The History of the Armoured Cars Division: With particular reference to No. 2 Squadron.

DAVIS, Sydney Houghton "Sammy".

Published by No place: no publisher, 1915

About this Item

Rare first and only edition, untraced among institutional libraries. Signed "SHD," these effervescent cartoons, lampooning the unit during the early war years, are almost certainly the work of Sydney Houghton "Sammy" Davis (1887-1981) who, among Edwardian motoring devotees, was "unusual in being a talented author and artist as well as a good driver" (ODNB). Educated at Westminster, University College London, and the Slade School of Art, Davis trained with Daimler and was a staffer at Automobile Engineer. On the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Naval Armoured Car Division (RNACD) and features in this book as Sub-Lieutenant Davis. After the war he became one of the Bentley Boys, "a team of motoring enthusiasts who achieved remarkable fame as drivers on the racetrack and as playboys off the track during the 1920s" (ODNB). The RNACD, raised In October 1914, "caught the public imagination and no problem ever arose regarding the recruitment of suitable officers … Wealthy individuals and groups willingly paid the cost of raising and equipping squadrons, among them the Duke of Westminster … who was given command of No 2 Squadron and brought along many of his friends and even his personal jockey" (Perrett). Bryan Perrett, Iron Fist: Classic Armoured Warfare, 2012. Landscape octavo. Comprising 25 numbered full-page cartoons and caricatures with captions printed on the facing page (verso of the preceding leaf). Original dark red roan, rounded corners; ticket on rear pastedown of Lakeman, Tucker & Gemmell, Long Acre, London, "Account Book Manufacturers, Printers and Stationers". Some wear to spine and corners, title page toned. A very good copy.

Seller Inventory # 185060

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The History of the Armoured Cars Division: With particular reference to No. 2 Squadron.
• Publisher: No place: no publisher, 1915
• Edition: 1st Edition