This is another in the excellent series from Pen and Sword on the Despatches From The Front series.

A very comprehensive set of Despatches covering the fighting on land, sea and in the air post El Alamein and up to the Sicilian landings. The reports are, as one would expect, very dry and official with the human element virtually written out of the documents. The point of these documents is to have a record of events and how they were met and dealt with, which these Despatches do very well.

This is not the book for the casual reader, but anyone with a grounding in the actions in the Mediterranean area will get a very good overview of the actions as seen by the Commanders.

3.5

ARRSE - Auld-Yin

An interesting series, and an interesting book.

The book is made up of copies of the despatches by General Wavell and General Auchinleck to the then Secretary of State for War back in the UK. Reports of what happened and why. Wavell sent his on December 10th, 1940, June 21st, 1941 and September 5th, 1941. The much longer despatches by Auchinleck were sent March 8, 1942 and January 27th, 1943.

All of the reports were submitted many months after the actual operations took place and covering a lengthy period each. Written by the supreme commanders they provide an insight on what they saw as important, from their highest level in the field, and the issues they had to cope with.

The reports are very detailed and often provide long lists of units and their numbers and commanders and places.

You will need patience to read this book, and in-depth knowledge of the African and Middle East campaigns will most certainly help a lot. Me, I am still digging into that area and will undoubtedly come back to the book after having read a few others on the subject.

FSAddon

This is another volume in the fine series of unabridged despatches, collected to cover specific campaigns. Authorship is always a tricky area with this type of book. The authors have done much more than an editor would to create a credible collection of primary source material and have provided the essential introductions. The text material is complemented by a good photographic illustration in the form of a photo-plate section. This type of book is a must for researchers, writers and well-informed enthusiasts, It is also essential reading for military professionals. However, it is a very readable work that provides fascinating insights from those who were in command and should appeal to a much wider readership. Recommended.

The period covered is the closing stage of German expansion. It may seem like yet another list of reverses for British forces and their limited allies, but it is a period when time was bought to prepare to turn the tide against the Germans. Within the retreats and evacuations, there were also magnificent rearguard actions and the Germans suffered their own reverses. The British may have left Crete, but the German airborne forces were never to recover from the invasion of Crete. Tobruk provided some determined defence against the German siege and tied down disproportionate German resources, probably costing the Afrika Corps capture of the Suez Canal.

The British managed to hang on in Malta and Tobruk against what should have been overwhelming odds. Although Tobruk was to eventually fall, it cost the Germans dear. Malta was to prove an expensive failure for Italian and German arms, but it did so much more than just resist. Torpedo and gun boats operated out of Malta, interdicting the German supply convoys taking vital supplies to Rommel. They were ably assisted by aircraft and submarines that also operated out of Malta.
By the Battle of El Alamein, Axis operations in the Mediterranean and Middle East theatres were at risk. The period of expansion had ended and the Allies were about to begin the process of rolling the Axis Forces back. This book contains the despatches that show how Allied commanders saw the developing situations from the information then available to them.

FIRE Reviews

Another interesting addition to this collection of wartime reports from Commanders to their superiors... I find these collections of original despatches to be fascinating to read.

Military Modelling

The detail of the operations the book covers is not to be found elsewhere.

Britain at War