Royal Navy
Organization
Found in 28 Collections and/or Records:
File
Literary: correspondence with consultants and others on WSC's war memoirs ("The Second World War", mainly volumes 1 to 4), A-B., Sep 1945 - Jun 1950
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/18A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: William Deakin (9); [George Gordon] Allen (16); Sir John Slessor on information on the Coastal Command in 1943; Thomas Allen, publisher, on Canadian editions of the memoirs (5); 1st Lord Altrincham [earlier Sir Edward Grigg] on Sir Edward Spears reviewing "Their Finest Hour" (volume 2); "Max", 1st Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Sir Max Aitken]; Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall (2); Ernest Passant, Director of Research, Librarian and Keeper of the Papers, Foreign Office...
Dates:
Sep 1945 - Jun 1950
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 1 "The Gathering Storm": Appendices: Copy and provisional proofs., 20 May 1938 - 20 Feb 1948
File
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
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 1: Proofs for Sir Edward Marsh., 20 Jan 1948 - 14 Sep 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/187A-D
Scope and Contents
Includes galley proofs from: the preface, title pages and contents table for Book 1; Chapter 1 "The National Coalition" (provisionally entitled "The Personal Correspondence"); Chapter 2 "The Battle of France. The First Week. [General Maurice] Gamelin"; Chapter 3 "The Battle of France. The Second Week. [General Maxime] Weygand"; Chapter 4 "The March to the Sea"; Chapter 5 "The Deliverance of Dunkirk"; Chapter 6 "The Rush for the Spoils" (provisionally entitled "The Personal Correspondence");...
Dates:
20 Jan 1948 - 14 Sep 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2 and appendices: 'Final' proofs., 16 Aug 1948 - 21 Feb 1949
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/183A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes typescript and galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 13 "At Bay" (provisionally entitled "Alone"); Appendix A "Minutes and Telegrams, May -...
Dates:
16 Aug 1948 - 21 Feb 1949
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2 and Appendices: Master copy proofs., 06 Dec 1948 - 21 Dec 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/181A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26...
Dates:
06 Dec 1948 - 21 Dec 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2 and appendices: Proofs for William Deakin., 21 Aug 1948 - 30 Nov 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/192A-C
Scope and Contents
Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26...
Dates:
21 Aug 1948 - 30 Nov 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2 and appendices: 'Starred final' proofs., 22 Oct 1948 - 16 Feb 1949
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/185A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 7 "Back to France"; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State...
Dates:
22 Oct 1948 - 16 Feb 1949
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2: Proofs for CSC., 01 Mar 1948 - 29 Nov 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/190A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26 "Relations with Vichy [France] and Spain"...
Dates:
01 Mar 1948 - 29 Nov 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Comments by Sir Norman Brook., 28 Jan 1948 - 01 Nov 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/193
Scope and Contents
Includes notes by Sir Norman Brook [later 1st Lord Normanbrook, Secretary to the Cabinet] on Volume 2, on subjects including: Chapter 1 "The National Coalition"; Chapter 2 "The Battle of France. The First Week. [General Maurice] Gamelin"; Chapter 3 "The Battle of France. The Second Week. [General Maxime] Weygand"; Chapter 5 "The Deliverance of Dunkirk"; Chapter 8 "Home Defence. June"; Chapter 10 "The Bordeaux Armistice"; Chapter 13 "At Bay" (provisionally entitled "Alone"); Chapter 16 "The...
Dates:
28 Jan 1948 - 01 Nov 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: War Cabinet: Prime Minister's Directives., 06 Mar 1941 - 12 Dec 1941
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/9
Scope and Contents
Printed directives by the Prime Minister, WSC, on subjects including: the battle of the Atlantic; food imports; army scales; the naval programme; the Mediterranean; warning Stalin against Germany (including extracts of correspondence between WSC, the Foreign Secretary [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon] and Sir Stafford Cripps [British Ambassador to the Soviet Union]; policy in Syria; Egypt and the Middle East; security of cabinet papers; the maintenance of forces in the Middle East; the...
Dates:
06 Mar 1941 - 12 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Correspondence, A-B., Jan 1929 - Oct 1934
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/572A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Edward Marsh on an expression used by WSC; Cyril Alington, Headmaster of Eton College, on the education of Randolph Churchill (2); [1st] Lord Beatty on subjects including criticism of an obituary of Admiral Franz Hipper (5); Julian Amery; Nancy, Lady Astor on a disagreement with WSC; John Astor; Wilfrid Bailey; Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minister, on subjects including WSC's "Marlborough: His Life and Times", WSC's health, Free Trade, India and political affairs (14);...
Dates:
Jan 1929 - Oct 1934
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 20 May 1941 - 25 Jun 1941
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/147A-B
Scope and Contents
Hansard copies of WSC's statements (20 May) on victory in Abyssinia [Ethiopia], action at Sollum [Egypt], and the German attack on Crete [Greece]. Also includes cuttings from the Daily Telegraph and the Times reporting WSC's statements. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6401-3.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (21 May) on the attack on Crete.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (22 May) on heavy fighting in the battle for Crete. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6403-4.Hansard copy of WSC's...
Dates:
20 May 1941 - 25 Jun 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 27 Jan 1942 - 13 Apr 1942
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/183A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (29 January) winding up a debate on the war situation and responding to parliamentary questions on subjects including: the vote of confidence in the government; general policy in the Far East; the defence of Singapore and Malaya [later Malaysia]; the scorched earth policy at Penang; the conduct of the war; and troops and supplies in India. Also includes correspondence from Oliver Locker-Lampson; Percy Harris; Sir Arnold Gridley; Colin Thornley [Principal Private...
Dates:
27 Jan 1942 - 13 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 23 Apr 1942 - 02 Jun 1942
File
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
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 18 Feb 1944 - 22 Mar 1944
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/197A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (22 February) on the progress of the war and the international situation including: the strength of the forces of Germany; successes in the Soviet Union and through bombing attacks on Germany; the importance of the role played by the Royal Navy and the RAF; a prediction of increased attack in 1944; events and operations in Italy, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia] and Greece; the...
Dates:
18 Feb 1944 - 22 Mar 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes (some by WSC as First Lord of the Admiralty) and other material., 19 May 1939 - 06 Dec 1939
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/135A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for an unused speech by WSC (prepared for 8 May) on conscription and the Military Training Bill.Notes for WSC's speech (19 May) on relations with the Soviet Union and Poland, and the effect of an agreement with the Soviet Union on relations with other European nations. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6117-23.Notes for WSC's speech (23 May) on his objections to the White Paper on Palestine, and the legacy of the Balfour declaration [supporting a Jewish national home in Palestine]....
Dates:
19 May 1939 - 06 Dec 1939
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: Non House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 12 Oct 1942 - 06 Dec 1942
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/189
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (12 October, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland) on receiving the freedom of the city entitled "Our greatest glory" on: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; the death of George, Duke of Kent; his visit to inspect the fleet; his links with Scotland; speeches made by Hitler, [Joachim von] Ribbentrop and [Hermann] Goering; events and operations in the Soviet Union and the Battle of the Atlantic. Also includes correspondence from Captain Ronald Brockman [Admiral's...
Dates:
12 Oct 1942 - 06 Dec 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: speech notes (by WSC as First Lord of the Admiralty) and other material., 20 Jan 1940 - 29 Feb 1940
File
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
File
Speeches: speech notes (some by WSC as First Lord of the Admiralty) and other material., 08 Aug 1939 - 24 Jan 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/138
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's broadcast (8 August, United States [National Broadcasting Company]) entitled "A hush over Europe" on German and Italian war preparations, and [Adolf] Hitler's pivotal role. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6149-51.Notes for WSC's broadcast (1 October, BBC) entitled "The first month of war" on Poland, the Soviet Union, U-boat attacks, the situation in Britain, and Franco-British relations, which includes the phrase that Russia "is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an...
Dates:
08 Aug 1939 - 24 Jan 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 02 Jan 1944 - 31 Jan 1944
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/152/1
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, January 1944.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Henry Wilson [Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean Theatre]; Desmond Morton [Prime Minister's Personal Assistant]; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the...
Dates:
02 Jan 1944 - 31 Jan 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 01 Apr 1944 - 30 Apr 1944
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/152/4
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, April 1944.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers, particularly Foreign Secretary [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon]; the Chiefs of Staff; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; General Sir Bernard Montgomery [General Officer Commanding the Eighth Army]; Director of Military Intelligence [Major-General Francis...
Dates:
01 Apr 1944 - 30 Apr 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 02 Oct 1943 - 31 Oct 1943
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/104/4
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, October 1943.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: Lord Louis Mountbatten [Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; Colonel Ian Jacob and Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretaries to the War Cabinet]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants, including...
Dates:
02 Oct 1943 - 31 Oct 1943
Conditions Governing Access:
Open.
Item
(Untitled), 01 Jul 1941 - 30 Jul 1941
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/36/7
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, July 1941.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; 1st Lord Cherwell [earlier F A Lindemann] and Desmond Morton [Prime Minister's Personal Assistants]; Colonel Ian Jacob [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; senior civil servants including Sir Edward Bridges...
Dates:
01 Jul 1941 - 30 Jul 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 01 Aug 1941 - 31 Aug 1941
Item
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.
Item
(Untitled), 20 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/54B/150-163
Scope and Contents
Letter from WSC to [Franklin Roosevelt] President of the United States, detailing secret military plans, reorganisation of command, and projected course of the war: Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to attack Cyrenaica [Libya], then advance on Tripoli; invasion of Norway has been planned as a cover; reports of German preparation for invasion of Britain over North Sea; seeks introduction of American troops to Northern Ireland; command. structure between the...
Dates:
20 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open