Description:

A vintage 'Field Message Book' issued to Allied officers and NCOs as a general field notebook. This example was printed in August 1940 and owned by a British soldier serving in North Africa, unpaginated 4to., bearing instructions on writing messages followed by multiple pages of handwritten notes. Most interestingly, one section discusses the final days of the Siege of Tobruk. In part: '...26.11.41...On orders from OC 240...I proceeded with two platoon in convoy with Capt. Roberts loaded with special...packs for the 13th Corps...comprising 108 loads...patrol supplies...water...octane....total vehicles 106....27.11.41....I made contact with Maj. Heweston[?]...need his written order to proceed...as convoy...the convoy started at dusk and proceeded...passed through the German lines without opposition...another convoy was chased...at dawn by enemy AFV's...' Moderately worn with chipping and edgewear throughout. Tobruk is a port city on the Mediterranean coast of Libya that changed hands multiple times during the North African campaign. Axis forces under Erwin Rommel began a siege of the city in April of 1941, as they want to capture it in order to have a port closer to Egypt. The skeleton Allied force repulsed multiple attempts to take the city, the last one taking place in late November. One of the days described, November 27th, is when the city was relieved by the Eighth British Army. The author was likely a soldier stationed in Tobruk being convoyed out to be replaced with fresh troops.

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August 24, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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