Description
Presentation copy of War Diary: An Overall War Picture 1939-1945 by Major Francis A.L. de Gruchy, inscribed to Field Marshal Alan Brooke, who is featured in the book.
Octavo, vii, 187pp, Red cloth, title stamped on covers. Stated “first published October 1949” on copyright page. Dampstain to both cloth boards, with no impact to endpapers or text block. In the publisher’s dust jacket, light spotting to covers, a near fine example. Includes a laid in presentation card and endpapers with handwritten commentary. This copy is inscribed on the front endpaper: “To Lord Alan Brooke. With the compliments of the Author, from F.A.L. de G. / 22.7.1960.” Additional inscription on the front free endpaper by the author: “This book was finished in 1946 but was published only in 1949. All maps of operations at home are housed at Les Huriaux, St. Ouen, Jersey, C.I., as they could not be published at the time. Any War Atlas 1939/45 will answer the purpose. The Commentary in Chapter XII applies to the general situation, as on the first January 1946. The strategy shows the position [en grandes lignes] from the information available at the time. F.A.L. de G. / 22.7.60.”
Major Francis Arthur Labey de Gruchy, F.R.S.A. (1883-1970) was a career British military officer, with the unique distinction of holding commissions in the Indian Army, the French Foreign Legion and the Royal Air Force. During WWII he was not eligible for active service due to his age, but taught military history to officers at South-Eastern Command.
