VICTORIA CROSS BATTLES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

First edition, first printing. Signed and inscribed by the author to Brigadier Sir John Smyth, VC. Publisher's original green cloth with titles in gilt to the spine, in dustwrapper. Illustrated with 43 black and white photographs and 27 sketches and maps. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with a little bumping to the corners. The contents with occasional neat annotations in ink are otherwise in very good order and clean throughout. Complete with the lightly toned dustwrapper which has some splash marks to the spine and rear panel, tape reinforcement to the head of the spine verso and a few nick to the extremities. Not price-clipped (£3.50 net to the front flap).

Signed and inscribed by C. E. Lucas Phillips to Brigadier Sir John Smyth, VC in black ink to the front free endpaper "For Jackie Smyth, V.C. / With due acknowledgement to / his own far-ranging research / & with all good wishes / C. E. Lucas Phillips / Oct. 1973". An account by Brigadier C. E. Lucas Phillips, MC, OBE of "the actions of the Second World War which were made memorable by multiple VC awards, depicting each performance in the full colour of its tactical setting, with the help of numerous diagrams and photographs". The present copy was inscribed to Brigadier Sir John George Smyth, 1st Baronet, VC, MC, PC (1893-1983), often known as Jackie Smyth, a British Indian Army officer who served in both the First and Second World Wars, earning the Victoria Cross for "conspicuous bravery" in the former at the age of just 21. An excellent association copy.