battle royal (31 resultados)

Hard Back. Condición: Good Clean Cond. Dust Cover Illustrated Ilustrador. Quality Hardback : hard cover edition in Very Good condition, some slight wear to edges, as normal for age of book; and in a Good Dust Jacket with some egde wear and slight chipping. Overall good / nice copy of this scarce title. Excellent reading on the subject. A good book to enjoy and keep on hand for yourself, or would make a GREAT GIFT for the fan / reader in your life. Reading is one of the great pleasures in life. Dust jacket has been tape repaired . Please send us a note if you have any questions. Thank you. Book.

Audio CD. Condición: New. 1990. 1 disc. Excellent condition. Still in shrinkwrap. CD40.

Audio-CD. Condición: Sehr gut. 7 tracks, Namenseintrag im Booklet, ansonsten sehr gut erhalten. ISBN: 077774735520 Sprache: Deutsch Gewicht in Gramm: 550.

Condición: New.

Condición: Fine. First edition thus hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 9½'' x 6¼''. Contains 270 pp with monochrome and sepia archive photographs throughout. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. 6'' x 4½'' private colour photograph of the author at his home in Bungay, Suffolk, loosely inserted. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

8'' x 5'' flown cover No. 343 of 720 post marked 2nd August 1990 | SIGNED to the front cover 'A. L. Winskill' and 'N. Beresford' | Royal Air Force stamp to the rear Benson 30th July 1990. One small cachet insert. Member of the P.B.F.A BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Condición: Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 9½'' x 6¼''. Contains (viii)-2, 258 pp with monochrome archive photographs throughout. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. Loosely inserted 7'' x 5'' Number 163 of 200 photograph of Air Commodore Peter Malam Brothers reproduced by the Joint Services Charities Consortium SIGNED to the bottom white margin 'Peter Brothers', SIGNED to the rear by Stephen J. Hill J.S.C.C. Project Officer + The Battle of Britain information card on Air Commodore Peter Malam Brothers. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Condición: Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 10'' x 7''. Contains 263 pp with monochrome illustrations throughout. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. SIGNED by the author to the title page 'With best wishes | Tom Neil 249 Squadron 1940 - 1942' Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Condición: Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original caramel cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 8¾'' x 5½''. Contains (xvi), 218 pp with monochrome archive photographs and illustrations throughout. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. SIGNED by the author opposite the title page 'To David (David Lewis | Lewdon?), With warmest and sincere thanks for your warm understanding of my book. Geoffrey. July, 1981.' Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Condición: Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original steel blue cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 10'' x 7''. Contains 259 pp with monochrome illustrations. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. SIGNED by the author to the title page 'With best wishes | Tom Neil 2012' + 7'' x 5'' private colour photograph of the author and Tony Iveson sitting together at a private ceremony. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Condición: Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original deep navy cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. Quarto. 10'' x 7''. Contains (xii), 292 pp with many hitherto unpublished monochrome archive photographs throughout. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. SIGNED by Tom Neil to the title page 'With best wishes - Tom Neil | 249 Squadron 1940 - 42'. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. ROYAL AIR FORCE (RAF).

Condición: Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original blue cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 9½'' x 6¼''. Contains 205 pp with monochrome archive photographs throughout. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. + No. 722 of 1366 Squadron Leader Terence Malcolm Bulloch flown cover Post Office stamp 10th January 1978 SIGNED 'T. M. Bulloch' to the front cover | Two stamps to the rear (i) Royal Air Force 120 Squadron Kinloss (ii) United States Naval Station Keflavik. Certification signed by L. Marney. + Loosely inserted hand written George Cross Island Association letter headed paper dated 24th December 1992 from the author who at the time was the Vice President | SIGNED 'Tony Spooner'. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. WORLD WAR II (Second).

Condición: Fine. First impression of the new edition | First edition thus hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 9½'' x 6¼''. Contains 270 pp with monochrome and sepia archive photographs throughout. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. SIGNED by the author to the title page 'With best wishes | Tom Neil 249 Squadron 1940 - 1942' + 7'' x 5'' private colour photograph of the author and Tony Iveson sitting together at a private ceremony + A4 typed letter dated 28th December 2011 from the author's private residence in Bungay SIGNED 'Tom Neil' + A4 typed letter from 249 Gold Coast Squadron Association SIGNED 'Tommy Cullen' Honorary Secretary + press clipping. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Condición: Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original cream cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 9½'' x 6¼''. David joined the RAFVR in 1937 and later obtained a short-service commission. In early 1939, he was posted to 87 Squadron, and he accompanied the squadron to France. On 10 May, the first day of the German invasion, David claimed his first aerial victories. He was awarded the DFC on 28 May, for his actions during the Battle of France, having shot down eleven aircraft in less than two weeks. Contains (vii), 212 pp with monochrome archive photographs to the centre pages. Fine condition book in Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. SIGNED by the author illustrated Hurricane printed bookplate to the title page 'Dennis David' + loosely inserted Number 8 of 12 Dowding and The Battle of Britain flown cover 26 July 1992 SIGNED by the author to the front cover 'Dennis David' + tipped-in cachet card to the half-title page. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Condición: Very Good. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 8½'' x 6''. Contains 312 pp with double-page map and monochrome archive photographs to the centre pages. Tanning to the closed text block edges. Very Good condition book in Very Good condition dust wrapper with small tear to the bottom of the spine, not price clipped. This copy of Turncoat brings together two pilots and second world war heroes who both had remarkable escapes after being shot down. Air Commodore Sir Archibald Little Winskill and Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling. This is Crowley-Milling's copy with his printed name and address in Fakenham to the front free end paper, the address is crossed out and his new address (Henley-on-Thames) written in, presumably, in his hand. Enclosed is a typed letter to Denis from Winskill who had borrowed the book from Crowley-Milling and SIGNED 'Archie'. He has also indicated on the letter the pages in the book relevant to his story, both men appear in the index. Also enclosed are two flown covers, each one SIGNED Sir 'Archibald Little Winskill' and Air Marshal Sir 'Denis Crowley-Milling', with information cards inside each. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. WORLD WAR II (Second).

Condición: Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original colour illustrated glazed boards. 8vo. 9¾'' x 7''. Contains (vii)-1, 216 pp with monochrome archive photographs throughout. In Fine condition. SIGNED by the author to the title page 'With best wishes - Tom Neil, -249 Sqn 1940 - 1942' + photo corner mounted 6'' x 4'' private colour photograph of the author at his home in Bungay, Suffolk, opposite the title page. Supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with traces of mount, and red wax seal, adhering to the reverse of the second leaf, which is franked (the franker's name and signature illegible) to 'Sir John Phippart [sic] | &c &c | No 8 New Burlington St'. Slight loss to one corner of second leaf, from breaking open of seal, with damage to one word of text. The recipient is the naval writer John Philippart (c.1784-1874), and the address is in fact that of the publishing house of Colburn and Bentley, publishers of the Naval and Military Gazette of which Philippart was the editor. The letter, which concerns a contribution to that journal by Dundas, begins: 'Dear Sir | I shall send in a few days another conclusion to your journal which I think you will deem better worth insertion than my foregoing one. It contains the battle of Fuentes and some matter immediately succeeding'. Dundas hopes that Philippart will find room for the piece in the number for March, and explains that it will take at least as much space 'as the Artle you mention to be in the Jany No and which has not come to hand'. In a postscript he asks, 'If it is not a secre[t,] Pay who is [binded?] whose opinion in my respects coincide with mine?'.

This is an extremely scarce item, not held by the Imperial War Museum, and significant for the five-page eye-witness account it contains (pp.29-33): ''H.M.S. "Ardent" and the Jutland Action. / By A. M.', i.e. Lieutenant-Commander Arthur Marsden, who was in command of the Ardent and one of only two survivors of its sinking. It is remarkable that he was allowed to disseminate such a candid account (for the perusal of naval cadets!) within months of the engagement. On cover: 'The Britannia Magazine / Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. / Christmas, 1916.' and printers' slug. 4to, 36pp and further three plates. On shiny paper and in brown printed wraps. Staples rusted and some leaves loose; some staining and wear, but in fair condition for such a frail survival. Containing - after list of officers, masters and cadets - editorial and 'chapel' notes, correspondence, articles, cartoons, reports of 'Soccer' and 'Rugger', 'Beagling Notes'. But it is Marsden's account that is of significance. Two extracts will convey the tone: 'The enemy ships suddenly switched off lights and "ceased fire." I could feel the ship was sinking, and said so to my 1st Lieutenant (Lieut. C. E. F. Egan) who was also on the bridge, and told him to get out the boats and rafts, or what might be left of them. I tried to get down the starboard bridge ladder, but that was shot away. The port one was hanging by a shred, and I slid down that. The Leading Telegraphist came up to me in the quietest and most matter-of-fact way and asked if he should make any report. I told him what to make, and he saluted, disappeared, and I never saw him again. The Leading Signalman came up and said in the most cheerful way, "Well, the old Argent done her bit all right, Sir." The ship was nearly gone; so it remained for us to try and save as many of the crew as possible.' And: 'I spoke to many men, and saw most of them die one by one. Not a man of them showed any fear of death, and there was never a murmur, complaint, or cry for help from a single soul. Their joy was, andn they talked about it to the end, that they and the Ardent had "done their bit," as they put it. While there were still many alive, a German came close and fired a star-shell over us. I could see her distinctly and was all for giving her a hail, but the men all said "No"; they agreed that they would sooner take the remote chance of beig saved by an English ship rather than be a prisoner in Germany. I was nearly done in once or twice in the first hour by men hanging on to me in the last stages of exhaustion and I was separated from my lifebuoy and was pulled right over in the water, but managed to recover myself and the buoy. None of the men seemed to suffer at all; they just seemed to lay back and go to sleep.'.

Landscape 4to. Numerous captioned half-tone reproductions of photographs. Very good in the original black cloth, gilt, just a little rubbed, barely perceptible ring-mark to the upper board. 92pp. N.p., n.d. Fascinating and highly uncommon collection of images, contributed by participants, of the actions of the B.C.F, includes the progress and aftermath of the Battle of Jutland. It seems highly likely that Beatty may have had this produced himself solely for personal presentation.   This copy inscribed on the front free endpaper, "To H.R.H. The Prince of Wales from his First Commander of his Battle Cruiser Fleet i.e. Feb. 15 to Dec. 16, Beatty." Prince Edward, later Edward VIII - later still the Duke of Windsor - was commissioned in the Grenadier Guards in 1914 but was forbidden a combatant rôle for fear that he may be captured and used as a hostage. He was posted to the Staff of the BEF and spent most of the War abroad; "attached to various headquarters but essentially serving as a visitor of troops and general morale-raiser." [DNB] However, his younger brother Albert, "Bertie", who was to become George VI at the Abdication, was not forbidden active service and was present at Jutland as a sub-lieutenant on the Collingwood.   OCLC records copies at NMM, Leeds and NLS.

It is hard to do justice to this vivid, informative and well-written 250,000-word account of the author's First World War service as Medical Officer In Charge attached to three regiments on the Western Front, present during the Battle of the Somme, Kaiserslacht and Hundred Days Offensive. It is hard to conceive of a better account of the day-to-day activities of a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps on active service during the Great War. The author is observant, intelligent and diligent in his duties, which involve attending to the wounded, being called to certify deaths at all hours of the day or night, doing the rounds of the wounded, holding sick parade, the supervision of field ambulances and the maintenance - and on one occasion the construction under fire - of aidposts. He discusses the conduct of the war, describing in detail how he and his colleagues are informed about the forthcoming Battle of the Somme; and discusses the armaments and vehicles involved (there are a number of references to the war in the air), and describes (as a medical man) of the effects of poison gas, reveals the comments made by a German officer while under interrogation, following the capture of a German patrol, a 'stunt' which wins the DSO for his colleague Lieut. J. J. Tynan (see his 1948 obituary in the Irish Times). He pokes repeated fun at his corps commander 'Hunter-Bunter', i.e. Sir Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston (see Oxford DNB), and describes 'our review' by Kitchener and the Prince of Connaught. The environment and everyday privations of active duty are described with occasional use of army slang, and there are frequent reference to the tangled maze of trenches, whose features are named to evoke life back home ( Edgware Road, Kings Road, Winchester Street, Tube Station, Chocolate Corner, the Covered Way). Instances of German subterfuge are also described, the writer not being well-disposed towards 'the hun', 'bosche' and 'Fritz'. There is much gossip and small talk, and description of pastimes, sightseeing and entertainment (while waiting for demobilization he purchases a piano and forms a 'jazz band'.), with mention of his activities while on leave in England. The weather is assiduously described, sometimes in eloquent terms (15 March 1916: 'A damp drizzly morning blossomed into a grand day' and 30 March 1916: 'The huns abused this beautiful warm morning by commencing early to shell the Rue de Bois just behind our H.Q.'). There are notes on terrain and other matters, and a number of transcriptions of official documents, and some statistical tables, including two pages of 'Operation Orders for Gas Beam Attack' in June 1918. He writer's attitude to the 'jolly old war' is surprisingly positive on demobilization. The eighth and last volume ends with an 'Envoi' summing up his feelings regarding his experiences, in which he expresses regret that 'the war is won and done', stating that it was something he 'would not have missed for anything', and noting that the 'periods of intense activity more than compensated for the monotony and boredom. It caused me to meet and to live with all sorts and conditions of men under all sorts and conditions of environment, from the magnificence of the Chateau de Selincourt to the misery of the front line trenches in mud and shellfire, where one had to trample over the bodies of dead comrades, sometimes inevitably over even the faces of men dead but a few moments, men one had seen and talked to day by day, to reach a spot ahead where lay ones work, the patching up of torn bodies of those still alive. At times it has been ghastly, but the ugliness, the sordidness, the discomfort, hunger, gas, death, all these miseries fade from the memory in time, from the conscious memory at any rate'. He feels that when most of the survivors have scattered, those who are left in the army will soon be 'seniors, looked to for advice and direction by a younger generation who have not had the - to them - enviable experience of s.

Condición: Fine. First edition in publisher's original colour photographic card wrap covers (soft back). 8vo. 9¼'' x 7''. Contains 80 pp + covers with monochrome archive photographs throughout. Feint crease line to the top front corner, else in Fine condition, no dust wrapper as issued. SIGNED by the author to the title page 'With best wishes - Tom Neil, -249 Sqn. 1940 - 1942'. Member of the P.B.F.A. AEROPLANES.

A nice piece of WW2 RAF ephemera, written on the eve of the Battle of Britain. Scarce: the only copies on JISC at the National Library of Scotland and Bishopsgate Institute in London. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The 'Text of the Letter' is printed across the centrefold, with an introduction on the first page, reading: 'Among the personal belongings of a young R.A.F. pilot in a Bomber Squadron who was recently reported "Missing, believed killed," was a letter to his mother - to be sent to her if he were killed. / "This letter was perhaps the most amazing one I have ever read; simple and direct in its wording but splendid and uplifting in its outlook," says the young officer's station commander. "It was inevitable that I should read it - in fact he must have intended this, for it was left open in order that I might be certain that no prohibited information was disclosed. / "I sent the letter to the bereaved mother and asked her whether I might publish it anonymously, as I feel its contents may bring comfort to other mothers, and that every one in our country may feel proud to read of the sentiments which support 'an average airman' in the execution of his present arduous duties. I have received the mother's permission, and I hope this letter may be read by the greatest possible number of our countrymen at home and abroad."' The letter, in smaller type, begins: 'Dearest Mother, - Though I feel no premonition at all, events are moving rapidly and I have instructed that this letter be forwarded to you should I fail to return from one of the raids which we shall shortly be called upon to undertake.' Concludes: 'I count myself fortunate in that I have seen the whole country and known men of every calling. But with he final test of war I consider my character fully developed. Thus at my early age my earthly mission is already fulfilled and I am prepared to die with just one regret, and one only - that I could not devote myself to making your declining years more happy by being with you; but you will live in peace and freedom and I shall have directly contributed to that, so here again my life will not have been in vain. / Your loving Son'.

For information about this brave and gallant man, who offered himself to be hanged in place of his fellow officers during the Nore Mutiny, see his entry in the Oxford DNB. The presence of these four items together may indicate a Victorian autograph dealer as the source, or perhaps a family member wishing to distribute keepsakes. Some with tantalizing fragments of surviving text. All four in good condition, some with fold lines. ONE: 14.5 x 6.5 cm. On one side: '[.] Ever your truly obliged and / Affectionate Friend / Edward O'Bryen'. On other side: '[.] of the Lord with dutiful & [.] / [re]signation to his Almighty Will! [.] / [.] stay me, yet will I trust in Him [.] / [.] the Compassionate Father, who m[.] / [.] [J]udgment with Mercy & alleviate [.]'. TWO: 11 x 5.5 cm. On one side: '[.] I remain / Yours truly grateful / & very affectionate / Edward O'Bryen'. On other side: '[.] I have a few more Paragraphs for you; & will endeavour to seize on as many Bons [sic] Bons as may come [.]'. THREE: 13 x 4 cm. On one side: '[.] & most affectionate / Edward O'Bryen'. On other side: '[.]aminton till We should [.] / [.] answer to a Letter to be [.] / [.] that Night's Post - Therefore [.]'. FOUR: 12 x 4 cm. On one side: '[.] believe me ever / Your most affectionate / Edward -'. On the other side: '[.] darling [evermore?] [.] / How ardently I long for [.]'.

See his entry, and that of his son, in the Oxford DNB. Hornby served as Superintendent of the Royal Naval Hospital and Victualling Yard at Plymouth between 1832 and 1838. This item is 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium with thin mourning border. Fifty lines, neatly and closely written. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight damage and a few closed tears around gutter. Folded for postage. Signed 'Phipps Hornby', and with recipient ('My dear Sir') unnamed. Pencil note giving note by recipient at head of first page, giving prices for butter and cheese 'for the Year 1834'. A naval hero oversees victualling: 'I have been giving the best consideration in my power as to the price that should be fixed as a compensation for the Butter and Cheese now served to the Ordinary in the event of its being discontinued and am of opinion that if six pencec Pr. Pound for Butter and five pence for Cheese were allowed it would be as fair a price as could be put upon articles which must necessarily vary so much in value.' That price 'would not be opposed by the Ordinary here', and 'If there should be any grumbling it will arise from the Prices I have named not putting the Men in the Ordinary quite upon the same footing with the Men in the Dock Yard & Victualling craft, the Three halpence a day allowed to these latter being an excess over what I propse to give to the former.' He thinks that it is 'very desireable to get rid of this species of Provisions altogether, it being a Nuisance and a loss in all ways.' After a reference to 'Fresh Beef' he discusses the cheese he 'proposed to sell at our late sale', which, 'tho at present sound and good I should not get 20 shillings per Cat. bid at, so that it remains on hand, but if a private offer is made to this amount I will take upon myself to let it go.' He ends with a reference to 'Mr McIntosh' not 'settling his accounts: it is truly vexatious'.

Condición: Fine. 11'' x 9'' framed and glazed colour photograph of Tom Neil and Tony Iveson sitting together at a private ceremony. SIGNED to the cream mount 'Tom Neil 249 Sqn' and 'Tony Iveson 616 Sqn'. In Fine condition. Please note that for overseas buyers the paper seal to the rear will be slit open so that the glass can be removed. Member of the P.B.F.A. BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

A scarce item. See Somerville's entry in the Oxford DNB, for the controversy, involving Churchill. 8pp, 8vo. With two plates of maps, the first a fold-out extending to the width of three pages. Stapled. In fair condition, on lightly worn and discoloured paper. In the customary double column. Begins, despite the date of the number, 'Wednesday, 5 May 1948 / Action between British and Italian Forces off Cape Spartivento on 27th November 1940. / The following Despatch was submitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the 18th December, 1940, by Vice-Admiral Sir James F. Somerville, K.C.B., D.S.O., Flag Officer Commanding, Force "H".' The despatch is dated from HMS Renown. It is followed by a 'Narrative of the action between British and Italian Forces on 27th November, 1940.' divided into 83 sections. The fold-out plate, with three maps of 'situations' at different times, is headed 'Action off Cape Spartivento, Sardinia, 27th. Novr. 1940.' The other plate has the subheading 'Diagram of the approximate movements of Opposing Fleets.'.

At the time of writing, Berkeley's newly-constructed HMS Emerald had just completed her coppering and fitting-out at Woolwich. Sailing to join Jervis's Mediterranean fleet, within less than a year she would be involved in controversy. Following the Battle of Cape St Vincent (14 February 1797), in which HMS Emerald was too lightly built to take part, the victorious Jervis sent Berkeley off with a squadron of five ships in search of the disabled Spanish flagship, Santisima Trinidad. On 20 February Berkeley declined to engage when he sighted her under tow. This decision was widely criticised, and there were calls for Berkeley's court-martial. Two months later, on 26 April 1797, HMS Emerald was cruising with the Irresistible off the Spanish coast, when they captured two enemy frigates, one of which sank at sea. 1p, folio. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper with slight chipping to corners and edges. Addressed to 'Principal Officers & Commrs. of HMs. Navy'. Reads: 'Gentlemen / His Majesty's Ship under my Command having arrived here this day, I have to request you will cause the necessary Steps to be taken for the Payment of the Company of His Majesty's Ship Juno, (who have been turned over to serve in the Emerald) as soon as possible, as I am in hourly Expectation of receiving Orders to proceed to Sea - / I am / Gentlemen / Your humble Servt / J. Cornewall Berkeley'. Docketed on reverse: '12 Decr. 95 / Captn Berkeley / Emerald / desires he may be paid'. Also on reverse: 'Will the Board please to Order the Juno's Pay Books which were paid in Tower, to be forwarded to Shearness. [sic] / P. H. / 14 Decembr.' and the following, with the initials of three commissioners, 'Let the Books be sent accordingly / CH [Captain Charles Hope, Deputy Comptroller of the Navy, 1795-1801?] JH [John Henslow (1730-1815), Surveyor to the Navy, 1784-1806?] GM [?] / Acq[uaint] Captn'.

2pp, folio. In envelope with stamp and postmark, addressed to Corden's Mill Hill address. Letter folded twice, and letter and envelope in good condition. He begins by thanking him for sending 'the inscribed copy of Ken Delve's "Story of the Spitfire" - a truly excellent book just jam-packed with detail, - he must have done a prodigious amount of research to put it all together'. He is 'bowled over by the extent of [Corden's] munificence'. Rose finds it 'a continuing source of amazement that such a "cult" has developed over everything to do with the Spitfire, but it does reinforce the conviction that it was completely unique, and a real lady!' He laments the 'dwindling' of 'the number of aircrew' at 'the annual re-union of B. of B. survivors at Bentley Priory, Stanmore': 'about 40 this year, but of course there are still a few abroad and also several who are unable to travel'. He reports that the Ministry of Defence 'has sold the Priory and its magnificent parkland surroundings, (for a tidy sum, I believe,) but with a reservation that the centre part of the Georgian building will be kept to commemorate Dowding's management of the RAF during the battle, - (could be used as a museum, for reunion of survivors, for cadet training etc. -)'. He ends with renewed thanks for the gift, and in the hope that they may 'meet one day - but it'll have to be fairly soon, as I shall be 90 next June!'.

Hardy is immortalised in Nelson's dying request 'Kiss me, Hardy.' Lady Hardy was the daughter of Admiral Sir George Cranfield Berkeley (1753-1818). 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with parts of red wax seal and traces of glue from mount on reverse of second leaf, which is addressed 'To | Mr Lahee | 65. New Bond Street'. Folded once. Begins: 'Lady Hardy has received Sir Thomas Hardy's answer this morning and has the pleasure of acquainting Mr Lahee that He consents to the terms proposed by by [sic] Lord Holland for Six Months & therefore She intends going to Addison Road this Morning at two Oclock to see what things are absolutely necessary for the House & will Give Mr Lahee a list and She is ready to communicate with him personally on the Subject whenever He likes to fix the time.' The Anson family will require 'four more beds than are now in the House, but she can herself supply two if that is any Convenience to Lord Holland'. Two of the four beds are for servants, so she suggests he 'might supply one best & one Servants best'. In conclusion she informs Lahee that he 'may communicate his Answer to the bearer who being Sir Thomas Hardys Confidential Servant can answer almost as well as himself on any point in question'.

4pp, 8vo, paginated 401-404. Originally a bifolium, but with the leaves separated. In fair condition, lightly aged, with each leaf carrying in a margin a strip of paper from the mount. Several fold lines. Page one carries the half-penny tax stamp. In small print and double column. The entire number concerns the battle. Begins: 'Admiralty-Office, April 15, 1801. | CAPTAIN OTWAY, of His Majesty's Ship the London, arrived in Town this Morning with Dispatches from Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Commander in Chief of a Squadron of His Majesty's Ships employed on a particular Service, to Evan Nepean Esq; dated on board the London, in Copenhagen-Roads, the 6th Instant, of which the following are Copies:' Parker's long letter to Nepean follows, including, for example: 'Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, having offered his Services for conducting the Attack, had, some Days before we entered the Sound, shifted his Flag to the Elephant; and after having examined and buoyed the Outer Channel of the Middle Ground, his Lordship proceeded with the Twelve Ships of the Line named in the Margin, all the Frigates, Bombs, Fire-Ships, and all the small Vessels, and that Evening anchored off Draco Point to make his Disposition for the Attack, and wait for the Wind to the Southward.' A postscript follows, and then copies of two letters apiece from Parker and 'the Commanding Officer of Cronenberg Castle', Stricker (the latter in translation). This is followed by Nelson's account of the battle (signed in type 'NELSON and BRONTE.'), addressed from 'Elephant, off Copenhagen, | 3d April, 1801.' It includes: 'From the very intricate Navigation, the Bellona and Russel unfortunately grounded, but although not in the Situation assigned them, yet so placed as to be of Great Service. The Agamemnon could not weather the Shoal of the Middle, and was obliged to anchor; but not the smallest Blame can be attached to Captain Fancourt; it was an Event to which all the Ships were liable.' Nelson concludes: 'The Loss in such a Battle has naturally been very heavy. Amongst many other brave Officers and Men who were killed, I have with Sorrow to place the Name of Captain Mosse, of the Monarch, who has left a Wife and Six Children to lament his Loss; and, among the Wounded, that of Captain Sir Thomas B. Thompson of the Bellona.' The number ends with a long 'List of the Killed and Wounded in the Attack on the Enemy's Line of Defence, Batteries, &c. on the 2d of April 1801.'.