Special Collections

Airgraph dated 26 November 1942

Manuscript letter including references to Tobruk and the following journey through the desert and the Nile. John Jarmain and his anti-tank unit were probably somethere between Tobruk and Mersa Brega.

Tags: Africa, Cyrenaica, desert, Desert War, Egypt, Libya, North African Campaign, Sahara, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Airgraph dated 20 January 1943

Manuscript letter mentioning the desert.

Tags: Africa, desert, Desert War, Libya, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Airgraph dated 19 December 1942

Manuscript letter.

Tags: Africa, desert, Desert War, Libya, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Airgraph dated 19 August 1942

Manuscript letter depicting life in a transit camp in the desert where the soldiers are learning the desert ways. Also including references to the food rations.

Tags: Africa, desert, Desert War, Egypt, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Airgraph dated 14 December 1942

Manuscript letter

Tags: Africa, desert, Desert War, Libya, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Airgraph dated 12 September 1942

Manuscript letter mentioning the difficulties of writing letters during war in the desert.

Tags: Africa, desert, Desert War, Egypt, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Airgraph dated 11 November 1942

Manuscript letter including references to life in the desert, war and Rommel.

Tags: Africa, Battle of El Alamein, desert, Desert War, Egypt, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Airgraph dated 10 January 1943

Manuscript letter.

Tags: Africa, desert, Desert War, Libya, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Aerogram dated 8 December 1942: draft of poems 'For Alemein [Alamein]' and 'Soldiers' Prayer'

Manuscript lettercard probably written from Cyrenaica, Libya, including a draft of the poems 'For Alemein' and 'Soldiers' Prayer'.

Tags: Africa, Battle of El Alamein, desert, Desert War, Libya, North African Campaign, Sahara, Second World War, war, war poetry, Western Desert Campaign

Aerogram dated 8 April 1943

Manuscript lettercard mentioning a battle and every day life in the desert including references to a jeep. Jarmain might be referring to the battle of the Mareth line or the attack at Wadi Akarit.

Tags: Battle of the Mareth Line, Battle of Wadi Akarit, desert, North African Campaign, Second World War, Tunisia, Tunisian Campaign, war

Aerogram dated 4 January 1943: draft of poem 'New Year 1943 Agheila'

Manuscript lettercard including a draft of the poem 'New Year, 1943, Agheila'' and references to the life in the desert with the army

Tags: Africa, desert, Desert War, Libya, North African Campaign, Sahara, Second World War, war, war poetry, Western Desert Campaign

Aerogram dated 30 January 1943: draft of poem 'Sand'

Manuscript lettercard from Tripoli including a draft of the poem 'Sand' and references to his experience in Tripoli.

Tags: Africa, desert, Desert War, Libya, North African Campaign, Second World War, Somerset, Tripoli, war, war poetry, Western Desert Campaign

Aerogram dated 28 September 1942

Manuscript lettercard including references to everyday life in the army in the desert near Cairo.

Tags: Africa, desert, Egypt, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, Western Desert Campaign

Aerogram dated 21 April 1943

Manuscript lettercard from Tunisia.

Tags: Africa, desert, North African Campaign, Second World War, Tunisia, Tunisian Campaign, war

Aerogram dated 2 November 1942: draft of poems 'Tel El Eisa' and 'Sandbags'

Manuscript lettercard including a draft of two more poems to be included in the collection 'Poems in the Western desert': a revised version of 'Tel El Eisa' and 'Sandbags'.

Tags: Africa, Battle of El Alamein, desert, Desert War, Egypt, North African Campaign, Second World War, war, war poetry, Western Desert Campaign