Lot 396

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Description:


Historic battle-used map with impeccable provenance to the staff of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. HAROLD W. BLAKELEY (1893 - 1966), commander of the 4th Infantry Division Artillery at the time of Operation Overlord, a headquarters map used by Blakeley documenting his artillery's advance from Utah Beach to Paris. The 56.5 x 45 in. map is formed by taping three period sheet maps together with double-sided cello tape - a customary practice in divisional headquarters - and shows light topographical and structural details of western France, including roads, railways, cities, towns, rivers, canals, and forests. An individual, likely Blakeley or his aide-de-camp, has added numbered markings in red indelible pencil, indicating the location of the divisional artillery's command posts. Other unidentified circles in red indelible pencil are also present at various locations. A separate 5pp. handwritten document, likely penned immediately post-war, contains a numbered list of 88 different command posts from June 1944 to July 1945. The list begins with their deployment at La Houssaye on June 6, Audouville la Hubert from June 6th to 8th, and Beuzeville au Plain from June 8th to 10th, from which they provided artillery support to forces struggling against German counterattacks near Utah Beach. This map also notably identifies a command post near the southern suburbs of Paris in August 1945, just before the German garrison surrendered the city to the forces of the Fourth Infantry Division. The map is notably worn from frequent use and certainly warrants restoration, with appreciable folds and creases, adhesive residue from the double-sided tape, and some sections clipped towards the margins. This particular example was retained by his aide-de-camp, Capt. Roswell F. MacGillivray, the stepfather of our consignor. MacGillivray's duties during the Normandy Campaign was to perform reconnaissance and target spotting for the 4th Division Artillery, which landed on Utah Beach with the bulk of the 4th Division on June 6, 1944. Also present with the map are photocopies of a number of documents related to MacGillivray's service under Maj. Gen. Blakeley, including: MacGillivray's citation for the Bronze Star, 1p. 4to., [n.p., n.d.], by order of 4th Division commander Maj. Gen. RAYMOND O. BARTON, for: '...courage and aggressiveness in executing the numerous reconnaissance missions he was assigned...He skillfully observed enemy concentrations, gun emplacements and vehicles and directed artillery fires upon them with great accuracy and destructive results...'; A second Bronze Star citation, 1p. 4to., [n.p., n.d.], awarded by command of Blakeley for the superior performance of his duties as aide-de-camp; a partial list of the general staff of the 4th Infantry Division, 1p. 4to., [n.p.], May 15, 1945, listing Blakeley as the division commander (following his promotion in December of 1944), with MacGillivray listed beneath as his aide-de-camp; an extracted appendix to an after-action report, 1p. 4to., [n.p.], Jan. 7, 1945, reporting that Blakeley and MacGillivray, with their command group, entered Paris on Aug. 25, 1944 and were present at the surrender of the German garrison; a personal postwar T.L.S. from Blakeley to MacGillivray, 1p. 4to., Washington, D.C., Dec. 22, 1955; a pass, 1p. 4to., [n.p.], June 24, 1945, allowing MacGillivray to travel from Le Havre to Paris and Glasgow, by order of Blakeley; a travel plan, 1p. 4to., Camp Butner, North Carolina, Aug. 23, 1945, indicating that Blakeley and MacGillivray are to travel to a reception in Washington; and MacGillivray's honorable discharge certificate, enlisted record, certificate of service, separation qualification record and post-dated promotion certificate to the rank of captain. Overall a fantastic relic of Operation Overlord with a wealth of accompanying information.

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October 28, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000