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Literary, 1917-08 - 1979

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0014/SPRS 8

Scope and Contents

Draft texts, source material and correspondence on books by ELS, including: his works on the First World War, "Liaison 1914" (1930) on his experiences during the Allied retreat in France in 1914, and "Prelude to Victory" (1939), on the Nivelle offensive of 1917; "Assignment to Catastrophe" (1954), ELS's account of events in France in 1940, consisting of "Prelude to Dunkirk" and "The Fall of France", including a large amount of original and copied source material from his work as Winston Churchill's personal representative to the French Government in 1940, such as messages between the British and French, and ELS's notes of meetings between the British and the French Supreme War Council; "Two Men who Saved France" (1966), a study of Marshal Philippe Pétain, particularly Petain’s account of the mutinies in the French Army in 1917 and General Charles de Gaulle in 1940; "The Picnic Basket" (1967) and various other short stories, particularly from the First World War and ELS's childhood; "Fulfilment of a Mission" (1977), ELS's memoirs of his time in Syria and the Lebanon, published after his death; and "The Maurice Case", a defence by Nancy Maurice [later Nancy, Lady Spears] of her father, Major-General Sir Frederick Maurice, Director of Military Operations, Imperial General Staff, 1915-18, and his claim that ministerial statements on British forces having been increased, rather than decreased, before the German spring offensive of 1918 were false.

Dates

  • Creation: 1917-08 - 1979

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.

Extent

16.5 archive box(es)

Language of Materials

English

Finding aid date

2006-04-07 13:04:49.213000+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Churchill Archives Centre Repository

Contact:
Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College
Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0DS United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 336087