[Anglo-Iraqi War map] Baghdad - Iraq Desert 1:500,000, Not to be Published, Edition of 26 May 1941 (Geographical Section General Staff No. 3954) Geographical Section General Staff (GSGS), War Office

Anglo-Iraqi War map, published during final preparations to advance on Baghdad. Colour printed on linen-backed paper 64x85cm. Very good, neatly folded. Compiled by the War Office 1937, published by them 1938, printed by 512 (A Forward Survey) Company, Royal Engineers, May 1941, and reprinted with complete footnotes dated Edition of 26 May 1941. Coverage is bounded by Baghdad and its environs (NW), the border with Iran (NE), and Nasiriya (SE), showing the courses of the Tigris and Euphrates. Other major settlements include Kut, Hilla, Najaf, Kufa, and Karbala. Details include international boundaries, railways and stations, camel caravan and motor routes, telegraph and post stations, watch towers, forts, mosques, police posts, ancient sites (Babylon, Ur, Arch of Ctesiphon, canals etc), bridges across barrages, ruined bridges, etc; extensive topographical features with unsurveyed areas marked, and descriptions in the image (eg, bushes 2' to 3' high); and air information including aerodromes, landing grounds, signals etc. Iraq was at this time ruled by Rashid Al-Gaylani, who in April deposed Prince Abd Al-Ilah in an Axis-backed coup, and laid siege to the major British imperial base at RAF Habbaniya west of Baghdad. With Churchill endorsing "all necessary force" the British hastily assembled a major expeditionary force from the Indian Army, Arab Legion, Assyrian Levies, and Iraqi loyalists, with leadership transferred to General Archibald Wavell (C-in-C Middle East Command) and Lieutenant-General Edward Quinan (commanding Iraqforce). It protected AIOC installations, secured Habbaniya on 18 May, then Fallujah on 23 May as a preliminary to the march on Baghdad. On 23 May Wavell flew to Basra to review reinforcements and instruct Quinan to prepare the advance on Baghdad. This map was produced the day before the advance from Basra began. On 27 May the 20th and 21st Indian Infantry (named the "Euphrates" and "Tigris Brigades") set off up each river by boat and road under Operations Regulta and Regatta, the latter via Kut. Progress was hampered by floods and destroyed bridges. Meanwhile a small RAF-backed ground force led by Major General Clark advanced from Habbaniya, prompting Al-Gaylani to flee to Persia with the Grand Mufti on 29 May. Abd Al-Ilah was reinstated on 1 June. This looks to be very rare, with Worldcat recording 1 location for the 1st edition 1938 (OCLC 756234518: Dresden University).