[Palestine Mandate] 40 Commando R.M. in Haifa - January to June, 1948

Royal Marines 40 Commando were deployed to Palestine during the last 5 months of the Mandate to take over internal security at Haifa Port while British Forces and the High Commissioner were being evacuated, and to act as rearguard in the final withdrawal. Original black printed yapp wraps 12x19cm. 51pp text + (10)pp full-page captioned b/w photos credited to Marine D.M. Gilbert. The photos are unindexed, but the count matches with another copy. Wraps very good, tanned from the original pale green to the exteriors especially, with some marks. Interiors near fine. Very rare with Worldcat and Library Hub recording 3 institutional copies between them (OCLC 561064771: National Maritime Museum, National Museum of the Royal Navy, Qatar National Library). This had limited circulation, prepared for members of 40 Commando by its Intelligence Section as "a souvenir of our short but extremely valuable stay in Palestine [giving] a broad outline of our activities, punctuated with humourous and often tragic incidents and problems" (Introduction by "A.H.", St Andrews Barracks, Malta). Haifa was the main port used for the sea evacuation. They arrived to find the situation extremely tense: "The whole country was seething with racial hatred, and Haifa was well to the fore in open acts of violence" (p5). Noting that soldiers are not normally expected to engage in politics, they were expected to do so here. Their duties changed over the course of 4 political periods beginning with Joint Jewish and Arab Government in Haifa, the Battle of Haifa, Jewish occupation of Haifa, and finally Haifa in the new State of Israel. Tasks included keeping the port open, preventing arms smuggling, and safeguarding refugees. The work opens with a statement of appreciation from the Admiralty to Admiral Sir Arthur J. Power, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, commending the Commandos for their "high morale and unassuming efficiency". The photos show Zionist bomb damage to the HQ of Monnazamat Es Shahab and at No.3 Gate, providing covering fire to Arab refugees, Arab refugees encamped at No.3 Gate, High Commissioner General Sir Alan Cunningham inspecting his 40 Commando Guard of Honour, final ceremony, evacuation and departure.…