LUSHINGTON, Franklin, as Mark Severn.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

The Gambardier. First edition, presentation copy from the author, inscribed on the front free endpaper to Lieutenant L. O. R. Ashley (1883-1947), opening: "Dear Ashley, It gives me great pleasure to sign this little book for you and, in doing so, I cannot help thinking … of the great days in March 1918 when we all fought side by side together on the Bapaume-Cambrai road".Lionel Owen Randolph Ashley, who served with a Mechanical Transport company of the Royal Army Service Corps, was at one time officer commanding 194 Siege Battery Ammunition Column (SBAC). He has written these details, along with his dates of service (1917-19), and address on the front pastedown; his neat facsimile-signature ownership stamp is also here, and on the front panel of the jacket.On the half-title he writes in remembrance of Major Hugh Aglionby, who appears in the book as Hugh Merredew, noting that "at Oxford & in private life afterwards one of my greatest friends". A few days before the Armistice, Aglionby died of wounds received in action at Moen in Flanders. In his inscription, dated 3 January 1931, Lushington writes "I cannot help thinking of our mutual friend Hugh Aglionby" and concludes by remarking, "I should like to add a personal tribute to the A.S.C. without whose devoted and unselfish support we Gambardiers would not have been able to carry on". Lushington also supplies some 15 identifying marginal notes in his neat hand; Ashley naming Aglionby in the margin at pp. 220-1."Gambardier" is a

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