The Ardwick Boys went to Malta by Robert A Bonner (Signed)

The Ardwick Boys went to Malta by Robert A Bonner is a scarce and highly specialised regimental history chronicling the experiences of the 8th (Ardwick) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, during the Siege of Malta between 1940 and 1943. Based largely on contemporary diaries and firsthand accounts, The Ardwick Boys went to Malta offers a vivid and often overlooked perspective on the role of Territorial Army infantry in one of the most heavily bombed theatres of the Second World War.

Unlike broader campaign histories, this work provides granular insight into the adaptability of British infantry units under extreme conditions. The Ardwick Battalion was required to perform a wide variety of roles beyond combat—supporting aerodromes, maintaining infrastructure, and assisting with logistics under near-constant aerial assault. These accounts make The Ardwick Boys went to Malta particularly valuable to collectors of British regimental history and the Mediterranean theatre.

This particular copy is elevated significantly by its association inscription to Robin Smith, the respected South African historian and author of Practically Over, a definitive study of the later Anglo-Boer War.

Within the Midlands Books catalogue, Smith’s works are consistently sought after, including:

• Practically Over (Signed)
• Mokari Drift (Signed booklet)
• But We Got the Gun!
• Robin Smith Proof Copies Collection

The presence of this inscription creates a compelling crossover between WWII and Anglo-Boer War collecting fields, making this a desirable association copy with broader appeal than a standard example.

Condition – Near Fine 

Paperback. Light shelf wear to covers with minor handling marks. Internally clean and well preserved. Inscribed on the title page to Robin Smith. A neat and collectible copy.