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Armed forces

 Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 991 Collections and/or Records:

 Unknown

(Untitled), 07 Mar 1936

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/274/1-2
Scope and Contents

Copy of a letter from WSC to [Pierre] Flandin [Minister of State, France] marked "confidential" asking for French information about the present strength of the German Air Force, predicting 2,000 aircraft by the end of 1936, and asking for information about French expenditure on aviation services for use in debates in Parliament.Carbon typescript. Unsigned.

Dates: 07 Mar 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Unknown

(Untitled), 13 Apr 1936

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/274/12-13
Scope and Contents

Copy of a letter from WSC to Eleanor Rathbone MP marked "private" enclosing a paper by Sir Henry Strakosch, explaining the basis for his figures for German expenditure [on rearmament], his use of confidential sources and his efforts "to find out the truth". He concludes "We really are in great danger."Unsigned carbon typescript.

Dates: 13 Apr 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Unknown

(Untitled), 06 Apr 1939

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/568B/198
Scope and Contents

Copy of a letter from WSC to Colonel Sir Donald Banks thanking him for the notification of his appointment as Honorary Air Commodore of No. 615 (County of Surrey) (Fighter) Squadron [Auxiliary Air Force] and saying that he will be glad to hear how he can be of service.Unsigned carbon typescript.

Dates: 06 Apr 1939
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Unknown

(Untitled), 27 Mar 1939

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/568B/199
Scope and Contents

Letter from the Air Ministry (Adastral House, Kingsway [London]) to WSC informing him of his appointment as Honorary Air Commodore of No. 615 (County of Surrey) (Fighter) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force and of the Air Council's pleasure at WSC's association with the Auxiliary Air Force.Signed typescript.

Dates: 27 Mar 1939
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Unknown

(Untitled), 4-6 Aug 1950

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/28/45-51
Scope and Contents Copy of a covering letter from WSC to Clement Attlee, Prime Minister, marked "private" sending on two enclosures and undertaking to support the government on national defence, while reserving the right to criticise the Government on defence spending, and suggesting a recall of Parliament at the end of August.Includes enclosures: A copy of a note by WSC (dated 4 August) suggesting a plan for creating an emergency army for Western Europe, including the need for increased length of service by...
Dates: 4-6 Aug 1950
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
 File

War letters A - K, 1914-01 - 1916-12

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/AMEL 1/3/3
Scope and Contents Letters to LSA from correspondents including: John Arkwright; George Auden, School Medical Officer, City of Birmingham, on rejection of recruits because of their teeth; John Baird, assistant to the Military Mission with the Belgian Field Army [later 1st Lord Stonehaven] on opposition to National Service, particularly harm done by the advocacy of 1st Lord Northcliffe [earlier Alfred Harmsworth] and the attitude of Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War]; Stanley Baldwin;...
Dates: 1914-01 - 1916-12
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

War letters L - Z, 1914-09 - 1916-12

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/AMEL 1/3/4
Scope and Contents Letters to LSA from correspondents including: General Sir Henry Wilson [Assistant Chief of General Staff, Expeditionary Forces in France] on subjects including his opposition to the Dardanelles Campaign, the Balkans, chances of Bulgaria joining the war, the lack of political leadership, and the failure to break the German line on the Western Front (13); [Amelius] Mark Lockwood [earlier Mark Wood]; George Lloyd, describing events at the Dardanelles, and on action to be taken if Bulgaria...
Dates: 1914-09 - 1916-12
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

War letters (unfiled), 1914-05 - 1916-12

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/AMEL 1/3/5
Scope and Contents Letters to LSA from correspondents including: [Joseph] Austen Chamberlain on compromising with the Government over federalism for Ulster [Northern Ireland] and the poor promotion prospects for LSA as a Unionist in David Lloyd-George's Government (2); Hamar Greenwood on LSA's recruitment scheme; Frederick Oliver on the collapse of the Government and on the Liberals raising the question of National Service (4); George Lloyd on where he would be useful following the end of the Dardanelles...
Dates: 1914-05 - 1916-12
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 Series

War Office, 1937 - 1940, 1959

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0014/HOBE 5
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

The collection, though small, is interesting as no other papers appear to have been left by Hore-Belisha. It comprises letters, diaries, some photographs and documents (mainly copies) covering most of Hore-Belisha's career but concentrating on his most important position as War Minister from 1937-1939 and particularly the events surrounding his dismissal by Neville Chamberlain.

Dates: 1937 - 1940; 1959
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. Individual closures of files are indicated in the catalogue.
 File

War Office August-September 1914: Montagu House Committee, 1914-09 - 1947-04

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/AMEL 1/3/10
Scope and Contents Papers and correspondence, particularly on the Montagu House Central Committee for co-ordinating the work of Territorial Associations in connection with the new army recruits. Correspondents include: Lord Midleton [former Secretary of State for War, earlier William Brodrick] on difficulties in recruitment; Sir Herbert Creedy [former Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for War] on his recollections of the committee (2); General Sir Henry Wilson [Assistant Chief of General Staff,...
Dates: 1914-09 - 1947-04
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

War Office August-September 1914: recruiting campaign, 1914-08 - 1916-01

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/AMEL 1/3/9
Scope and Contents Correspondence and papers on the progress of LSA's recruitment campaign for the Army and Territorial Army, with correspondents including: Basil Peto; M R Ludlow, Special Recruiting Officer, Birmingham [Warwickshire] (4); Sir Hugh Bell; William Joynson-Hicks, Chairman of the Automobile Association and Motor Union [earlier William Hicks, later 1st Lord Brentford] on providing cars for staff officers (2); Jesse Collings, President of the Rural League on using the League's village agents for...
Dates: 1914-08 - 1916-01
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 Unknown

"Wars are not won by evacuations", 04 Jun 1940

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/140A/9-28
Scope and Contents Typescript copy of notes for WSC's speech on the fall of Belgium and surrender of King [Leopold] of Belgium; the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France]; the successes of the RAF; losses of men and weaponry; military development and the possibility of German invasion. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the beaches . . . We shall never surrender".Carbon typescript copy with some manuscript annotations in ink [not by WSC] laid out in "psalm style" apart...
Dates: 04 Jun 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Management Group

Whittle : file of papers relating to dealings with Frank Whittle's company, Power Jets. BT-H 'Special File no. 14750. Power Jets. Quantity Production'

 Management Group
Reference Code: GBR/0273/WHITTLE
Scope and Contents

Letters, blueprints, drawings, orders, memoranda, telegrams.

Dates: 1940-01-26 - 1941-06-04
 File

Willcox Report on the Indian Army, 1945 - 1988-09

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/POLL 3/2/1/106
Scope and Contents

Copy of the report of the Willcox Committee on the Reorganization of the Army and Air Forces in India (1944-45), with correspondence on copying JEP's version of the report. Correspondents include: General Sir John Chapple (5); representatives of the India Office Library and Records department, British Library (3).

Also includes: copy of a letter to JEP from Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck on the report (1948) [original at POLL 1/3/38].

Dates: 1945 - 1988-09
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The majority of the collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. Please see individual files for details.