43rd Wessex Division at War 1944 1945 WWII Signed General Thomas History Maps

Description

The 43
rd
Wessex Division
At War 1944-1945
Compiled by Major-General H. Essame
William Clowes and Sons Limited
Little New Street, London, E.C.4
1952 first edition 292 page illustrated hardcover
Signed and inscribed by General G.I. Thomas
Previous owners label on title page
___________________________________________________________________________
I set out to write the story of the 43
rd
(Wessex) Division primarily for the benefit of those who fought with it during the campaign in Northwest Europe.
Now that I have finished, I realize that I have, in addition, almost inadvertently evolved a character study of its commander.
The truth is that the influence of his original mind and dynamic drive was so great that any account of the divisions battles with black coal war and life if you are treated nearly as a highly efficient military calculating machine.
I hope I have given no offense.
After all, who am I to judge?..........
Contents
Writer’s preface
The battle of the Odon
“Hill 112”
The advance to Mont Pincon
The advanced to Noireau
The crossing of the Seine
The island
East of Nijmegen
The Geilenkirchen offensive
Early winter
The Roer triangle
The Reichswald
The Rhine crossing
The pursuit
The Cuxhaven peninsula
Appendices new line index
List of illustrations
List of sketch maps
________________________________________________________________________
General G.I. Thomas
He became General Officer Commanding (GOC) 43rd (Wessex) Division in 1942 and served in North West Europe. He was closely involved in Operation Berlin to rescue 1st Airborne Division once Allied Forces had been overwhelmed at the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944.
Thomas was temporarily given command of XXX Corps by Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery during the Battle of the Bulge. He took over from Brian Horrocks who was being sent back to England for a rest.
After the War he was appointed GOC I Corps District within British Army of the Rhine in 1945 and then Administrator for the Polish Forces under British Command in 1947.
Honours and awards
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (5 June 1952); previously KCB (8 June 1950) and CB (1 January 1944)
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (12 June 1947)
Distinguished Service Order (9 January 1918)
Military Cross and bar (1 January 1917 and 26 September 1917)
Mentioned in Despatches, four times (14 December 1917, 22 March 1945, 9 August 1945, 4 April 1946)
Officer of the Légion d'Honneur (France, 1945)
Croix de Guerre (France, 1945)
Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands, 18 July 1947)
Commander of the Order of Leopold II (Belgium, 15 February 1952)
Croix de Guerre (Belgium, 15 February 1952)
1914 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
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