[Troop-Issued Maps of Europe, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands from June 1943]

“Information on the progress of the war during the Last Week.”

This printed memorandum and accompanying maps (3 total) were published by the 101st Coast Artillery Battalion on Papua New Guinea in late June 1943. It was issued to servicemen “in an effort to give all personnel a clean and concise picture of the progress of the war during the last week.” A brief summary of major events from 6/19 – 6/26 is organized by theater, with the Southwestern Pacific section subdivided into the Solomons, “Our War” Port Moresby and North, and Northwestern.

The narrative is decidedly one-sided, highlighting Allied successes as a means of boosting morale in the remote and unforgiving region. A previous owner has made several annotations, including marking the ‘Furthest German Advance’ and the ‘Present Battle Line’ on the map of Europe. The other two maps show Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.