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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...

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] marked "most secret and personal" informing him of decision to divert the 8th Armoured Division and the 44th Division from South Africa to the Middle East, and commenting on reasons why these troops are no longer required in Australia or India.