Telegram from Commanders in Chief (Middle East) to WSC giving details of German and Allied army strengths at the beginning of "Crusader" [codename for British North African operation], including details of losses on both sides and reasons for Allied success.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on the position not being satisfactory, including British troops being pushed back and heavy installations and base establishments removed from Benghazi [Libya] as a precautionary measure.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the latest situation in North Africa, including the premature action at Benghazi [Libya], positions as known on the evening of 26 January, concern over the condition of 1st Armoured division and the conclusion that British armoured forces have failed to compete with the enemy satisfactorily.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the latest situation in North Africa, including: the confusion of the situation around Benghazi [Libya] and details of recent fighting not yet received; 1st Armoured division attempted to move on Elabiar but the going was bad and the division is now back at Charubba; Lieutenant- General Neil Ritchie [Commander, 8th Army] aims to stabilise the position and collect forces for a counter-offensive.

Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC regarding military command in Burma [later Myanmar]: feels disturbed at the "lack of real fighting spirit" shown by troops in Malaya [later Malaysia] and Burma, and lists some causes; comments on Lieutenant-General Thomas Hutton [General Officer Commanding, Burma] and proposal to replace him with General Harold Alexander; refers to own rapid recovery.

Telegram from the Government of New Zealand to WSC listing specific resources required by air force, army and navy in order to defend New Zealand against a Japanese invasion force.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in- Chief, Middle East, to WSC detailing allied and enemy troop strengths and positions in Libya, and outlining his intentions.

Letter from WSC (War Office) to [David Lloyd George] on the need to form the Cabinet, to tax war profits, to cut Government spending, to define future role of the Army, Navy and Air Force and assign the appropriate resources, to check unnecessary spending by the Admiralty, preferably by bringing the Navy as well as the other two services under a Ministry of Defence. Copy in WSC's hand.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief Middle East] and Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Mediterranean] to WSC marked "most secret" reciting the proposed text for his communique and describing fully the progress of the battle in the desert in Libya from 26 May.

Letter from "Bobby" [Major Maurice] Petherick [Financial Secretary, War Office] (52 Westminster Mansions, Little Smith Street, London, SW1) to George Harvie Watt [Prime Minister's Parliamentary Private Secretary] asking him to rescue the secret letter he wrote to WSC "from the P.M.'s tray" as it may be possible to do something from the War Office end about it, and asking if WSC has seen it. [Signed typescript].

Letter from John Peck [Prime Minister's Private Secretary] to Major Maurice Petherick [Financial Secretary] (War Office) stating that Petherick had written to WSC on 25 Apr enclosing a cutting from the Evening News about a special branch of the War Office, that WSC had not been able to take any action on the two suggestions, and suggesting that Petherick might want to take up the matter himself. [Carbon].

Letter from John Peck [Prime Minister's Private Secretary] to Miss E M Rogers (Private Secretary to Financial Secretary, War Office) marked "secret" enclosing the original letter and enclosures sent by Major Maurice Petherick [Financial Secretary at the War Office] to WSC on 25 Apr [not attached]. [Carbon].

Letter from George Harvie Watt [Prime Minister's Parliamentary Private Secretary] to John Martin [Prime Minister's Principal Private Secretary] enclosing a letter from Major Maurice Petherick [Financial Secretary at the War Office] [probably CHAR 20/199/11] and asking for the memoranda marked "secret" to send back to Petherick. [Signed typescript].

Ms note from John Peck [Prime Minister's Private Secretary] to George Harvie Watt [Prime Minister's Personal Assistant] stating that he has already returned "it" [secret memoranda] to "him" [Major Maurice Petherick].

Letter from Mr C Gentry (111 Southcroft Road, Tooting, SW17 [London]) to [David Robertson, Conservative MP for Streatham, London] regarding the poor health of his son, Private [Fred] Gentry, who is serving overseas and who has been in hospital with chest trouble and is now in a convalescent camp, and asking if arrangements can be made to transfer him over here.

Letter from Mrs Gentry (111 Southcroft Road, Tooting, SW17 [London]) to [David Robertson, Conservative MP for Streatham, London] regarding her two sons, Fred and Charles Gentry, who are both serving overseas. She comments on Fred's poor health and the fact that Charles has been gone nearly 4 years without leave, and asks for help, particularly in getting leave for Fred.

Extract from Hansard for 31 May 1945 pp 458-463 relating to the debate on Military Service (Higher Age Groups) and the decision to limit the call up to men aged under 30. Speakers are: Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Marlowe (Conservative MP for Brighton, Sussex), Malcolm McCorquodale (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour), Lord Hinchingbrooke [later Lord Sandwich, then Victor Montagu] (Conservative MP for Dorset South), and Francis Bowles (Labour MP for Nuneaton, Warwickshire).