Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Sir Alexander Hardinge [King's Private Secretary] marked "Secret" stating: that he had heard that General Dwight Eisenhower [Commander in Chief of North African Theatre of Operations, United States Army] was "rather hurt" that King George VI's message to the troops before the battle had not gone through him and that WSC took responsibility for this; that Torch [Allied Invasion of West North Africa] which was supposed to be a United States operation had now fallen into the...

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East: comments on the implications of delaying an attack, particularly for Malta and North Africa and on comparative allied and enemy tank numbers; states that he is sending Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] to India via Cairo [Egypt] to put across the views of the War Cabinet, accompanied by Lieutenant-General Archibald Nye [Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff].

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Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC agreeing to advance start date of Torch [codename of the Allied invasion of North West Africa] and the announcement of General Dwight Eisenhower's command [as Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces in North Africa].

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Lieutenant-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] discussing many topics: an unnamed campaign which is being kept secret from the Soviet Union, the United States and domestic enquirers but which it was hoped would bring military success [? "Crusader", operation in North Africa]; hoping to acquire Bizerta [Tunisia]; regretting having to give up operation "Whipcord" [codename for a British plan for the invasion of Sicily] as "a task beyond the...

Scope and Contents Page proofs for a supplement to the London Gazette entitled "Operations in East Africa, November 1940 - July 1941", reprinting contemporary despatches and reports by General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East (21 May 1942), Lieutenant-General Sir William Platt, on the operations in Eritrea and Abyssinia [Ethiopia] (11 September 1941) and Lieutenant-General Sir Alan Cunningham on East Africa Force Operations (6 June 1941 and 22 July 1941) with various appendices and...

Scope and Contents "Revised" page proofs of a supplement to the London Gazette entitled "Operations in the Middle East, 5 July 1941 - 31 October 1941" reprinting a contemporary despatch by General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief the Middle East Forces (8 March 1942), on Syria and Palestine, Cyprus, Iran [Persia], Turkey, co-operative planning with India, East Africa, Sudan, the Western Desert, Tobruk [Libya], and Egypt, and administrative matters, with appendices including communications from...

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Page proofs for a supplement of the London Gazette entitled "Operations in North West Africa 8th November 1942 to 13th May 1943" reprinting a contemporary despatch by Lieutenant-General [Kenneth] Anderson, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, 1st Army, (7 June 1943) with later War Office preface and footnotes. [annotated].

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Telegrams from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC explaining operation [Crusader, major British operation in North Africa] postponed for 3 days due to need for training of South African division in desert warfare.

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Telegram from Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC explaining the reasons of Major- General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East], with which he personally disagrees, for delaying the attack [Crusader, major British operation in North Africa].

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Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] with a message of confidence from King George VI to all ranks participating in the coming battle [Crusader, codename for major British operation in North Africa]; includes Ministry of Defence note on copying the telegram.

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Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] advising that upon success of Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa] an operation could mounted to move 2 and a half divisions into Tunis [Tunisia], Algiers [Algeria] or Morocco at French invitation.

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Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC "no definite news of progress" of Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa].

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Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] and Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC: Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa] satisfactory despite bad weather; they believe Field Marshal Erwin Rommel does not yet appreciate scale of operations.

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] on state of offensive in Libya; essential to success to retain General Maxime Weygand [Governor-General of Algeria and Delegate-General of Vichy Government in French Africa], or not to have pro-German, as leader of Vichy France in Africa.

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Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC congratulating him on success in Libya; advises that Marshal Philippe Petain [Chief of French State] has removed General Maxime Weygand [Governor-General of Algeria and Delegate-General of Vichy Government in French Africa] and French High Military Command North Africa will be administered from Vichy potentially giving Germany diplomatic control.

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Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC with Libyan Desert battle information on Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa].

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] reporting on progress of Libyan Desert battle, Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa].

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Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC fearing Germany may now control French fleet and ports in North Africa overshadowing Syrian desert successes; fears developments in Caucasus which threaten oil supplies.

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Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC on battle in Libyan desert, Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa].

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC reporting on his first ten days in Egypt and the impressions he has gained: includes comments on the harmonious working of the army and air force; the administrative work of Lieutenant-General Thomas Riddell- Webster [Lieutenant General in charge of Administration Middle East]; organisation of supplies in the Middle East; the situation in Syria and Egypt; relations with United States forces; the use of Spitfires...

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief Middle East] marked "most secret" regarding impending battle in North Africa: states that "We feel that the time has come for a trial of strength in Cyrenaica [Libya] and that the survival of Malta is involved"; comments on the need to prevent newspaper speculation; expresses his confidence in Auchinleck and the army but urges him to assume direct command; asks whether the New Zealand Division ought to be nearer the...

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC marked "most secret" regarding the impending battle in North Africa: states that "I am now absolutely clear as to my task and I will do my utmost to accomplish it to your satisfaction"; thanks WSC for arrangements regarding publicity and for his expression of confidence; comments on his own decision not to take command personally in Libya; comments on his own decision not to move the New Zealand Division...

Scope and Contents Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC marked "most secret and personal" reporting his conclusions on general strategy based upon his visit to the Middle East: comments on the situation in Libya and states that he considers "conclusive operations in Libyan bulge essential for our real victory"; comments on the importance of holding a Middle East block, including Iran, Iraq, India, Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and the Indian Ocean, from both German and...

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt: informs Roosevelt that he is sending a report of his conversations with Vyacheslav Molotov [Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs] covering "Bolero" [codename for build-up of United States forces in Britain for invasion of Europe], "Sledgehammer" [codename for plan to attack coast of France in 1942] and "Super Round- up" [codename for the liberation of France in 1943, later Overlord]; comments on talks with United...

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "most secret" commenting on the difficulties of increasing the proportion of fighting manpower within the total strength of the army in the Middle East: states that the matter has already received considerable attention; comments on problems of geography, lack of industrial development and distance from sources of production which necessitate large support services; discusses the possibility of diluting...