Table of Contents

The education of a soldier, 1883-1939; "We are fighting a crusade" (phoney war, August 1939-June 1940); "We stand firm whatever happens" (Italy declares war, June 1940-December 1940); "A signal and crushing defeat of the Italian forces" (Operation Compass, December 1940-February 1941); "A series of misfortunes" (Greek diversion, February-April 1941); "A swift and brilliant campaign" (Italian East Africa); "Threatened on no fewer than four fronts" (Western desert, Crete, Syria and Iraq, May-June 1941); "We have won some great successes - we have had some failures and setbacks" (sacking, June 1941); the generalship of Wavell - an assessment.