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FOX (Martin Sidney)
"Corporals All": With the Special Brigade R.E. 1915-1919.
Introduction by Maj.-Gen. C.H. Foulkes, Formerly GOC Special Brigade & Director of Gas Services, GHQ, BEF. 1st Ed., dup. typescript in printed card covs. with plastic spiral binding, 258x215mm, [ii]+vi+140pp., 3 maps. Worthing Typewriting Office. [1965].
#70451
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![[HLMainPic]](booksThumbs/70451.jpg "Click on the left or right of the image for more images")
The title derives from the fact that all the original rank & file of the Special Companies, mainly ex-chemistry students, were enlisted in the rank of corporal or above & were dubbed 'The Comical Chemical Corporals.' The author was onesuch, joining 186 Coy. in 1915. He arrived in France before the Battle of Loos: "We became acquainted with gas cylinders, both full & empty specimens. The total weight when full might vary from 100 lbs to about 130 lbs, with the chlorine contents in liquid form under considerable pressure... each cylinder was fitted with two iron handles, through which rope-slings attached them to a carrying-pole... we learned how to dig trenches & how to arrange the cylinders in them, how to connect the pipes through which the chlorine would be discharged... we learned a little of the art of plumbing as we wielded spanners to join the pipes together..." Such detail demonstrates the depth of interest of this rare memoir of a Special Brigade NCO, who goes on to described in detail work during the Battle of Loos (including his original diary notes & complete descriptions written after events). He goes on to describe, in similar detail, his participation in gas operations throughout the war until the armistice. Commissioned in 1917 he joined H (formerly 186th) Special Coy. near Ypres & served with it until the end, including Passchandaele, March Retreat, &c. An exceptionally detailed & rare account, with much close detail on gas operations & mentioning numerous officers & others by name throughout. In his Foreword the writer mentions photographic plates, but they are not present, & never were, in this version. It appears that an edition was privately published in Worthing in 1966, but no copies of this have been traced for sale. This copy, presumed to be the author's original version as typed for him by the Worthing Typewriting Office, bears pencil note to tp "Copy 5 of 5." It is certainly rare in any form and is a highly valuable personal account of work with the Special Brigade. VG throughout.
£275
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