Item CHARRINGTON 5/1 - Detailed account, 1941, of Charrington's experiences during the evacuation from Greece

Letter from Charrington to his daughter Cynthia Charrington, written on board ship for Egypt, following the evacuation of the British army from Greece, and describing events of Apr 1941 as they affected 1 Armoured Bde, notably the composition of his armoured brigade; demolitions undertaken in the Vardar Valley following the collapse of Yugoslavian resistance; commentary concerning the efficacy of British Military Missions, especially as regards the organisation of resistance in Greece; a visit by the Rt Hon (Robert) Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Gen Sir John Greer Dill, Chief of the Imperial General Staff; worries about his career, despite the successes of the brigade; the problems caused by insufficient British airpower, and continual bombardment by German aircraft; the removal of 1 Armoured Bde's supporting arms to reinforce the New Zealand troops, followed by a German attack on the right rear which the depleted resources of the brigade had to counter; the withdrawal to the beach at Rafino for evacuation, where the brigade staff and 1,000 troops were stranded; their rescue after 24 hours by HMS HAVOC. Includes one photocopy and two transcripts, and was presented to the Centre by the family in 1974. 24pp.