Sergeant Michael Cassidy R.E. Hard cover - 1915

London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1915. First Edition. Hard Cover. Dust Jacket. First UK Edition. Publisher's mid green decorated boards with black lettering to the front board and spine. Slightly pushed spine tip, some foxing to the fore-edge and the customary offsetting to both sets of end-papers. Overall VG indeed. In the rare D/W priced 1/- net to the spine (as called for). The D/W is chipped at the top left hand corner of the front cover (not affecting ant lettering) and at the head of the spine just affecting the word "Sergeant". There is a closed tear and associated crease to the top edge of the front panel and a small area of browning to the back panel (possibly caused by a burn of some sort). The D/W is good (or slightly better) but is characterised by the heavy loss so often seen. Furthermore, its colouration is excellent and this quite a clean copy. The author's first book, most of which was originally published in the 'Daily Mail' (as serving officers in the British Army were not permitted to publish under their own names, Cyril McNeile was dubbed 'Sapper' by the Daily Mail' owner at the time, Lord Northcliffe). A short story collection concerning WW1 and the Battle of Ypres. Cassidy is a legendary soldier in the Corps of Royal Engineers -courageous, fiery and full of Irish charm. Photographs/scans available upon request.