” x 6¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Operation Millennium by Shaun Clarke

Operation Millennium by Shaun Clarke lands on the shelves of my shop.

Simon & Schuster, 1999, Hardback in dust wrapper.

From the cover: Britain is in the grip of millennium fever, as reactionary forces attempt to overthrow the infrastructure of the Establishment by any means necessary. Widespread social breakdown has led to paranoid religious and political movements enticing vulnerable people to their top-secret retreats, where they are brainwashed and turned into fanatics. The disenfranchised, disillusioned die-hard remains of societys forgotten dream are up in arms, with the fearful megalomaniac, Prince, as their leader. After planting several bombs in key London locations, their next target is Buckingham Palace and the Royal family

The only way to combat the threat of insurrection is by employing the QRF Quick Reaction Force with SAS Sergeant Lenny Cusack at the helm. The QRF is a legend in its own time, having successfully tackled every kind of terrorist threat, but pitted against the fervent genius of Prince its steely strength is tested to the maximum. And, while Cusack is undoubtedly the SASs hardest man, he is grief-stricken by the loss of his family to one of the religious groups he now finds himself up against

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Printers stamp to the title page otherwise a very well presented copy.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 340 pages. 9½” x 6¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Royal Army Medical Corps by Redmond McLaughlin

The Royal Army Medical Corps by Redmond McLaughlin lands on the shelves of my shop.

Leo Cooper, 1972, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black and White Photographs;

From the cover: This book, though short, is nevertheless the first comprehensive history of the Royal Army Medical Corps ever published. Formed in 1898 out of the old Army Hospital Corps (which had no officers) and the Medical Staff, it had the distinction of being granted the title Royal from its formation. It had owed much to the reforming zeal of Florence Nightingale, but such improvements as were made in hygiene and administration during the latter half of the nineteenth century had to wait upon the revolutions of the twentieth century in both transport and medical knowledge to reveal the amazing versatility, adaptability and courage of the new Corps. It was not, after all, very long before the First World War that Kipling wrote of The young British Soldier :

When youre wounded and left on Afghanistans plains
And the women come out to cut up what remains
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An go to your Gawd like a soldier

The author has not confined his story to broad outlines and threat campaigns. The moving record of medical work during Japanese captivity, the heroic surgery with the Maquis, and the superlative contribution of the medical reams at Arnhem, under conditions that remain unparalleled, are given their rightful place of honour. And, in contrast to these grim episodes, there is a brief, unexpected glance at a journey to the North Pole. This is not only the story of a Corps that has pioneered many major surgical advances, it is also the record of countless acts of heroism, epitomized in such men as Martin Leake and Noel Chavasse. It is a worthy memorial to them and a noble tribute to a wonderful and progressive body of men.

In the Famous Regiments series.

Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Small stickers cover a patch on the front pastedown, colophon on the title page and bibliographical data to the verso. Text complete, clean and tight otherwise.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 121 pages. 8¾” x 5¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!