Details
A Record of the British World War II Escape Organisation
A book 15in. by 11in., bound in red morocco with gold-tooled edges and spine, the cover also bearing the Royal Crest and title PER ARDUA LIBERTAS, 76pp., the title page inscribed Most Secret. The book gives details of the Charter of M.I.9, the branch of Military Intelligence established in December 1939 with the primary responsibility of facilitating the escape of British Prisoners of War and of the personnel who served in the Branch. The copious illustrations cover subjects such as escape-maps (including examples of different types of materials), many types of compasses and methods of concealing them, telescopes (for observing guards etc.), Service Dress uniforms which converted into civilian suits, examples of covert letter-heads used by M.I.9, special proformas used to acknowledge receipt of escape-material, cameras, wireless-sets, torches, knives, trowels and foreign costumes, including replicas of military uniforms said to be indistinguishable from the originals. A typewritten letter, signed by the author, attached to one of the title-pages, is dated 14 February 1942; together with a copy of M.I.9 ESCAPE AND EVASION 1939-1945, by MRD Foot & JM Langley (pub. Bodley Head 1979); and a copy of OFFICIAL SECRET, by Clayton Hutton (pub. Max Parrish, 1960) (3)
A book 15in. by 11in., bound in red morocco with gold-tooled edges and spine, the cover also bearing the Royal Crest and title PER ARDUA LIBERTAS, 76pp., the title page inscribed Most Secret. The book gives details of the Charter of M.I.9, the branch of Military Intelligence established in December 1939 with the primary responsibility of facilitating the escape of British Prisoners of War and of the personnel who served in the Branch. The copious illustrations cover subjects such as escape-maps (including examples of different types of materials), many types of compasses and methods of concealing them, telescopes (for observing guards etc.), Service Dress uniforms which converted into civilian suits, examples of covert letter-heads used by M.I.9, special proformas used to acknowledge receipt of escape-material, cameras, wireless-sets, torches, knives, trowels and foreign costumes, including replicas of military uniforms said to be indistinguishable from the originals. A typewritten letter, signed by the author, attached to one of the title-pages, is dated 14 February 1942; together with a copy of M.I.9 ESCAPE AND EVASION 1939-1945, by MRD Foot & JM Langley (pub. Bodley Head 1979); and a copy of OFFICIAL SECRET, by Clayton Hutton (pub. Max Parrish, 1960) (3)