The Story of the Fifth Australian Division

THE STORY OF THE FIFTH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION – A.D. ELLIS MC – 1920 FIRST EDITION – AIF – ANZAC HOUSE PROVENANCE – FROMELLES Scarce Original 1920 First Edition • Australian Imperial Force Unit History • Original Maps & Plates • Historic Melbourne & ANZAC House Provenance • Fromelles Anniversary Ephemera Offered for sale is an original 1920 First Edition of Captain A.D. Ellis's important The Story of the Fifth Australian Division, one of the classic contemporary histories of the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. Published in London by Hodder & Stoughton, the book provides an authoritative account of the 5th Australian Division A.I.F. and its service in Egypt, France and Belgium. The Division fought in some of Australia's most significant and costly actions of the Great War, including Fromelles, Bullecourt, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, Villers-Bretonneux, Amiens, Péronne and the St Quentin Canal. Written by Captain Alexander Donaldson Ellis, M.C., 29th Battalion A.I.F., the volume contains 468 pages plus preliminary matter, numerous photographs, maps and diagrams, folding operational maps and colour plates, together with extensive appendices recording honours, awards and the Division's Roll of Honour. EXCELLENT AUSTRALIAN PROVENANCE This particular copy has a fascinating history of its own. The title page bears the early stamp: A.F. MOLLISON LIBRARY ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL MELBOURNE 10 MAY 1921 showing that the book had entered an important Melbourne institutional collection very shortly after publication. It subsequently formed part of the: VICTORIAN BRANCH LIBRARY – ANZAC HOUSE collection, whose distinctive red stamp also appears on the title page. An excellent provenance for an original Australian First World War unit history. 1966 FROMELLES COMMEMORATION EPHEMERA Also retained with the book is an original typed notice concerning the: “50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES” dated 23 April 1966. The notice provides arrangements for former members of the 5th Australian Division attending the 50th Anniversary commemoration at the War Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney, on 19 July 1966. A fascinating piece of veteran association material that has apparently remained with the volume for many years. ORIGINAL FOLDING MAPS The book retains substantial folding operational maps, examples photographed including: The Péronne Operations – 1st to 5th September 1918 and The Division's Second Somme Campaign These detailed maps are an important feature of the original publication. CONDITION Good original condition for a book now over 100 years old. Original red cloth boards with gilt 5th Australian Division Rising Sun insignia to the front and gilt titles and insignia to the spine. There is noticeable age and service wear, including rubbing, fading, circular staining/marks to the front board, wear to the extremities and spine, old library/reference markings and other evidence of its long institutional history. Internally the book remains well preserved overall with expected age toning and the library/provenance markings described above. The original Fromelles anniversary notice has age wear, folds and edge damage. This is an unrestored historical copy. All genuine age, wear, markings and provenance have been retained. Please examine the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description. A very worthwhile copy of an important Australian WWI divisional history, particularly appealing for its 1921 Melbourne provenance, later ANZAC House association and surviving Fromelles commemoration material. Ideal for the serious collector of Australian Imperial Force, Western Front, Fromelles, Australian battalion and divisional histories, ANZAC memorabilia or First World War book.…