– viii –

The author particularly wishes to thank F. Sargent, K. H. Gibbs, R. H. Thomson (whose remarkable memory has filled many gaps in the First Libyan, Greece and Crete chapters — all company records for these three campaigns were lost), P. F. Ward (for graphic letters home, quoted and unquoted), T. M. Cumming, C. T. Wan, L. F. Jemmett, I. E. Stock, A. H. Burt, R. E. Broberg and D. F. Coleman. Above all, thanks are due to the Editor-in-Chief and staff of War History Branch for research, biographies, maps, illustrations and much checking of proofs; without their patient and generous help the book would have been impossible.