Alanbrooke a Selection of Books from the Library of Alan Francis Brooke
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Alanbrooke A Selection of Books from the Library of Alan Francis Brooke West Coast Rare Books West Coast Rare Books Proprietor: Steffen Kowalsky James Street Westport, County Mayo Ireland Web: www.westcoastrarebooks.com E-mail: [email protected] Mobile: +353 86 220 6668 In Memoriam Peter Kowalsky (1938 – 2018) Terms & Conditions All offers are subject to prior sale. Shipment and Insurance (if requested) at the buyer’s expense. Trade discounts available. All prices given in Euro, payable by card, PayPal or money transfer. The Alanbrooke Library – Sale Spring 2019 P a g e | 2 Introduction The items listed below are from the library of Alan Francis Brooke, later Field Marshal and Viscount Alanbrooke and his family. The library contains various book that initially belonged to other members of Alanbrooke’s family, such as his father, older brother and son (all ‘Victor Brooke’), his wife Benita Blanche Brooke, nee Pelly; and other members of her family (Pelly, Poore, Lees). Where the provenance is clear; it has been mentioned in the description of each item. Alanbrooke took over as Chief of Imperial General Staff or CIGS in 1941. From this point forward, he remained the head of the imperial forces during the entire second world war and was the primary military adviser to Winston Churchill. In the eyes of many, Alanbrooke was an outstanding military strategist and played an important role in defining the military strategy that eventually led to the victory of the allied forces. The American General Douglas MacArthur in his book ‘Reminiscences’ called Alanbrooke ‘England leading soldier’ and ‘the finest strategic mind I had as yet encountered during or after the war’ (MacArthur, 1964). This is a selection from roughly 400 books from this library. After his death in 1963 these books were boxed up and remained in storage (at times unsuitable) until 2018. As a result of the long storage period some of the volumes are damp stained / damaged. The condition of each book is clearly described. This selection does not consist of military books only; it follows the entire life and professional career of the Alan Francis Brooke, from his childhood, his early military career in Britain, Ireland and India, WW1 and his career before WW2; resulting in his appointment as Chief of Imperial Military Staff (CIGS). Another important aspect of Field Marshal Alanbrooke’s life was his love of nature and his interest in Ornithology. Although Alanbrooke’s father died in 1891 when Alan was only seven years old, he seems to have inherited many of his father’s interests and passions. A keen hunter and fisherman throughout his life, he later developed a strong interest in bird watching and photography, interests he pursued, even during the busiest times of WW2, when bird watching and the study of ornithological books became a balance to his work as CIGS. During the later years of WW2 Alanbrooke met David Bannerman and the two often met for dinner and to discuss birds. After the war Alanbrooke wrote the foreword to Bannerman and Lodge’s ‘Birds of Great Britain’. After his retirement from the military in 1946; Alanbrooke was free to pursue his interests further. Peter Scott, founder of the Severn Wildfowl Trust (now Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) convinced him to become the first President of this organization. Other roles, such as Vice President of the Society for the Protection of Birds and President of the Zoological Society of London followed. Alanbrooke remained an avid ornithologist to his death in 1963. Some of the books document his various honorary positions (Lord Constable of London, Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Board Member of Anglo-Iranian Oil (BP) etc. Alanbrooke died in 1963. Bibliography Stephen, Oscar Leslie (1894) Sir Victor Brooke Sportsman & Naturalist. London: John Murray. MacArthur, Douglas (1964) Reminiscences. New York: McGraw-Hill. Danchev, A and Todman, D. (2001) War Diaries 1939 - 1945 Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke. London: Weidenfels & Nicholson. Fraser, D. (1982) Alanbrooke. London: Collins. The Alanbrooke Library – Sale Spring 2019 P a g e | 3 I am not a highly religious individual according to many people’s outlook. I am however convinced that there is a God all powerful looking after the destiny of this world. I had little doubt about this before the war started, but this war has convinced me more than ever of this truth. Again and again during the last 6 years I have seen His guiding hand controlling and guiding the destiny of this world toward that final and definite destiny which He has ordained. The suffering and agony of war in my mind must exist to gradually educate us to the fundamental law of ‘loving our neighbour as ourselves’. When that lesson has been learned, then war will cease to exist. We are however many centuries from such a state of affairs. Many more wars, and much suffering is required before we finally learn our lesson. However humanity in this world is still young, there are still many millions of years to run during which high perfection will be attained. For the present we can do no more than go on striving to improve more friendly relations towards those that surround us. (Field Marshal Alanbrooke: War Diary 8 May VE Day (Victory-Europe)) (quoted from Danchev and Todman, 2001). The Alanbrooke Library – Sale Spring 2019 P a g e | 4 Alan Francis Brooke (1883 – 1963) – Biographical Sketch 1883 Born: 23 July 1883 1883- 99 Childhood and early education, Pau, France 1902 Graduated Royal Military Academy Woolwich, Royal Field Artillery 1902 - 06 Stationed in Ireland (Fethardt, Waterford, Curragh), volunteered for India 1906 - 14 Stationed in India. Joined Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) in 1909. 1914 Moved w/ RHA via Marseille to northern France (September 1914) WORLD WAR 1: 1914 – 1918 1915 Staff Captain RA, 18th Infantry Division 1916 Battle of the Somme, introduced 'creeping barrage' 1917 Staff Officer, Royal Artillery with Canadian Corps at Battle of Vimy Ridge 1918 Senior Artillery Staff Officer 1st Army, Lieutenant Colonel POST WW1 1918 Return to England 1919 Student Staff College Camberley 1920 – 23 General Staff Officer, 50th (Northhumbrian Division) Territorial Army 1923 – 26 Instructor Staff College Camberley 1927 Instructor, Imperial Defence College, London 1929 – 32 Commandant, Larkhill, School of Artillery (Brigadier) 1932 – 34 Instructor, Imperial Defence College, London 1934 – 35 Commander 8th Infantry Brigade 1935 – 36 Inspector of Royal Artillery (Major General) 1936 – 37 Director of Military Training, War Office Directorate 1937 – 38 Commander, Mobile Division (Salisbury Plain) 1938 – 39 Commander Anti-Aircraft Corps (Stanmore) - Lieutenant General WORLD WAR 2: 1939 – 1945 1939 – 40 General Officer, C-i-C Anti-Aircraft Command and Southern Command 1939 – 40 Commander 2nd Army Corps British Expeditionary Force in France & Belgium 1939 – 57 Col Commandant Royal Artillery 1940 – 41 Commander-in-Chief UK Home Forces 1941 – 46 Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) 1942 – 46 ADC General to King George VI POST WAR 1946 – 1954 Colonel Commandant of the Honourable Artillery Company 1946 – 57 Government Directors of Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (later BP) 1948 – 59 Director Hudson's Bay Company 1949 – 63 Chancellor Queen's University of Belfast 1950 – 55 Constable of the Tower of London 1950 – 57 Lord Lieutenant of the County of London 1953 Commander of Coronation Parade and Lord High Constable of England in Coronation Abbey Ceremonies The Alanbrooke Library – Sale Spring 2019 P a g e | 5 1. Carroll, Lewis. The Hunting of the Snark. An Agony in Eight Fits. With nine Illustrations by Henry Holiday. London, Macmillan and Co., 1898. 19 x 12 cm. xi, 83 pages. With a tissue guarded frontispiece and eight further plates. Original red cloth with elaborate gilt decorations and title on front board and spine. Black end papers. All edges gilt. Very good condition. Minor shelf wear, rubbing and bumping. A little dust dulling. A very nice copy. Name of a previous owner on rear end paper. Tissue guard and first few pages mildly foxed. € 120,-- 2. Carroll, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. With Forty-Two Illustrations by John Tenniel. Fifty-Fifth Thousand. London, Macmillan and Co., 1877. 18 x 12 cm. (6), 192 pages. Illustrated. Original red cloth with gilt decorations and gilt title on spine. Later rebacked using original boards and spine panel. Red and Gold decorated end papers. All edges gilt. Good condition. Rebacked. Binding sound, but well rubbed and bumped. Edges and end papers dust dulled. Tissue guard for frontispiece shows long closed tear. Gift inscription on half-title page (see comments below). Internally a little age darkened, but clean. € 350,-- The gift inscription reads: 'a.m. Poore from Dudley [Taurin?]'. Lady Anna Maria Pelly (nee Poore) (1868 - 1939) was the mother of Benita Blanche Pelly, later Viscountess Alanbrooke and wife of Field Marshal Alanbrooke. The Alanbrooke Library – Sale Spring 2019 P a g e | 6 3. Carroll, Lewis. Through the Looking-Glass, and what Alice found there. With Fifty Illustrations by John Tenniel. Interesting Provenance. Forty-Fourth Thousand. London & New York, Macmillan and Co., 1877. 18 x 12 cm. (6), 224 pages. Illustrated. Original red cloth with gilt decorations and gilt title on spine. Later rebacked using original boards and spine panel. Red and Gold decorated end papers. All edges gilt. Good condition. Rebacked. Binding sound, but well rubbed and bumped. Edges and end papers dust dulled. Gift inscription on half-title page. Internally bright and clean. € 220,-- Gift inscription reads: 'a.m. Poore from her loving mother'. 4. Thorpe, Benjamin (Editor). Yule-Tide Stories. A Collection of Scandinavian and North German Popular Tales and Traditions, from the Swedish, Danish, and German. London, George Bell & Sons, 1892. 18 x 12 cm. xv, 504 pages plus 32 pages of publisher's list.