The Australian Victories in France in 1918
Melbourne, Lothian Book Company, 1923 (second revised edition)/ 1920.
Octavo, viii, 336 pages with a frontispiece portrait plus 2 two-colour double-page endpaper maps; the last 13 pages are press reviews of the first edition of 1920.
Flush-cut card card covers; vertical crease and a small mark to the front cover (and both covers are slightly curled); minimal foxing to the early leaves; ownership signature (A.R. Clayton) in pencil on the front cover; a very good copy.
'In May 1918, Monash was appointed corps commander of the Australian forces, and in that year he led some significant attacks by Australian troops in the final stages of the war. Monash's troops were involved in helping to stem the March German offensive. But it was during the battle at Hamel that Monash really secured his reputation. Monash's skilful planning and attention to detail resulted in a triumphant attack and capture of the town by Australian and American troops. This was the beginning of a series of successful campaigns by Australians that continued until their last battle in October' (Australian War Memorial). 'Military historians have acclaimed [the battle at Hamel] as "the first modern battle", "the perfect battle".... As a general, Monash had the first essential qualities, the capacity to bear great strain and to make quick and clear decisions.... From early August [1919] in about a month - another amazing feat - he wrote "The Australian Victories in France in 1918"; it was propaganda, but not far off the truth.... In the 1920s Monash was broadly accepted, not just in Victoria, as the greatest living Australian' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). Under his command, Australian forces achieved great success, capturing more territory, prisoners and guns than any other Allied corps. For the first edition, see Dornbusch 331; Fielding and O'Neill, page 251; Trigellis-Smith 183 (none of them note this revised edition, which has 'General' on the front cover, and 'Lieutenant-General' on the title page).
Item #121879
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