RAF Escaping Society cover signed by General C.M Maltby, Commander-in-Chief, British Forces in Hong Kong 1941
Faint signature so much lower price than the last we had of this signed cover
Postage to USA by courier only
Major General Christopher Michael Maltby was a senior British Indian Army officer best known for commanding the defense of Hong Kong against the Japanese invasion during World War Two.
Maltby joined the military in 1911 and served during World War One. In July 1941, he took over as the commander of the British troops in Hong Kong.
The position was an incredibly difficult assignment. Hong Kong was isolated, short on men, and lacked proper military equipment. On 8 December 1941, Japanese forces launched a massive attack. Maltby led a fierce but desperate 18-day defense. Facing an unwinnable situation, he formally surrendered the colony on Christmas Day, 1941.
Following the surrender, Maltby spent nearly four years as a prisoner of war under Japanese captivity. During this tough time, he kept a handmade notebook known as a "commonplace book" and was highly regarded by his men for looking out for their welfare. He was freed at the end of the war in 1945 and retired from the military in 1946. He passed away in 1980 at the age of 89
WE ARE UACC REGISTERED DEALERS NUMBER RD209
NOTE! We have noticed a few sellers putting the letters "UACC" in their item titles but failing to provide either a dealer or member number. You should view this practise or anything similarly vague with the utmost caution, any reputable dealer will provide this information on their listings directly without having to be asked. We are UACC Registered Dealer RD209