Harry Cope Memorial Award for Literature 2007

The Committee has pleasure in announcing the Harry Cope Memorial Award for Literature for 2007 to Bob Swarbrick for: The Royal Marines Home and Abroad - A Postal History 1664-1994 First it must be emphasised that this is not a catalogue of postal markings related to the Royal Marines - it is much more interesting than that. The author has selected 91 items (or groups) from his extensive collection, covering both war and peace. Each item is illustrated and described, with background information, and frequently embellished with a relevant non-postal illustration. Where applicable, the letter (frequently very informative) is transcribed. The first item is a letter of 1666, when the Lord High Admiral's Regiment (as the Corps was then known) was only two years old, and the last is from the tiny Royal Marine detachment on South Georgia in 1994. In between, slightly over half the coverage is of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and slightly less of the twentieth century. Mention of a few items, some from well-known events, others obscure, will give some idea of the scope: • 1704 account of action in connection with the relief of the siege of Gibraltar, • Including an engagement with French ships which had been flying English colours. • 1759 Dominica (and also 1821). • 1807 Capture of Funchal. • 1834 Concession rate letter, which originally had the penny coin for the postage sewn to the cover. • 1858-1867 Letters from the same officer in Nicaragua, Mexico and then en route to Lesbos for earthquake relief. • 1911 Party landing in Persia to intercept gun runners from Afghanistan. • 1918 Detachment on St Helena. • 1939 Landing on Kulangsu Island, China. • 1944 Prisoner of the Japanese. • 1950 No 41 Independent Commando, specially raised for operations in North Korea. The author has carried out a considerable amount of research, and there is much that was new to me. A comprehensive index covers twelve pages. Virtually every page is illustrated, twelve (including the front and back covers) being in colour. One minor irritation - "peninsular" instead of "peninsula" escaped the proof reading. The book maintains the high standard of The Rossiter Trust, and is ideal for dipping into a few pages at a time. Published by Stuart Rossiter Trust Fund, 2004, ISBN 0-9545207-1-8. Soft bound, xvi + 162 + x pages. Price £36 plus postage, from: David Tett, P0 Box 34, Wheathampstead, Herts, AL4 8LN Also available from Vera Trinder in London, and Leonard Hartmann, PO Box 36006, Louisville, Kentucky 40233, USA. [This review by Alistair Kennedy appeared in Newsletter 269 (Autumn 2006)]