The Art of Decision (Provenance - WWII Commandos)

CASSON, Herbert N.

Published by The Efficiency Magazine, London

About this Item

Published: n.d. [c1944]. First Edition. Inscribed and signed by author. Inscribed to General Bob Laycock dated 1946. DESCRIPTION: Bound in publisher's original cloth. Author inscription and signature to ffep. Robert Laycock book plate to front and rear paste downs. Language: English. Book Condition: Very Good: Sharp corners with light wear to edges and spine ends. Marks to cloth with soiling to boards margins. Tightly bound with intact endpapers and strong hinges. Bookplate to pastedowns. Inscription to ffep. Clean unmarked pages. DJ Condition: No DJ. Pages 104. Size: 20cm by 13.5cm. PROVENANCE: Bookplate: Robert Laycock. Major-General Sir Robert Edward Laycock (1907-1968) senior British Army officer best known for his role in the establishment and command of British Commandos during the Second World War. Born in Westminster, eldest son of Brigadier General Sir Joseph Frederick Laycock, an officer of the Royal Regiment of Artillery knighted for his services during the First World War. Educated at Lockers Park School and Eton College, followed by officer training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst has was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards in 1927. After the Second World War broke out he raised and trained the unit No. 8 Commando. This unit of 500 officers and men was to prove influential: one its sections, encouraged by Laycock, was an experimental marine section, known as the "Folboat Section", which ultimately developed into the Special Boat Service; and one of its officers, David Stirling, would go on to found the Special Air Service. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and appointed leader of the eastern Mediterranean commando force "Layforce", named after him, this combined commando force, (which included 8 Commando and four other commando units) operated from February to August 1941, and saw action in Libya (Bardia and Tobruk), Crete, and Vichy Syria. Whilst it had mixed results, it commando warfare had commenced. In the Battle of Crete, Laycock was one of the last officers to leave the island (along with his intelligence officer Evelyn Waugh) when it was evacuated by British forces at the conclusion of the battle in May 1941. Evelyn Waugh was an admirer of Laycock, and later dedicated his novel Officers and Gentlemen, which is set in this period and theatre to him. Laycock commanded the Middle East Commando from August 1941 to August 1942, in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He then returned to the United Kingdom, was promoted to brigadier, and from 1942 to 1943 commanded the Special Service Brigade, which organised and trained all commandos. In 1943 he was promoted to major-general, and became Chief of Combined Operations, succeeding Louis Mountbatten. He held that position until 1947. From 1960 Laycock held the honorary positions of Colonel Commandant of the Special Air Service and Colonel of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry.

Seller Inventory # 11495

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Art of Decision (Provenance - WWII Commandos)
• Publisher: The Efficiency Magazine, London
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No DJ
• Signed: Inscribed and signed by author