13 Days - The Chronicle of an Escape from a German Prison

Caunter, Captain J.A.L. [John Alan Lyde]

Published by G. Bell & Sons, London, 1918

About this Item

1918. First edition. xv, 224pp. and 8 black and white plates, including the frontispiece. Brigadier John Alan Lyde Caunter CBE, MC & Bar (1889-1981) was a senior British Army officer, born in Somerset. He was captured by German forces in October 1914 and spent most of the war in captivity as a prisoner of war before escaping from a camp at Schwarmstedt in summer 1917, and published this account of his escape the following year. He writes in his introduction "On placing before the public this account of my escape from Germany and some episodes from my life in two prison camps, I feel that I must make clear that it was only due to the fact that I had two definite supplementary objects to attain, that I succeeded in making myself launch out in the following pages. The first of these objects is to add my quota to the information before the public relating to' the treatment and existence of those who, in prisons in Germany, have suffered and are suffering for their country. My second object is to try to throw a little light on the marvellous spirit of the prisoners as a whole." The book is bound in the original red cloth covered boards with gold titling on the spine and black titling on the front board. The case of the book is in very good condition with some shelf wear and light soiling on the boards. The top corners and spine ends are lightly bumped and there is a faint water stain on part of the rear spine edge. The contents are tight and clean with a water stain on the top corner of the last 6 plates, mostly visible on those nearer the end of the book. There is also a water stain on the top edge of pages 170 onwards that is initially barely visible and and increases in visibilty towards the end of the book. The stain extends about 1/4" from the top edge of the pages at its largest point. The rear endpapers have red staining along part of the top edge where colour has been taken from the cloth binding of the book. There is a stamp reading "1914.18 Collection of Walter Dewar" on the bottom of the title-page but no inscription. Loosely inserted at the start of the book is a printed slip stating "Sent at the Request of the Author".

Seller Inventory # gWWI26

Bibliographic Details

• Title: 13 Days - The Chronicle of an Escape from a German Prison
• Publisher: G. Bell & Sons, London
• Publication Date: 1918
• Binding: Red Cloth Hardback
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Biography
  • Military