1946 Survey of Palestine Map of Convoy Routes in British Mandatory Palestine

This is a 1946 Survey of Palestine map of British Mandatory Palestine highlighting British Army convoy routes. This map captures an ephemeral period near the end of World War II (1939 - 1945), where the British in Palestine were combating several hardline Zionist paramilitary insurgencies. Convoy routes throughout Palestine were the key to maintaining regional control and a frequent target for insurgents hoping to destabilize British dominance.

A Closer Look

The map depicts the entirety of Mandatory Palestine from Sarafand south to Beersheba, Rafah, and the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean Sea to Amman and Irbid in Jordan (Transjordan) and Quneitira in Syria. A railroad travels up the Mediterranean coast and spurs head east to connect with Jerusalem, Nablus, and Beisan, and then heads east off the map towards Daraa. Insets along the left border highlight Haifa, Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv.

British Convoys

Bold multicolored overprinted lines highlight six convoy routes linking major cities. A note in the lower-right states

Convoy routes are indicated on the road by coloured signposts at important or difficult turnings and crossroads and by periodic colouring of milestones etc. where necessary.

A manuscript notation to the left of Gaza notes the headquarters of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). The RASC was responsible for transporting supplies and securing convoys in British Mandatory Palestine - a key to maintaining regional control. The previous owner's name, Captain H. Hamersley, is handwritten in the upper margin, suggesting that he may have served with the RASC.

Zionist Insurgency in Mandatory Palestine

The Jewish Insurgency in Mandatory Palestine began in February 1944 and continued until May 1948. Three Jewish paramilitary groups, the Haganah, Lehi, and Irgun, carried out an insurgent campaign against British Mandatory Palestine with the goal of opening unrestricted Jewish immigration. These insurgent groups occasionally coordinated but more often fought amongst themselves. The groups each carried out attacks on British military and police targets, including immigration posts, police stations, the railway network, and other targets. The insurgency only came to an end after the British set a final withdrawal date, May 15, 1948.

Publication History and Census

This map was initially compiled, drawn, and printed by the Survey of Palestine in 1940 and revised and printed in October 1945. The present edition was printed by the Sarafand Section, 512 Field Survey Company Royal Engineers, in April 1946. This is the only known cataloged example of the present edition. The base map was first published in 1933 by the Survey of Palestine as the Survey of Palestine Motor Map.