The Way Back - The "MEDLOC" Overland Route described by Army Education, MEF

"This booklet has been prepared in order to make the long journey from Middle East to England more interesting by telling you something about the places that you will pass through or near" (p3). Original staple-bound blue, black and white wraps featuring a wraparound pictorial route map 14x15cm. Printed by The Printing and Stationery Services, MEF in September 1945 (9-45). 16pp including wraps, a second double-page route map, and several attractive illustrations in-text. Good or better, tanned and spotted. This looks to be extremely rare, with Library Hub locating 1 copy at the National Archives. Worldcat does not record it. MEDLOC (or Middle East Direct Line of Communication) was established to return troops to the UK by the overland route. This booklet was issued for those being discharged, or on leave. On the latter, MEF Commander-in-Chief Bernard Paget distinguishes in his opening statement between "Liaps" (Leave In Advance of Python) and "Lilops" (Leave In Lieu of Python), where "Python" related to the system of home leave based on length of service overseas. As shown on the cover map, the route involved travelling through the Mediterranean by boat from Port Said to Toulon (via Crete, Malta, Lipari, Pantelleria, Sardinia and Corsica), thence by train to Dieppe. The interior map details the rail journey "Across France" with food stops at Bram near Carcassonne and at Neuvy Pailloux, with the ultimate destination at Newhaven. The texts describe the Mediterranean cruise, Napoleon's first victory (Toulon), cypresses and trade (Toulon to Marseilles), song writers of Provence, the Romans, the fortress at Carcassonne, a British victory (Toulouse), etc, including a "glimpse of Paris", and finally Newhaven "where thousands, who have gone abroad as holidaymakers, have landed before you". The in-text illustrations to the bottom corner of each page give traveller's eye impressions of the route with mileages.…