30th Corps Artillery

“A memento of campaigning days with ‘the old Pig.'” – Foreword

This fascinating little booklet was published in 1945 as a commemorative souvenir for members of the British XXX (30th) Artillery Corps. In addition to providing a history of the unit and a summary of its major engagements across the European Theater, the volume serves as a vital source of reliable information about ongoing occupation duty in Germany. A variety of humorous cartoons, black and white photographs, and a shortlist of popular German phrases are all included, in addition to the overall narrative.

The back page features a large color folding map drawn by J.J. Gray and D.B. Wilson and dated August 1945. The image replaces bombed-out villages, minefields, and barbed wire with quaint illustrations highlighting the abundance of peacetime Germany. Recreational activities, prominent landmarks, and regional industries are depicted alongside vignettes representing idealized perceptions of the local populace; the wooden-shoed Dutch are depicted alongside pudgy German boys while British officers dance with the local women.