Flora Sandes (1916) ONLY BRITISH WOMAN SOLDIER -True 1st Ed. WWI.ChCh Provenance

Rare and complete true first edition (1916) of the incredible memoir of Flora Sandes—the only British woman to officially serve as a combat soldier in the Great War.

While other women served in nursing or support roles, Sandes joined the Serbian 2nd Infantry Regiment as a private, fought in the trenches, was wounded by a grenade in hand-to-hand combat, and was eventually promoted to Sergeant-Major. She was decorated with the Order of the Kara George Star for her bravery under fire.

Edition Details: True First Edition: Published by Hodder & Stoughton, 1916. Verification: Title page bears the Roman numerals "MCMXVI" (1916). Completeness: This copy is fully complete, containing the frontispiece (Colonel Militch) and all 13 additional internal photographic plates (including the iconic "Author in Khaki" at p. 148).

As Issued: Bound in the original pale orange-brown cloth; as was common for this wartime edition, it was issued without a pictorial dust jacket. Condition Report: Internal: Very Good. The text and all photographic plates are clean, crisp, and firmly bound. Provenance: Features a neat vintage owner's inscription on the endpaper: "H. Forward, ChCh", giving it a lovely local Christchurch history.

Note on Age: Typical age-related tanning to the half-title page and foxing (spotting) on the top and side page edges. The front board shows a slight natural bow/gap from the text block, common for this binding style (see photos for full transparency). A superb, honest collector's copy of a landmark piece of military and women's history.