SIR EDWARD HOWARD MARSH - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/28/1912 - HFSID 142489

EDWARD MARSH. Typed Letter signed: "E Marsh", 1p, 4¾x8. The Admiralty, Whitehall (London), 1912 October 28. On embossed letterhead of the Admiralty to "Dear Admiral Limpus", in full: "Mr. Churchill asks me to thank you very much for your letter of the 18th. Postscript in Marsh's hand: "What amazing events are happening! Yours sincerely". Sir Edward Howard "Eddie" MARSH (1872-1953), a British civil servant, clerked for several prominent British officials. He was Churchill's Private Secretary, with some interruptions, from 1905-1929, including Churchill's initial tour as First Lord of the Admiralty (1911-1915). He retired from government service (1937) before Churchill became Prime Minister (1940), but continued to assist Sir Winston's literary efforts, editing his manuscripts and writing a preface for one. Marsh was a scholar and patron of the arts. He wrote a memoir of the poet Rupert Brook and translated works from French and Latin. He held important posts in British art and literary circles in his later years, including a long tenure as Chairman of the Contemporary Art Society. Rear Admiral Arthur LIMPUS (1863-1931), the addressee, served as Britain's naval advisor to the Turks (1912-1914). In a period of high tensions which would ignite World War I in the following year, Britain and Germany were competing for influence in Turkey. Admiral Limpus, influential with the Turkish military, was intimately involved in these intrigues. Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty would soon clash with Limpus over policy toward Turkey. After Turkey joined the German side in World War I, Churchill promoted an amphibious landing at Gallipoli (1915), to seize the Turkish straits from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. This campaign, a disastrous failure, might have met with greater success if Limpus, who knew the Turkish forces and defenses intimately, had not been reassigned to another command and instructed not to participate in the planning for Gallipoli. Churchill, blamed for this failure, lost his post at the Admiralty. His reputation would not recover until World War II. Lightly soiled. Otherwise, fine condition.