The Thirty-Ninth The History of the 39th Battalion Australian Imperial Force with 36 illustrations and 11 Maps - with a Signed letter from A.T. Paterson to Capt. Matthews (Lionel Colin Matthews)

Melbourne: G.W. Green & Sons, 1934. 1st Edition. hardbound. Very Good in rubbed/scuffed boards/no dustwrapper. 8vo. b&w illustrations/fold-out maps 1st Edition of AT Paterson's history of the 39th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, an infantry unit of the Australian Army, founded in February 1916 for service during WWI as part of the first AIF; list of Battle Honours include Messines, Ypres, Somme, Amiens, France and Flanders - the text providing a chapter on each battle; foreword by Lieut-General John Monash; includes a Lest We Forget list, list of Decorations and Recommendations, and Nominal Roll; 36 b&w illustrations; 11 fold-out maps (all maps in VG condition with sharp folds); this copy with a typed letter (loose-inserted) from Paterson addressed to 'Capt. Matthews...Victoria Barracks' - I take this to be Captain Lionel Colin Matthews of the 27th Brigade who served in the Second Australian Imperial Force in WWII; the letter states ""I have pleasure in forwarding to you....a copy of 'The Thirty-Ninth"", which I ask you to accept with my compliments."", and is signed by Paterson; thus this copy most likely originally from Matthews' library - Matthews was taken prisoner of war and executed by Japanese firing squad in March 1944, refusing the offer of a blindfold; he was posthumously awarded the George Cross for bravery; foxing to endpapers and text block, o.w. Very Good throughout; boards with some rubbing and scuffing, small worn spots top edge.