THE CRAWLEY AFFAIR. by Haley, A.H

Seeley, Service, London, (1972), Ist edition. 230 pp, 8vo (8 3/4" H), hard cover in dust jacket. "India in 1861 was not a place where the whims of a British Cavalry Colonel could be lightly ignored. When Colonel Crawley took over command of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons at Admednugger in April of that year the Regiment, already at odds with higher authority, was subjected to a man with a remarkably volatile temper and acid tongue. In a very short time the officers' mess was split into two opposing camps - a majority burning with resentment against their Commanding Officer and a few who supported him. Thus began a chain of events which led to the death of the Regimental Sergeant Major and which ended with a Court Martial in Aldershot on which was focussed the fullglare of Victorian publicity, at once prudish and purient. Mr. Haley skilfully weaves together the personal tragedy of RSM Lilley and his wife with the invidious position of Senior Officers who became personally involved in the problems of Colonel Crawley and were gradually manoeuvred into supporting him in order to maintain their own reputations..." Minor browning to endpapers, small book store label and tiny stain on front pastedown, very small scuff on inside front hinge, faint erased pencil marks on free front endpaper, minor wrinkling at top of spine. Dust jacket is price-clipped, very light edge wear/wrinkling, 1" closed tear at top or rear hinge, minor browning, minor rubbing. VG/VG.