Description
Object description
Ms memoir (32pp, with ts transcription 18pp) of his service as Brigade Major of the 138th Infantry Brigade (46th Division), July - September 1944, in Italy in which he describes in detail the first phase of the attack on the German Gothic Line, August - September 1944, with insight into the command of the Brigade by Brigadier G P Harding, and the movements and actions of the Brigade's component battalions, 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, 2/4th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and 6th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. Together with his British Military Identity Document (issued January 1944), and six Letts pocket diaries (1940 – 1945) containing very brief ms entries for his appointments and movements, with a copy of a ms transcription of extracts from diaries (1939 - 1945, 15pp). Also included are: original movement orders for the move of 138th Infantry Brigade from Damascus, Syria, to Qassasin, Egypt (6pp, June 1944, with Benn's original ms version, 3pp); 138 Infantry Brigade Operational Order No 3 - 'Beast' (2 copies 6pp each, 31 August 1944) regarding the attack on the bridge at Monte Rossa, code named 'Cat', and the holding of the high grounds code named 'Cow', 'Horse' and 'Sheep'; 138 Infantry Brigade Operational Instruction No 1 - 'Beast' (2pp, 1 September 1944); a ts message (1p, 1 September 1944) from 138 Brigade to 46th Division troops with details of reconnaissance forcing the 6th Lincolns to take a last minute different route; a ms note (2pp, 1 September 1944) by Major Benn giving details of tracks not suitable for vehicles; 138 Infantry Brigade Operational Instruction No 2 - 'Beast' (2pp, 2 September 1944, with Benn's ms version, 2pp); with other ts and ms versions of message forms giving orders from 9 – 20 September 1944 (34pp); 18th Lorried Infantry Brigade Operational Instruction No 2 (3pp, November 1944); an appendix to Daily Part One Orders (1p, 16 February 1944) relating to the dangers of venereal disease (VD) in Naples, Italy; a Guide Map of Jerusalem with a list of 'Do's and Don'ts' whilst on leave (2pp, April 1944); humorous fake orders including a War Establishment of a 'Spiritual Aid Detachment' to deal with '200 sinners' (2pp), an invitation and running order of the 'Blue Flag Turf Club' meeting (3pp, July 1944) with puns included in the names of the horses, and details of a 'Course – Army School of Phraseology' to train officers in the use of 'verbosity', 'ambiguous words', 'misleading phrases', and 'broad generalisations' (2pp, February 1945); and a photograph of King George VI in a car (1944).
Content description
Ms memoir (32pp, with ts transcription 18pp) of his service as Brigade Major of the 138th Infantry Brigade (46th Division), July - September 1944, in Italy in which he describes in detail the first phase of the attack on the German Gothic Line, August - September 1944, with insight into the command of the Brigade by Brigadier G P Harding, and the movements and actions of the Brigade's component battalions, 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, 2/4th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and 6th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. Together with his British Military Identity Document (issued January 1944), and six Letts pocket diaries (1940 – 1945) containing very brief ms entries for his appointments and movements, with a copy of a ms transcription of extracts from diaries (1939 - 1945, 15pp). Also included are: original movement orders for the move of 138th Infantry Brigade from Damascus, Syria, to Qassasin, Egypt (6pp, June 1944, with Benn's original ms version, 3pp); 138 Infantry Brigade Operational Order No 3 - 'Beast' (2 copies 6pp each, 31 August 1944) regarding the attack on the bridge at Monte Rossa, code named 'Cat', and the holding of the high grounds code named 'Cow', 'Horse' and 'Sheep'; 138 Infantry Brigade Operational Instruction No 1 - 'Beast' (2pp, 1 September 1944); a ts message (1p, 1 September 1944) from 138 Brigade to 46th Division troops with details of reconnaissance forcing the 6th Lincolns to take a last minute different route; a ms note (2pp, 1 September 1944) by Major Benn giving details of tracks not suitable for vehicles; 138 Infantry Brigade Operational Instruction No 2 - 'Beast' (2pp, 2 September 1944, with Benn's ms version, 2pp); with other ts and ms versions of message forms giving orders from 9 – 20 September 1944 (34pp); 18th Lorried Infantry Brigade Operational Instruction No 2 (3pp, November 1944); an appendix to Daily Part One Orders (1p, 16 February 1944) relating to the dangers of venereal disease (VD) in Naples, Italy; a Guide Map of Jerusalem with a list of 'Do's and Don'ts' whilst on leave (2pp, April 1944); humorous fake orders including a War Establishment of a 'Spiritual Aid Detachment' to deal with '200 sinners' (2pp), an invitation and running order of the 'Blue Flag Turf Club' meeting (3pp, July 1944) with puns included in the names of the horses, and details of a 'Course – Army School of Phraseology' to train officers in the use of 'verbosity', 'ambiguous words', 'misleading phrases', and 'broad generalisations' (2pp, February 1945); and a photograph of King George VI in a car (1944).
History note
Cataloguer PJT
History note
Catalogue date 1986-06