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Royal Air Force

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Found in 33 Collections and/or Records:

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 Unknown

"Every man to his post", 11 Sep 1940

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/144/61-68
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's broadcast (BBC) on subjects including: the night bombing of London; the Battle of Britain and the successes of British fighter squadrons; the possibility of invasion and German deployment of barges, ships and troops in readiness; a call for every man and woman to do his duty; and the strength of British fleets and flotillas, air power, fortification and the million and a half men of the Home Guard. Includes the phrase "This wicked man [Adolf Hitler]...this monstrous product...
Dates: 11 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Unknown

"Every man to his post", 11 Sep 1940

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/176A/37-41
Scope and Contents Draft speaking notes for WSC's broadcast (BBC) on subjects including: the night bombing of London; the Battle of Britain and the successes of British fighter squadrons; the possibility of invasion and German deployment of barges, ships and troops in readiness; a call for every man and woman to do his duty; and the strength of British fleets and flotillas, air power, fortification and the million and a half men of the Home Guard. Includes the phrase "This wicked man [Adolf Hitler]...this...
Dates: 11 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: News of the World articles by WSC: 2., May 1939 - Jun 1939

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 8/643
Scope and Contents Includes annotated proofs, galley proofs, and cuttings from the News of the World for: "Our Rule Britannia Office of State" on the history and structure of the Admiralty, his experience of it during World War I, the replacement of coal-driven ships with oil-powered, the Admiralty yacht, the Enchantress, and praise for the Navy; "The Cinderella of Our Fighting Services" on the War Office, his experiences over demobilisation and mutinies at the end of World War I, and conscription; "Will There...
Dates: May 1939 - Jun 1939
Conditions Governing Access: Open.
 File

Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Jun 1935 - Dec 1935

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/6
Scope and Contents Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Papers (A.D.R. 12-34) and other prints Interim Report (A.D.R. 12) Memorandum by Vice-Admiral Reginald Henderson (3rd Sea Lord) on Ranges of Naval High Current Density Searchlight Beams (A.D.R. 13) Minute by Captain Gerald Wrisberg (War Office) on Ranges of Naval High Current Density Searchlight Beams (A.D.R. 14) Memorandum on comparison of Naval and Land Service anti-aircraft guns (A.D.R. 15) Conclusions of the Third meeting of the Committee Air Ministry...
Dates: Jun 1935 - Dec 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., 01 Jan 1936 - 31 Dec 1936

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/7
Scope and Contents Air Defence Research Sub-Committee General Correspondence Correspondents include Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary, CID (10) on his figures on the strength, training and organisation of the German air force and the progress of the Committee; Sir Philip Sassoon, Under Sec. of State for Air) on the expansion of the RAF; Desmond Morton (2) on comparison of British and German air strength; Philip Cunliffe-Lister (later Lord Swinton), Sec. of State for Air (4) on German air strength and anti-aircraft...
Dates: 01 Jan 1936 - 31 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Jun 1936 - Nov 1936

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/9
Scope and Contents Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Papers (A.D.R. 51-68) (55 and 56 are missing) and other prints Conclusions of the 9th meeting of the Committee Conclusions of the 10th meeting of the Committee Note by Henry Tizard on WSC's memorandum on aerial mines (A.D.R. 51) Memorandum on German Air Strength by WSC (A.D.R. 52) Note on progress of the Committee for the Scientific Survey of Air Defence (A.D.R. 53) Memorandum by Lt-General Sir Hugh Elles, Master General of the Ordnance, on rocket...
Dates: Jun 1936 - Nov 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., 27 Feb 1936 - 20 Dec 1936

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/10
Scope and Contents

Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Correspondence with F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell) on air defence, including copies of Lindemann's correspondence with Henry Tizard, and Lord Swinton, the Secretary of State for Air file also includes letter from Robert Watson Watt on his work on radio direction finding (R.D.F. later Radar).

Dates: 27 Feb 1936 - 20 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Mar 1936 - Dec 1936

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/11
Scope and Contents

Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Draft memoranda by WSC on aerial mines; the relative strength of the RAF and the German Air Force and invasion by air.

Dates: Mar 1936 - Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Mar 1937 - Jul 1937

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/12
Scope and Contents

Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Correspondence and notes Correspondence with Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary, CID (2); notes by F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell) on German air strength; letter from Captain George Wrisberg, War Office on anti-aircraft gunnery.

Dates: Mar 1937 - Jul 1937
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Jan 1937 - Oct 1937

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/13
Scope and Contents Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Papers (A.D.R. 69-90) (73 missing) and other prints Memorandum by WSC on German Air Strength, with comments by the Air Staff (CID Papers 1295B and 1296B) Note by the Master General of the Ordnance Lt-Gen Sir Hugh Elles on trials to determine the effective range of searchlights (A.D.R. 69) Air Ministry note on meteorological questions (A.D.R. 70) Air Ministry note on experiments to determine the effective range of searchlights (A.D.R. 71) Memorandum by Air...
Dates: Jan 1937 - Oct 1937
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., 07 Feb 1938 - 30 Oct 1938

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/14
Scope and Contents

Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Correspondence with Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary, CID (3); Sir Kingsley Wood, Secretary of State for Air (7).

Dates: 07 Feb 1938 - 30 Oct 1938
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: War Cabinet: Chiefs of Staff Committee: weekly resumes., 01 Aug 1940 - 03 Oct 1940

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/6
Scope and Contents

Printed reviews of the naval, military and air situation, including: home waters; the Mediterranean; attacks on shipping; enemy shipping; minelaying; minesweeping; Germany; the Middle East; Africa; air defence; air attacks on Germany and Italy; enemy intelligence; the Balkans; home security; economic warfare; Italy; the North Sea; the United States; the Soviet Union.

Dates: 01 Aug 1940 - 03 Oct 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Official: War Cabinet: Chiefs of Staff Committee: weekly resumes., 03 Oct 1940 - 14 Nov 1940

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/7
Scope and Contents

Printed reviews of the naval, military and air situation, including: home waters; the Mediterranean; Africa; shipping losses; enemy intelligence; enemy shipping; minelaying and minesweeping; the Soviet fleet; Italy; the Balkans; the North Sea; air intelligence; home security; the Middle East; enemy air attacks; Germany; air operations.

Dates: 03 Oct 1940 - 14 Nov 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Official: War Cabinet: Chiefs of Staff Committee: weekly resumes., 14 Nov 1940 - 26 Dec 1940

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/8
Scope and Contents

Printed reviews of the naval, military and air situation, including: home waters; the Mediterranean; enemy intelligence; shipping losses; enemy shipping; minelaying and minesweeping; Germany; the Balkans; the Middle East; air attacks on enemy territory; air attacks on Britain; Italy; Africa; air intelligence; home security.

Dates: 14 Nov 1940 - 26 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Public and Political: General: Air Defence: Deputations to the Prime Minister., 21 Jul 1936 - 21 Jan 1937

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/270
Scope and Contents Correspondents include: Clement Attlee [Leader of the Opposition] refusing to join the deputations to the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin; Osmund Cleverly [Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister]; Henry Pownall [Deputy Secretary], Committee of Imperial Defence; Hastings Ismay [Deputy Secretary], Committee of Imperial Defence] (2).Also includes: extracts from the transcript of the first deputation, including [?] WSC on the Government's failure to expand the air industry and the RAF...
Dates: 21 Jul 1936 - 21 Jan 1937
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Public and Political: General: Defence., 06 Nov 1936 - 20 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/371A-B
Scope and Contents Correspondents on defence issues include: Sir Thomas Inskip [Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, later 1st Lord Caldecote]; Harry Sellar, Private Secretary to Inskip (2); Leslie Hore-Belisha, Secretary of State for War, on subjects including the arming of the Guards Battalions; Sir Kingsley Wood, Secretary of State for Air, on showing WSC [air construction graphs]; 1st Lord Swinton [former Secretary of State for Air, earlier Philip Cunliffe-Lister and Philip Lloyd-Greame] on the formation...
Dates: 06 Nov 1936 - 20 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open.
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Public and Political: General: Defence: Correspondence etc., 12 Jan 1936 - 27 Nov 1936

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/266A-B
Scope and Contents Correspondents include: Basil Liddell Hart [Military Correspondent to the Times] on the troop system used in India; "Harold R" [1st Lord Rothermere, earlier Sir Harold Harmsworth] on subjects including 1st Lord Weir's position in defence [as Adviser to the Air Ministry], the likely stop to any battleship programme, pilot training, the likelihood of a quick German victory against Britain and France, German contempt for the British Government, and the Government's refusal to discuss the...
Dates: 12 Jan 1936 - 27 Nov 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open, (folio 93 opened as a 'sanitised' photocopy, original closed on advice of Cabinet Office).
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Public and Political: General: Defence: Inventions and suggestions., Nov 1935 - 31 Jul 1936

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/278
Scope and Contents Correspondents on defence inventions and suggestions from the general public include: Richard Powell [Assistant Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty] (3); Desmond Morton [Director, Industrial Intelligence Centre]; Sir Christopher Bullock [Permanent Secretary], Air Ministry; Ralph Assheton [later 1st Lord Clitheroe]; Colonel George Turner [former Superintendent, Design Department, Royal Arsenal]; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Thoroton on the advantages of Admiralty control of the...
Dates: Nov 1935 - 31 Jul 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Public and Political: General: Defence: Memoranda etc., 14 Feb 1936 - 26 Oct 1936

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/268
Scope and Contents Includes: memorandum by Desmond Morton on subjects including German propaganda on French military aviation and the Soviet army, and notes [added to file in January 1996] on a speech by the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence [Sir Thomas Inskip, later 1st Lord Caldecote], rebutting Inskip's claims for military production; memorandum by Sir Philip Gibbs on the inefficient state of the RAF, and its need for expansion; press cuttings from the Figaro, with an article on the Anglo-French crisis...
Dates: 14 Feb 1936 - 26 Oct 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 23 May 1940 - 04 Jul 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/140A-B
Scope and Contents Statement by WSC (23 May) on fighting in France. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI p 6223.Hansard copy of statement by WSC (28 May) on the fall of Belgium. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6223-4.Notes for WSC's speech (4 June) entitled "Wars are not won by evacuations" on the fall of Belgium, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France] and the successes of the RAF. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the...
Dates: 23 May 1940 - 04 Jul 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 30 Jul 1940 - 17 Sep 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/141A-B
Scope and Contents Statement by WSC (30 July) on making the remainder of the day's sitting a secret session. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard.Statement by WSC (17 September, secret session) on the danger to the Houses of Parliament posed by air raids and possible changes to House of Commons procedures as a consequence of this threat. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6280-3.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (13 August) on an aeroplane disaster involving Australian ministers and military...
Dates: 30 Jul 1940 - 17 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 08 Oct 1940 - 19 Dec 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/142A-B
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (8 October) on the Battle of Britain, the Home Guard and the Home Front, Hitler's threat to invade Britain, events at Dakar [Senegal], the desertion of Vichy France, the Burma road [between Burma, later Myanmar, and China] and events in Spain. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6284-94.Notes for WSC's statement (17 October) on Robert Boothby [Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Food] and Czechoslovak claims.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on the war situation,...
Dates: 08 Oct 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 13 Jun 1934 - Dec 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/108A-B
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (13 June) on the Committee of Privileges' report into allegations concerning the Secretary of State for India [Sir Samuel Hoare, later 1st Lord Templewood] and 17th Lord Derby [Member of the Joint Select Committee on the Indian Constitution]. Also includes copies of Hansard containing speech. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5359-73.Brief notes for WSC's speech (13 July) on the League of Nations and disarmament. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5377-81.Notes for...
Dates: 13 Jun 1934 - Dec 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 11 Mar 1935 - 15 May 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/112A-B
Scope and Contents WSC's notes for the defence debate (11 March) on defence spending and German military strength.Notes for WSC's speech (19 March) on the relative strengths of the German and British air forces, questioning figures previously quoted by Lord President of the Council [Stanley Baldwin]. Source material includes cuttings from the Daily Telegraph. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5543-51.Notes for WSC's speech (2 May) on foreign policy, the Stresa [Italy] conference, the German threat in Europe,...
Dates: 11 Mar 1935 - 15 May 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 22 May 1935 - 24 Oct 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/113
Scope and Contents Brief notes for WSC's speech (22 May) on a speech by Adolf Hitler, and comparing German and British military strength. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5610-7.Rough notes for WSC's speech (31 May) entitled "Deepening and Darkening Danger" on Germany's threat and influence in Europe. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5624-7.Notes for WSC's speech (5 June) on his continued doubts about the Government of India Bill, the role of the Indian Princes and Civil Service in the scheme, and...
Dates: 22 May 1935 - 24 Oct 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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