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Imperial octavo, red buckram heavy boards, gilt lettering to spine, frontispiece, vi + 288pp, illus/plates- not counted presumed all present, scruffy (v heavy scuffing & fraying to extrems with some surface loss, heavy tanning to spine, heavy soiling to boards, binding loose- boards shaky, heavy tanning & foxing to page edges, reinforcements to front & rear gutters, 5cm closed tear to rear pastedown, moderate foxing to maps/illus throughout, heavy cracking to some gutters, prev, owner's name in ink to prelims).

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8vo., First Edition, with photographs in the text; black cloth, gilt back, a very good, bright, clean copy in unclipped dustwrapper. A PRESENTATION COPY FROM THE AUTHOR WITH HIS SIGNED HOLOGRAPH INSCRIPTION ON FRONT FREE ENDPAPER. SCARCE. Smith, p.84.

Fourteen items from the papers of Sir Noel Galway Holmes, all but the last relating to his three decades of service in the British Army, with reports and recommendations by superior officers from 1920 to 1939. (Two more items, relating to Churchill and the Second World War, are offered separately.) Considering Holmes's central position in Churchill's war entourage, and his pivotal role in the logistical management of the Second World War, it is unaccountable that he should not have been accorded a proper biographical account, other than an obituary in the Daily Telegraph, 29 December 1982, and entry in Who Was Who. In Sir Ronald M. Weeks's 'Organisation and Equipment for War' (CUP, 1950) he is referred to in glowing terms: 'We were fortunate in having as D.Q.M.G. (Movements) [NGH's official title was 'Deputy-Quarter-Master-General for Movements'] an Irishman, Major-General Sir Noel Holmes, who held the job throughout the war. Blessed with a sense of humour, a strong constitution (he was an International Rugby footballer), the power of leadership and good judgment, he played no small part in the achievement of victory.' NHG's career was highly distinguished, as his decorations suggest. He joined the army in 1910, served in France during the First World War, and in India between the wars. His Second World War activities were, as the two items offered separately indicate, of vital importance. At the end of the war he spent a few months as commander of Aldershot before retiring from the army in 1946. Some items worn and aged, but complete and legible, in fair overall condition. The fourteen items are placed in what is clearly the envelope in which NGH received the details of his knighthood in the New Years' Honours List of 1946, with stamp of the Lord Chamberlain, St James's Palace, and printed address of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, St. James's Palace, addressed to 'Major General Noel G. Holmes / C.B., C.B.E., M.C., / The Garden House / Kelmead Road / Fleet / Hants'. ONE: [CV, 1910-1939] 'Army Form B. 199A.', giving NGH's personal details (birth, education, ethnicity (Officer: Irish; Officer's Father: Irish; Officer's Mother: Irish), training, and, most prominently, 'Particulars of Service, Records of Movements, Appointments, Promotions, Etc.' from 1 April 1910, when he 'Joined Special Reserve Connaught Rangers' in 'W. Ireland' to 13 February 1939, when he 'Assumed Offg. Command Tull. Brigade Area vice Bdr. Dening (on leave)' in Jullundur. 2pp, folio and 1p, 4to. The great length of the 'Particulars of Service' has led someone to annotate with exclamation mark, at the end of the folio part, '(Continued on attached)!' TWO: Copy of NGH's 'Annual Confidential Report' ('Army Form B. 194') dated from Cologne, 10 August 1920. Signature illegible. Positive report. 1p, folio. THREE: Copy of NGH's 'Annual Confidential Report' ('Army Form B. 194') by 'W. C. G. Henneker, Major Genl. Commdg. British Troops in Upper Silesia', dated 13 September 1921. 2pp, folio. 'I cannot praise Major Holmes sufficiently for the manner in which he carries out his work and I am extremely fortunate in getting him as my A.A. & Q.M.G. I have just recommended him for the Staff College. Apart from his efficiency in his work he is reliable and his advice is sound. I am much indebted to him.' FOUR: Copy of NGH's 'Annual Confidential Report' ('Army Form B. 194.') by Brigadier Hereward Wake, dated 12 September 1931. 2pp, folio. 'He is a first rate staff officer, with exceptional energy & ability and he has a detailed knowledge of his profession. Fit and active in mind and body. I consider he is much above the average of his rank well fitted for command, and that his early promotion (he has held a Brevet Majority since 1919) would be of advantage to the service. / He would make a useful instructor at The Staff College'. FIVE: 'Certified true Copy' of NGH's 'Annual Confidential Report' ('Army Form B. 194.'). Report by NGH's 'Immediate Commander' Lt Col. J. B. O. Trimble, regarding period 20 April 1932 to 6 August 1932. 4pp, folio bifolium. Glowing report, ending: 'He is very much above the average of his rank.' The fourth page carries short endorsements by three 'Superior Reporting Officers'. SIX: Undated manuscript endorsement of NGH. Circa 1921, when NGH was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. No place. 1p, landscape 8vo. Begins: 'This officer has served under me for ten months. He is considerably above the average in ability and professional knowledge, drive and zeal. he is easy to work with and is loyal and most reliable.' Ends: 'I strongly recommend him for promotion to Brevet Lt Col.' SEVEN: Manuscript endorsement, in pencil, on printed form headed 'OPINION OF SUPERIOR COMMANDERS.' 1p, foolscap 12mo. Initialled 'G [M?]'. Regarding 'Major Holmes', he concludes: 'I concur fully in my B. G. S's recommendation and strongly recommend him for a brevet Lt. Colonelcy.' EIGHT: Manuscript endorsement by '[?] / 4 Div.', 28 October 1930 ('A very good Brigade Major of great Energy and ability. [.] I consider he would make a Staff College instructor.'), and General R. [W. Wigham?], 16 December 1930 ('I endorse the remarks of the Brigadier'), on same letterhead of Headquarters, 12th Infantry Brigade and Dover Garrison, The Castle Dover. 1p, 4to. NINE: Copy, on embossed government letterhead, of endorsements for NGH's 1931 application to join staff college, by 'W[?] Wright' ('He has been a few weeks on the General Staff, but I have known him and worked with him for two to three years when he was an administration officer. He is a very promising Staff Officer having a great mind & a body physically fit, he is the type that on active service will always pull at least his own weight. In my opinion it would be to the interest of the Army as well as to him self, if he went to the Staff College.') and 'E. E[ardly?] / Genl. ('I entirely endorse all that Co W. Wright says of him'). 1p, foolscap 8vo. TEN: Manuscript copy of endorsement.

Two very interesting unpublished documents, the first giving an assessment of Churchill by a colleague who worked closely with him throughout the Second World War, and the second describing the important part that individual himself played in the logistical management of the war, from before Dunkirk to after D-Day. This material is from Sir Noel Galway Holmes's private papers, another batch of which, comprising confidential reports on him, recommendations by superior officers, and particulars of his service, is offered separately. Considering Holmes's central position in Churchill's war entourage, and his pivotal role in the logistical management of the Second World War (as described in Item Two below), it is unaccountable that he should not have been accorded a proper biographical account, other than an obituary in the Daily Telegraph, 29 December 1982, and entry in Who Was Who. His career was highly distinguished, as his decorations suggest. He joined the army in 1910, served in France during the First World War, and in India between the wars. During the Second World War he was Deputy-Quarter-Master-General (Movements) at the War Office, in which capacity he attended most of the allied conferences, including Yalta and Potsdam. (See the quotation he gives from Sir R. M. Weeks regarding his wartime work at Item Three below) At the end of the war he spent a few months as commander of Aldershot before retiring from the army in 1946. The three items here are in fair condition, with light signs of age and wear, but clear and complete. ONE: Autograph rough draft of notes towards an autobiographical account, largely concerned with NGH's relationship with Churchill. 6pp, 12mo. On six leaves, stapled together, with first three leaves numbered 1-3. In good condition, lightly aged, with pin holes at top left of the six leaves, and speck of rust spotting to the first leaf. A few deletions and emendations. Begins: 'War Office Aug 39 as D[irector] of M[ovement]' | later D Aug (M) until 1946. A longer spell than any Reg officer / Responsible for all movement men & material by Land sea & road / Attended Conferences abroad as advisor to C of Staff on movement matters. No use arranging for battles if there were not the movement facilities to get the chaps & stores there & be able to maintain them. / Personal shipping lazy dry cargo shipping very short'. A dated list of a few of the conferences he attended follows, and written near it in the margin: 'Not many of the more senior officers alive today who attended these conferences'. This is followed by the meat of the document: 'Roosevelt [corrected from 'Rosefelt'] died after Yalta & Truman attended Potsdam. / Joe [i.e. Stalin] made great efforts to pall up to Winston as Truman was new: at these various conferences I had the good fortune to meet the Head Statesmen of the countries concerned & I naturally came into contact with W. S. [i.e. Churchill] both in London & at the conferences. / By His courage fortitude determination energy charm & thoughtfullness [sic] he instilled confidence into all those who worked with or near him. He never seemed to think of failure not even at Dunkirk. He never liked no for an answer & I had experience of this at Chequers. He had a conference in Oct '42. [in margin '8 Nov 42'] to try & advance the landing in N aftrica so as not to interfere with Ranadan [sic] - Allan Brooke Ike - Clarke Beath Smyth Eden & Ismay. I had to say that all arrangements have been made & ships in position & some have left & I said it could not be done - / He naturally did not like the reply but I was glad the Brooke & Ike agreed / This was our first big offensive landing he had me in a month before sail asking details / When the landing in N. Africa had taken place W. S. sent me the following [text not present - presumably to be added later] / Some years after the war W. S. came up to Sheffield for the M. C. Dinner as P. Guest. I was then Chairman of the Yorkshire coal fields. In the P. Guest room before dinner he beckoned me over & shook me by the hand & said Nice to see an old friend - [?] / He often sent for me & asked very pertinent questions. / Loss of [bread?] in Shipping / What number of Kitty Hawkes loaded for Russia'. There follow references to 'Stories' he wishes to tell: 'I must have Blood & Bayonet, / Drinks to ships officers / Dudley Pound & an escort. / Chequers on Toret meeting / I was late. / Speed of advance of the Bug. / Drink brought in by Lady Churchill / Roosevelt & drink to the backward [sic] room boys'. He concludes with a summation of his views on Churchill: 'I realise how fortunate etc I have been to have met & worked with such a super man. / What people do not realise is that the work he did as M of defence was stupendous & there he had the work of other department [sic] to contend with too / A truly wonderful & loveable man.' TWO: Part of autobiographical account in the third person, this portion covering his career from 1924 to his retirement and post-war work. 1p, foolscap 8vo. Closely-typed and single-spaced. Somewhat worn and creased, but clear and complete. With a few autograph emendations. Begins: 'Page 2. / Commander, after being Chief of Staff of a Division-plus! which proved to be quite a change. He started work for the Staff College Exam, took it in 1924 and qualified, getting a nomination, he joined the Staff College at Camberley in 1925 and finished in December 1926. He was there with a number of chaps whom he met afterwards, Alexander, was with him, and instructors were Gort, Allen-Brooke, and Montgomery.' Describes his subsequent activities in India, where 'His chief was General the Lord Jeffreys, KC.B., K.C.V.O., C.M.G., a wonderful soldier and a very good friend.' Became 'Brigadier in charge of movement at the War Office in June 1939. / Neer having been on the Staff of the War Office, he found everything very strange at first, and did not actually care for it in those days. He had very few staff, and the f.