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Royal Navy

 Organization

Found in 19 Collections and/or Records:

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Literary: Sunday Chronicle articles by WSC., 02 Jan 1938 - 27 Mar 1938

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 8/619
Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs and press cuttings from the Sunday Chronicle for: "I Escape" on WSC's capture by the Boers and details of his subsequent escape; "The Blunder that Beat Germany" on the Battle of the Marne [France]; "The True Story of the Tank" on the development of the tank during World War I, its initial rejection, WSC's intervention, and its first use in action; "When Britain Nearly Starved" on the German submarine campaign during World War I, British anti-submarine warfare, and...
Dates: 02 Jan 1938 - 27 Mar 1938
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Literary: Sunday Chronicle articles by WSC: 2 ("The World Crisis" series)., 03 Mar 1940 - 21 Apr 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 8/675
Scope and Contents Includes cuttings from the Chronicle for: "The Man Who Scared the U-Boats" on the convoy system for merchant shipping during World War I; "The German Army Myth" on the first battles on the Western Front; "The French" on the Battle of Verdun [France]; "The Blackest Day of the German Army" on the use of tanks at the Battles of Cambrai and Amiens [both France]; "The Valiant Heart of Man" on the bravery of those who fought in World War I; "Plan for Victory" on British naval strategy at the start...
Dates: 03 Mar 1940 - 21 Apr 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open.
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Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 1 "The Gathering Storm": Appendices: Copy and provisional proofs., 20 May 1938 - 20 Feb 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/112
Scope and Contents Includes typescript and galley proofs of the appendices to Volume 1 including: Appendix A "A Conversation with Count [Dino] Grandi" [Italian Ambassador to Britain]; Appendix B "A Note on the Fleet Air Arm"; Appendix D "My Statement on the Occasion of the Deputation of Conservative Members of Both Houses to the Prime Minister, July 28 1936"; Appendix F "Tables of Naval Strength, September 3 1939"; Appendix G "Minute of September 12 1939, Plan 'Catherine'"; Appendix H "New Construction and...
Dates: 20 May 1938 - 20 Feb 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Official: Admiralty, 1911 - 1915

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13
Scope and Contents The Admiralty papers contain correspondence, minutes, and War Cabinet papers created or accumulated as a result of WSC's activities as First Lord of the Admiralty, a position held from 23 October 1911 to 24 May 1915.The material contains correspondence with senior Admiralty figures, politicians including the Prime Minister, public and foreign figures on subjects including naval strategy and engagements, armament production, merchant shipping, and more general political considerations. It...
Dates: 1911 - 1915
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
 Series

Official: Admiralty, 1939 - 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 19
Scope and Contents The Admiralty papers contain correspondence, minutes, and War Cabinet papers created or accumulated as a result of WSC's activities as First Lord of the Admiralty, a position held from 3 September 1939 to 10 May 1940 when he became Prime Minister.The material contains correspondence with senior Admiralty figures, politicians including Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, public and foreign figures including Edward, Duke of Windsor [earlier Edward, Prince of Wales and Edward VIII], and WSC's...
Dates: 1939 - 1940
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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Official: War Cabinet: Prime Minister's Directives., 18 Dec 1941 - 30 Dec 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/10
Scope and Contents Printed directives by the Prime Minister, WSC, on subjects including: the future conduct of the war; the Pacific and the Japanese fleet; the entry of the United States into the war; the Atlantic Front; the Indian Ocean; the function of the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey]; Vichy France's co-operation with Germany; the function of the Minister Resident in West Africa [1st Lord Swinton, earlier Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, earlier Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame]; Fleet Air Arm...
Dates: 18 Dec 1941 - 30 Dec 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Public and Political: General: Personal Office: Correspondence L - Q., 28 Jul 1939 - 20 May 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/366
Scope and Contents Correspondents, mainly congratulating WSC on his appointment as First Lord of the Admiralty, and on his broadcasts (1 October ["The first month of war"] and 12 November ["Ten weeks of war"]) include: George Lambton; Sir Walter Layton on reactions to WSC's description of the Germans as Huns; Frederick Leathers; "Charley" [7th Lord Londonderry, earlier Lord Castlereagh] on subjects including his differences with [Neville Chamberlain], Prime Minister, on foreign policy, the results of WSC's...
Dates: 28 Jul 1939 - 20 May 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Public and Political: General: Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm., 11 Feb 1936 - 21 Dec 1936

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/272
Scope and Contents Correspondents include: 1st Lord Lloyd [of Dolobran, President of the Navy League] on WSC speaking to the League (2); Sir John Thornycroft [President and Director, J I Thornycroft and Company Limited] on his firm's designs for an aircraft carrier and anti-submarine craft and cuts in the shipbuilding industry (with a description of the anti-submarine craft); Maitland Boucher [former member of the Naval Air Division] on meeting WSC about the Fleet Air Arm (3); Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald...
Dates: 11 Feb 1936 - 21 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons and Non-House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 15 Nov 1949 - 30 May 1951

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 5/41A-C
Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (10 April 1951, House of Commons) entitled "Budget Proposals and Economic Survey" on the results of devaluation, the Government's use of high taxation to meet the cost of rearmament instead of curbing spending, and the general mismanagement of the economy. Source material includes notes by "Prof" [1st Lord Cherwell, earlier F A Lindemann] on subjects including the balance of trade, British war debts and the inadvisability of consulting the Empire over the...
Dates: 15 Nov 1949 - 30 May 1951
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 21 Oct 1941 - 11 Dec 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/149A-B
Scope and Contents Hansard copy of a debate on visits to Ireland (21 October) including WSC's statement on Defence Regulation 18b [giving the Home Secretary powers to detain people without charge]. Part published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6497-8.Notes for WSC's speech (12 November) on the parliamentary address, wartime speeches by Ministers, shipping losses, food and rations, food production, fuel and production of munitions. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard and cutting from the Times reporting...
Dates: 21 Oct 1941 - 11 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 30 Apr 1941 - 10 Jun 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/178A-C
Scope and Contents Speech notes for statement by WSC (30 April) on the evacuation of Empire forces from Greece, giving details of casualties. Published: Complete Speeches VI, p 6385.Speech notes for WSC's speech (7 May) on the war situation including: a Vote of Confidence in parliament; events and operations in Greece, the Balkans, and Libya including the defence of Tobruk against forces under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel; a comparison of Hitler with Napoleon; production of tanks; the Battle of the Atlantic and...
Dates: 30 Apr 1941 - 10 Jun 1941
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 23 Apr 1942 - 02 Jun 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/184A-C
Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (23 April) in secret session on the war situation including: Japan's entry into the war; setbacks including battleship losses; defence of the Admiralty over the escape of the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau; events and operations in the Far East, the Middle East and the Soviet Union; air battles including the bombing of Germany; and aircraft and ship production. Also includes correspondence from: Maurice Dean [Assistant Under Secretary of State,...
Dates: 23 Apr 1942 - 02 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: speech notes (by WSC as First Lord of the Admiralty) and other material., 20 Jan 1940 - 29 Feb 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/143
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's broadcast (20 January, BBC) on the war situation, entitled "A house of many mansions" on the German threat to neutral and allied shipping, to neutral nations, and Finland's stand against the Soviet Union. Also includes cuttings from the Times and the Listener containing the text of WSC's broadcast. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6183-6.Notes for WSC's statement (24 January, House of Commons 1922 Committee) on British naval strength, the U-boat war, pocket battleships,...
Dates: 20 Jan 1940 - 29 Feb 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 04 Sep 1939 - 30 Sep 1939

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 19/3/1
Scope and Contents First Lord of the Admiralty's printed minutes, September 1939.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (sometimes annotated with additional printed information) to: various naval directors; the Sea Lords, particularly 1st [Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] and [3rd Sea Lord and] Controller [Rear-Admiral Bruce Fraser]; [Permanent] Secretary [Sir Archibald Carter]; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff [Rear-Admiral Tom Phillips]; Prime Minister [Neville Chamberlain]; other senior officers and...
Dates: 04 Sep 1939 - 30 Sep 1939
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 01 Dec 1939 - 31 Dec 1939

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 19/3/4
Scope and Contents First Lord of the Admiralty's printed minutes, December 1939.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (sometimes annotated with additional printed information) to: the Sea Lords, particularly [3rd Sea Lord and] Controller [Rear-Admiral Bruce Fraser], 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound], and 4th Sea Lord [and Chief of Supplies and Transport, Vice-Admiral Guy Royle]; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff [Rear-Admiral Tom Phillips]; Prime Minister [Neville Chamberlain]; [Permanent] Secretary...
Dates: 01 Dec 1939 - 31 Dec 1939
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 01 Aug 1941 - 31 Aug 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/36/8
Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, August 1941.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; the Chiefs of Staff.Subjects covered by the minutes include: United States shipping provision; civil service appointments; naval matters, including the design of warships and a...
Dates: 01 Aug 1941 - 31 Aug 1941
Conditions Governing Access: Open.
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(Untitled), 03 Jul 1942 - 28 Aug 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/67/6
Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, July and August 1942. Some written by WSC when in the Middle East.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet].Subjects covered by the...
Dates: 03 Jul 1942 - 28 Aug 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Unknown

"War Cabinet: Chiefs of Staff Committee: Weekly Resume (no.56) of the naval, military and air situation from 12 noon September to 12 noon September 26th, 1940", 27 Sep 1940

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/6/86-99
Scope and Contents Summary of events including: attempted landing at Dakar by General [Charles] de Gaulle; U boat activity in the North Atlantic and shipping losses; operations by German raiders; information about the disposition of German and Italian troops; events in Greece, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia], Bulgaria, the Mediterranean and the Middle East; air attacks on Germany (including Berlin) and on invasion ports in France and...
Dates: 27 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Unknown

War Cabinet Paper, 08 Dec 1940

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/4/11
Scope and Contents Printed copy of a letter from WSC to President Roosevelt setting out the prospects for 1941 covering various subjects including: shared interests between Great Britain and the United States; the importance of sea and air power against Germany; reassurance about not requesting a large expeditionary army from the United States; the crucial importance of shipping to feed people and transport munitions and armies; shipping losses; battleship strength; the dangers posed by the Vichy French...
Dates: 08 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open