WORLD WAR II.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Notes on the North African Campaign, November 1942 - May 1943. First edition of this illustrated, confidential report on railway operations, inspired by issues encountered during the North African Campaign of 1942-43. It provides suggestions for good practice on "questions which were new to us, and which may be of interest to others responsible for planning and carrying out future operations". We have only traced one institutional copy, at the Imperial War Museum.The report begins by discussing the set-up of the railway operating group, with troops and tradesmen from the 163 Railway Workshop Company and the 154 Railway Operating Company. It describes the planning of railway operation and the cooperation with civil railway staff of the Chemins de Fer Algeriens in conjunction with U.S. Transportation staff, mentioning practical problems such as shortages of coal and spare parts for Franco-Belgian Garrett locomotives. The "narrative of events" recounts the salient phases of railway operations. It details the movements of railway personnel, attacks on the railway infrastructure, and preparations for battles. A final section summarizes the lessons to be learnt from the North African Campaign, such as the necessity for metric scaled instruments alongside those in inches, and cooperation with local railway staff who can speak the language. The folding map provides an overview of the railway system in Algeria and Tunisia in 1942-43, while the 26 photographic images illustrate Algeria

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