Buy this book on-line Group Captain Sir Louis Leisler Greig K.B.E., C.V.O : 1920 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT LETTER BY FAMED RAF OFFICER AND GREAT FRIEND TO KING GEORGE VI
12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is an original manuscript letter written on the private stationery of the Royal Family in 1920 by a Royal Air Force officer who was a close friend and aide to Prince Albert, the future King George VI. This man would eventually become Group Captain Sir Louis Leisler Greig K.B.E., C.V.O. He had an extraordinary life having served as a naval surgeon before transferring to the Royal Marines in 1914. He was captured that year, and spent 8 months as a Prisoner of War before being released in a prisoner exchange. He later entered the Royal Air Force with his friend Prince Albert. They remained close friends until 1926, when the two played as partners at Wimbledon in that tournament's Jubilee Year. They lost, badly, and their defeat received considerable public attention. Their friendship waned after that, and it was rumoured that the Prince had been offended by comments which Greig was said to have made about his play. In the Second World War he served as an Air Ministry Liason with the rank of Group Captain, and on one occasion accompanied his old friend (now King George VI) on a trip to the middle east. This letter was written to a Royal Air Force officer named Major B.T. Metcalfe, who became friends with Greig and Prince Albert during the later war years when Metcalfe (formerly of the 2/10th London Regiment) served as a Superintendant of Gymnasia for the Royal Air Force. The letter is a response to a request by Major Metcalfe that the Prince endorse and support a veteran's home that Metcalfe is organizing. In the letter Greig expresses the Prince's support for the program, but that the matter must be handled delicately because many such Veterans Aid programs are entering existence and His Royal Highness (H.R.H.) must be wary of giving an appearance of favoritism toward a program organized by close personal friend (Metcalfe). The letter states that Byng (assuredly General Sir Julian Byng) feels that H.R.H. should distance himself from all such activities. The letter goes on to suggest ways in which H.R.H. might support the program without providing an overt endorsement. Superb picture of the times from an interesting perspective. VG. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good Click here for full details of this book, to ask a question or to buy it on-line. Bibliophile Bookbase probably offers multiple copies of Group Captain Sir Louis Leisler Greig K.B.E., C.V.O : 1920 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT LETTER BY FAMED RAF OFFICER AND GREAT FRIEND TO KING GEORGE VI. Click here to select from a complete list of available copies of this book. Bibliophile Bookbase lists over 5 million books, maps and prints including incunabula, out of print books, fine bindings, antiquarian books and livres anciens. Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints. |