Hardcover, gray cloth cover, with paper dust jacket, entitled "Gallantry - Its Public Recognition and Reward in Peace and in War at Home and Abroad" by Sir Arnold Wilson, M.P. and Captain J.H.F. McEwen, M.P., published by Humphrey Milford, Publisher to the University, Oxford University Press of London, New York and Toronto in 1939, printed in Great Britain by John Johnson, Printer to the University. It is gift addressed in black ink "To my husband Christmas 1941 / With Love Eileen" on the endpaper on the inside front cover, with a "Wendel Holmes Ltd Books and Stationery London, St. Thomas" bookseller's foil sticker placed on the inside front cover. As stated on the dust jacket: "This book breaks entirely new ground, surveying the history of awards of medals and decorations for heroism in both war and peace. It covers the procedure adopted in foreign countries as well as in Great Britain and the Empire, and includes a number of hitherto unpublished documents on the subject from the Windsor Archives. The greater part of the book consists of a summary of every gallant deed for which the Albert or Edward Medal or the British Empire Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to men and women all over the world. No more inspiring record can be imagined. To study it is to gain fresh belief in the nobility of human nature and in the virtues of our fellow men." The bulk of the book is devoted to individual recipients of the various awards and the descriptions of the events that contributed to them receiving the award, the book dedicated to the crew of H.M. Submarine Thetis which sank off Great Orme Head on June 10, 1939 during acceptance trials, with a loss of ninety-nine lives. It begins with an Introduction, followed by a Table of Contents and a Bibliography. It is divided into twenty chapters: I - British Orders of Military Gallantry; II - Foreign Orders of Military Gallantry; III - Awards for Civil Gallantry in Foreign Countries; IV - Awards for Civil Gallantry in Great Britain and the Empire. I. On Land; V - Awards for Civil Gallantry in Great Britain and the Empire. I. On Sea; VI - The Carnegie Hero Fund; VII - A Municipal Valhalla; VIII - The Albert and Edward and King's Police Medals; IX - Awards of the Albert Medal, 1877-1914; X - Awards of the Edward Medal, Jan. 1908 - Dec. 1914; XI - Awards of the Albert Medal, Jan. 1915 - Dec. 1919; XII - Awards of the Edward Medal, Jan. 1915 - Dec. 1919; XIII - Awards of the Albert Medal, Jan. 1920 - Dec. 1938; XIV - Awards of the Edward Medal, Jan. 1920 - Dec. 1938; XV - Medal of the Order of the British Empire, Military Division, for Gallantry; XVI - Medal of the Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, for Gallantry; XVII - Awards of the Albert Medal, for Sea Service (Admiralty), 1868-1938; XVIII - Awards of the Albert Medal, for Civilian Sea Service (Board of Trade), 1866-1938; XIX - Awards of Board of Trade Medals for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, 1854-1921; XX - Awards of Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving LIfe at Sea, 1922-1938. It concludes with two Appendixes (Medals Granted by Special Act or Resolution of Congress, Correspondence from the Windsor Archives relating to the Institution of the Distinguished Service Order) and three Indexes (Names, Places, General). The book contains 520 pages of text, printed in black ink on a white paper stock, the top of the pages in a red tint, measuring 172 mm (w) x 245 mm (h) x 37 mm (d). Edge wear evident on the paper dust jacket, the pages of the book remaining pristine. Near extremely fine.
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