WW2 Signed 1st Edition: Britannia Has Wings By Sir Archibald Hurd

For sale is a WW2 Signed 1st Edition Accompanied With A Special Note, This book is titled: Britannia Has Wings, The Royal Navy on, over & under the sea By Sir Archibald Hurd.

  This book on the inside cover has a letter signed from Sir Archibald Hurd that is dated 24th March 1942 and sent to H. C Ferraby, (this is important as he is mentioned in the book in the introduction) this letter states;    “My dear Ferraby, I had just listened with great appreciation to the best tolkyou have ever given, or anyone else for that matter, on "talk" the navy's work, when Sir Percy Mackinnon rang me up to say that he hoped I had enjoyed it as much as he had done. And here is a copy of my book and thank you again for your very effective help. Don’t overwork, as I did in the last war. with the in evitable result - an expensive illness.”    Sadly Hubert Cecil Ferraby passed away December 31st 1942 aged 58 years of age just several months after this book was published. Hubert Cecil Ferraby was a freelance journalist and a publisher, some of his more well known publications are the grand fleet 1918, the imperial British navy 1919, The Immortal Story Of Zeebrugge 1920, Strange Intelligence:.. Naval Secret Service 1931, and what we imagine 1938. Ferraby is mentioned in the introduction of this book which the full introduction can be seen below, and a clip it from the intro where he is mentioned is written here: “In sending out this slight tribute to the officers and men of the Royal Navy, which has proved once more a sure shield to the British peoples all the world over, it is a pleasure to acknowledge the valued co-operation of Mr. H. C. Ferraby, than whom no one has made a closer study of the contribution which the Royal Navy has made to victory over the aggressors.”   The full introduction to this book states the following:    “IN compliment to the beauty of "La Belle Stewart," who afterwards became Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, Charles II ordered a silver florin to be minted; on one side of this coin she was represented as Britannia seated on an impossible ship, holding in one hand the trident while the other hand rested on a shield. In this way the mythical figure of Britannia became associated with this country's sea power, and years afterwards the song "Britannia Rules the Waves" gained wide popularity. That it was necessary for our island's welfare that Britannia should rule the waves has been the conviction of every succeeding generation. An island people, the sea is to us a menace or a protection in proportion as its command is assured. During the late Victorian era it was agreed that the Roval Navy ought to be as strong in "ships of the line" as the next two strongest fleets, and that in other types of men-of-war the margin of superiority should be even greater. The Two-Power Standard became the recognised standard of strength of the British Fleet.   Such was the respect in which the Royal Navy was held by other nations that after the Battle of Trafalgar on October 2I, 1805, its power was not seriously tested until Germany, after years of preparation, challenged it in 1914.   Off Jutland, on May 3I, I9I6, the issue was decided, and the German High Seas Fleet was subsequently surrendered.   On the events of the war of 19I4-18, aircraft had little influence. But in the succeeding twenty years or so the aeroplane was given such extended radius of action and such great carrying capacity, that its value for reconnaissance and for bombing could not be ignored. Indeed, a school of thought arose which declared that air power had rendered sea power obsolete. In Germany and Italy this belief gained the ascendancy. Events have since shown that the true doctrine of defence must embrace the Blue Water Theory and the Blue Sky Theory. Britannia, if she is to hold the trident, must command the air over the sea as well as the sea itself.   So the Royal Navy to-day has its Fleet Air Arm, and the Admiralty exercises control of every section of the Fleet operating over, on, and under the sea. Unity of administration and command has thus been established. However high the cost, the Royal Navy must be maintained in adequate strength if the British Isles are to remain inviolable to sea-borne invasion, the Dominions and Colonies are to be defended, and the trade routes of 80,000 miles kept open against any odds, however heavy.   Britannia now has her wings, and she must continue to develop them if the Pax Britannica is to be preserved, for air power has given sea power increased range and efficiency in action.   In sending out this slight tribute to the officers and men of the Royal Navy, which has proved once more a sure shield to the British peoples all the world over, it is a pleasure to acknowledge the valued co-operation of Mr. H. C. Ferraby, than whom no one has made a closer study of the contribution which the Royal Navy has made to victory over the aggressors.”     This is in good condition and has its original dust cover, there is some slight damage to the dust covers spine (so please see photos for more details). This makes an interesting read and has a personal note from the writer to a fellow writer/ contributor of this book.    This will be sent via Royal Mail special delivery and dispatched within two working days.