[Royal Flying Corps]

The R.E.8's 2nd Concert. Under the Direction of H.S. Nichols. Sept. 27th, 1917. By Kind Permission of Major C.F.A. Portal DSO MC [cover title]

Octavo (165 × 106 mm), comprising a plain dark grey card cover with the pictorial title (a gelatin silver photograph of original artwork) mounted on the front; tipped in near the hinge on the inside rear cover is the programme, another gelatin silver print (142 × 186 mm) of original calligraphic artwork, mounted as a centrespread; essentially in fine condition.

A small inscription in red ink at the foot of the programme proper reads 'held at #16 Sqdn. near Tang' Sep '17'. 'Tang' is presumably Tangmere, 50 miles south-west of London, where the RFC founded a training aerodrome in 1917. Major Charles Frederick Algernon Portal (1893-1971) 'was promoted to temporary major in June 1917 and given command of No. 16 Squadron flying RE8 aircraft on the Western Front' ('Air of Authority. A History of RAF Organisation' website). He went on to become Marshal of the RAF Viscount Portal of Hungerford, and was a prominent advocate of strategic bombing in the Second World War.

Item #121039

Price (AUD): $200.00
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