Middle East Command (2 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Good. Staple-bound pamphlet, 14x21cm. 16pp including full-page plan. Good, folded and creased with some spotting, and name pencilled to the back. No date of publication, but printed 9-45. With Japan's surrender on 15 August / 2 September 1945, this relates to the major operation to return former POWs, military and civilian personnel and their families home. This involved a stopover at Adabiya Port on the Egyptian coast close to Suez, organised by Middle East Command in cooperation with the British Red Cross, St John's War Organisation, and the Egyptian government. Passengers would disembark here for up to 48 hours to collect free warm clothing suitable for the English climate stored in sheds at Ataka, connected by rail a couple of miles up the coast: "the quality of clothing has not got any better in the past four years of war. But we have done everything to produce our best for you" (p3); and use any remaining time at Adabiya for recreation. The map shows the layout of facilities in both locations on a scale of @1 inch to 0.6 miles. The text includes a welcome message; information about collecting clothes and special gift bags provided by the Red Cross and St John's (Section I); facilities including restaurant, cinema, children's playground, 1001 Dock Company's Camp, swimming, Sandy Beach, sea trips etc (II); practicalities such as post, money, welfare, medical (III); and advice on shore leave, visitors, hawkers, and care with children as "some of the native drivers consider all roads as speed tracks" (IV). Several lists itemise clothing entitlements for officers, ordinary ranks in the Army and RAF, civilian men and women, and boys and girls 3-15 and under 4. Extremely rare, not recorded on Worldcat or Library Hub. An online search located copies at St Antony's College Oxford, IWM, and the Wellcome Collection.

Soft cover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Original Middle East Training Pamphlet no 6 Part VIII. Identification of American ammunition.(code 1314/GHQP/8-42). Published August 1942 as US equipment and therefore ammunition was being used in increasing quantities for both tanks, artillery and small arms etc. Clearly a first edition 21pp., filled with drawings of US Ammunition with descriptions, printed details of codes etc. Also containers boxes etc. One folding page showing marked tank shells. Some rusting to staples and area immediately close, also wear to top of pages, not affecting text or illustrations. Overall good. Very rare, first we have seen.