Scope and Contents Memorandum by Major Orde Wingate on the reconnaissance of Tibesti [Libya] as the first step in the conquest of North Africa, recommending the use of a native army, [including map, at CHAR 20/62/115]; forwarded to WSC and Lieutenant-General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to WSC] by Randolph Churchill; with note from Ismay to WSC commenting on the unfeasibility of the plan, and forwarding note from John Peck [Assistant Private Secretary to WSC] to Lieutenant-Commander M Knott [Private...

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Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC on subjects including: congratulating him on his trip [to Washington, United States]; commending the defence of the Far East but insisting on the Middle East and North Africa as the theatre of prime importance; Soviet success against Germany and Hitler's intentions towards Turkey and the Caucasus; making political concessions in India to secure support; improving tanks to German standards.

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC giving the latest details of the 8th Army in North Africa: enemy tanks and artillery engaged at Antelat [Libya] and Saunnu but without decisive result; general description and position of troops; intention of Lieutenant- General Neil Ritchie [Commander, 8th Army] to stabilise his position and launch an offensive; "Once again [General Erwin] Rommel [Commander, Afrika Corps] has made bold stroke ... The...

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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.

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, expressing his disturbance at the latest news of the evacuation of Benghazi and Derna [Libya]: "The kind of retirement now evidently envisaged by subordinate officers implies the failure of CRUSADER and the ruin of ACROBAT" [codenames for the British North African operation and operation against Tripoli].

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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.

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Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the latest situation in North Africa, including details of troop movements and positions, and the enemy's apparent division of forces in an attempt to secure both Mechili [Al Makili, Libya] and Benghazi.

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the deterioration of the situation in North Africa, including: his fear that it will be necessary to temporarily evacuate Benghazi [Libya]; 7th Indian Infantry Brigade threatened with envelopment and withdrawn; demolitions ordered to be carried out in Benghazi; a report of action in progress about 20 miles north of Masus; admitting that the enemy has succeeded beyond his expectations and...

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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.

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander in Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding latest situation in North Africa: states that the loss of Benghazi [Libya] is "only temporary"; suggests reasons for defeat of armoured force; concludes "that to meet German armoured forces with any reasonable hope of decisive success our armoured forces as at present equipped organised and led must have at least two to one superiority"; believes General Erwin Rommel [Commander, Afrika Corps] will...

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Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the latest situation in North Africa: "Yesterday was uneventful"; gives latest troop positions; is examining future prospect and hopes to send recommendations in 2 or 3 days.

Scope and Contents Letter and reports by Randolph Churchill to WSC on the command structure and personalities in the Middle East, including Lieutenant- General Thomas Corbett, Chief of General Staff, Middle East, Richard Casey [Minister of State, Middle East], Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, RAF, Middle East], Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham, Sir Miles Lampson [British Ambassador to Egypt and High Commissioner for the Sudan, later 1st Lord Killearn] and Michael Wright,...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, July and August 1942. Some written by WSC when in the Middle East.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet].Subjects covered by the...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, September 1942.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; the Chiefs of Staff; Colonel John Bevan [Head of the London Controlling Section]; Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Moore [Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]; Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris [Commander in Chief Bomber...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, October 1942.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; the Chiefs of Staff; Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Jacob [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet].Subjects covered by the minutes include:...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, November 1942.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: Desmond Morton [Prime Minister's Personal Assistant]; Colonel Ian Jacob [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, December 1942.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; Director of Movements [War Office, General Noel Holmes]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; Colonel Ian Jacob [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; Chief Whip [James Stuart].Subjects covered by the minutes include:...

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Telegrams from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on subjects including: enemy movement around Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya]; prisoner- of-war figures and a damage report following surrender of Bardia; success at Bardia due to tanks and South African infantry, the RAF and the Australian and Free French air forces.

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Telegram from WSC to the Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] on his proposals for Allied landings on Atlantic coast [? of North Africa], depending on the progress of General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] and the transatlantic development of operation "Gymnast" [codename for the plans for the British occupation of North West Africa].

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Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on subjects including infantry and tanks in the Western desert against Germans and Italians, prisoner-of-war figures and South African divisions.

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, asking how the retreat and escape of General Erwin Rommel's Italian troops affects "Acrobat" and also "Gymnast" and "Super-Gymnast" [codenames for an operation against Tripoli, Libya, the plans for the British occupation of North West Africa and a combined landing by British and United States forces].

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC reviewing recent developments, including: an anticipated German attack in North Africa; the feeling that Britain is less concerned with the Pacific than with Europe; WSC's discussions with the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt; the definition of South West Pacific; the division of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean into different theatres; the need for naval supremacy against Japan which has already...

Scope and Contents Telegrams from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, on redeployment of troops: Australians to move from Middle East to Far East; United States forces to Northern Ireland (codenamed "Magnet"), the Levant and Caspian Sea, and to Iceland for training; United States contribution to "Gymnast" [codename for the plans for the British occupation of North West Africa] will be "Super- Gymnast" [codename for a combined landing by British and United States forces], and...

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in- Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the latest position in North Africa: estimates no more than 1000 prisoners captured by enemy in Benghazi [Libya]; positions at Mechili [? Al Makili, Libya] and Tengeder [? Bir Tanjadar, Libya] being consolidated; our mobile columns and fighting patrols operating actively in the vicinity of Msus [? Masus, Libya] and Charruba; suggests enemy may continue eastward movement and identifies possible...

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Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the latest position in North Africa: describes troop positions; states that the immediate intention is to stabilise on a general line of present positions while retaining control of No Man's Land; believes that the tank situation is favourable and that the enemy is at the end of a long line of communications; is preparing a defensive position on a general line Sollum-Giarabub [Libya].