CHURCHILL, Winston S., and others.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

G.H.Q. British Army of the Rhine - guestbook. The guestbook for visitors to the headquarters of the British Army of the Rhine, including the signature of Winston Churchill as secretary of state for war, his wife Clementine, and 96 other signatures covering a wide range of British and French military and political figures, including Ian Hamilton, Archie Sinclair, H. H. Asquith, and Ferdinand Foch. The British Army of the Rhine was formed in March 1919 to administer the occupation of the Rhineland, one of the stipulations of the armistice and Treaty of Versailles. Churchill was appointed secretary of state for war in January 1919 and was responsible for demobilizing much of Britain's armed forces. He convinced Lloyd George to keep soldiers on active duty in the British Army of the Rhine. Churchill was opposed to the harshness of the treaty but wanted the Army on standby in case the Germans revolted. The Army started with more than 275,000 men, was reduced to 50,000 by November 1921, and remained mobilized until 1929.The signatures date from 29 April to 23 November 1919. Churchill's signature is undated but is between signatures dated from 17 August to 10 September. Churchill left England for a five-day visit to the Army on 16 August, as part of the Army Council's tour of inspection.Churchill arrived in Cologne on 18 August, visited the army college there, and "congratulated the British Army of the Rhine on its excellent institutions, and also praised those who were responsible

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.