A General's Letters to his Son on Obtaining his Commission (Signed copy)

1917, signed by the author under his real name (T D Pilcher)

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First edition, second printing. Hardback bound in quarter cloth with paper covered boards, printed titling to upper board and spine. vi [1], 18 × 11cm, 116pp.

Signed by the author under his real name to the half-title, "with the author's compliments, T D Pilcher"

A series of advisory letters from an old soldier (signing off his letters as XYZ) to his son who had obtained a commission in the army during the Great War. The letters cover such subjects as: on being gazetted, on joining the battalion, on discipline, on national discipline and the temptations of London, On billets and the care of the men, on the art of command, on training, on money, on what we are fighting against, on what we are fighting for, on honours and rewards, and on facing death.

The author, Thomas David Pilcher, was a professional soldier having fought in Nigeria in the 1890s and commanding a mounted infantry unit in the Second Boer War. During World War One he commanded the 17th (Northern) Division but was removed from his post in some disgrace after he refused to push on an attack without pausing for preparations, believing it would result in failure and heavy casualties. He was then returned to England where he was in command of a reserve centre in England and from where he wrote books for soldiers. He dabbled in right wing politics, including work with the Grand Council of the British Fascisti.

Condition

This is a readable copy but the covers are bumped an rubbed, there is foxing to the page edges and margins, and the inner binding is a bit strained but nevertheless it remains in good readable condition.