USA - MI6 - OSS - Hand-to-Hand Fighting - First Edition with Capt. Rank - Book "Get Tough" by Capt W.E. Fairbairn - Sykes - complete with dust cover - 1942

Very rare book 'Get Tough', hand-to-hand fighting, as taught to the British Commandos by Major W.E. Fairbairn. An extremely nice OSS-MI6 related handbook with the original rare dustcover, which is very often missing — in used but nice condition. Please look at the photos carefully for an important personal impression. This is a first edition, as indicated by Fairbairn's rank — Captain instead of Major. Only the first edition carries his rank as Captain. This is a rare early edition in nice condition, see photos.

Fairbairn was a British Royal Marine officer. He developed hand-to-hand combat methods for the allied special forces during World War II. He created innovative pistol shooting and fighting techniques, as well as the development of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife.

During WW2, he was recruited by the British Secret Service as an Army officer. Together with fellow close-combat instructor Sykes, Fairbairn was commissioned on the General List in 1941. He trained British, American, and Canadian Commando and No. 2 Dutch Troop 10th Inter-Allied Commando forces, along with Ranger candidates in close-combat, pistol-shooting, and knife-fighting techniques.