Beschreibung:

Special Operations Executive (SOE). Specially Employed. The Story of British Aid to French Patriots of the Resistance, by Maurice J. Buckmaster, 1st edition, London: Batchworth Press, [1952], map and half-tone illustrations, a little light spotting, front hinge breaking, original cloth, joints splitting, edges rubbed, 8vo, presentation copy, inscribed by Maurice Buckmaster to Denis Rake on title page: "Denis Rake, whose boundless courage and unfailing perseverance in the face of adversity is herein - however inadequately described. I write this dedication in the same sense of humility and admission which it has been my object to show throughout the book. Maurice J. Buckmaster, November 1952" (with later cellophane protective overlay), together with Buckmaster (Maurice J.) They Fought Alone. The Story of British Agents in France, 1st edition, London: Odhams Press, 1958, a few pencil annotations and underlining, a little light spotting, blindstamp of Rupert Allason (former politician and author writing as 'Nigel West') to front endpaper, original cloth (spine faded), dust jacket, a few chips, tears and clear tape repairs, 8vo, inscribed by Denis Rake to front endpaper: "Darlings - you both will see this isn't quite right, but it is a good try. With my love to you both, Dender, 11.6.58", with a printed slip pasted at foot of page 'This copy owned and annotated by Denis Rake MC', plus Rake (Denis). Rake's Progress, with a foreword by Douglas Fairbanks , KBE, DSC, 1st edition, London: Leslie Frewin, 1968, blindstamp of Rupert Allason to front endpaper, original cloth, dust jacket, a few chips, repairs to verso, 8vo (Qty: 3) Provenance: From the library of Rupert William Simon Allason, former Conservative Party politician, who also wrote on the subject of espionage under the pen name Nigel West. First work an interesting association copy from Maurice Buckmaster to Denis Rake, former SOE members. Maurice Buckmaster (1902-1992) headed the French section of the Special Operations Executive, formed in 1940 to conduct covert espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance operations against Axis powers in Occupied Europe. After being evacuated at Dunkirk in June 1940, he became an intelligence officer and joined SOE's French Section in July 1941, and commanded F-Section from September 1941, which deployed nearly 400 agents into Occupied France during the course of the war. Denis Rake (1901-1976) was recruited into the SOE due to his wireless and French language skills and began his first mission to France in May 1942. He was arrested in Paris with two other SOE operatives and after interrogation moved to a POW camp where he was allowed to escape to Spain by the sympathetic French commandant. He returned to France in May 1944 as wireless operator to Émile Coulaudon's resistance operations. He was awarded the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre for his wartime services and later was valet to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. who encouraged him to write his memoirs in Rake's Progress.