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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].

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Telegram from WSC to General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] expressing a high opinion of General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East].

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Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC requesting transfer of Major- General Alan Cunningham [General Officer Commanding East Africa Forces] from East Africa to Libyan Desert.

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Telegram from the Prime Minister of South Africa [General Jan Smuts] to WSC reporting on trip to Middle East with predictions of direction of war in future months.

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Telegram from the British High Commissioner in South Africa [4th Lord Harlech, earlier William Ormsby-Gore] to WSC on his recent visit to Middle East; more tanks needed in Libyan Desert before Germans return from Soviet front; agrees that Imperial War Cabinet a bad idea.

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Telegram from British High Commissioner in South Africa [4th Lord Harlech, earlier William Ormsby-Gore] to WSC on behalf of General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] suggesting the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East [Major-General Sir Alan Cunningham] attack the Germans in Africa before October.

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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 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...

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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.

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...

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...