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Armed forces

 Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 991 Collections and/or Records:

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(Untitled), 18 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/31-33
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to David Margesson, Government Chief Whip, sending House of Commons Amendment to the Address representing that the strength of British Air defences was "no longer adequate to secure the peace, safety and freedom of Your Majesty's faithful subjects" signed by WSC, Sir Robert Horne, Leo Amery, Frederick Guest, Lord Winterton and Robert Boothby.

Dates: 18 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/34
Scope and Contents Letter from H A Gwynne, The Morning Post, London, to WSC, on his Amendment to the Address on the inadequacy of Britain's air defence. Stating that it was very unfair that the Labour Party should be allowed to pose as pacifists when the question of building of defences was discussed. Suggesting that he "call their bluff", and ask them directly "Are you in favour of Hitler and all he stands for, or are you not? If you are not, then you must support my Amendment. If you are, then have the...
Dates: 20 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/35
Scope and Contents

Letter from Desmond Morton to WSC, on the radius of action of Germany's new bomber, and on Archambaud's Statement on the French Chamber of Deputies on the number of pilots in Germany.

Dates: 20 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 22 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/36
Scope and Contents

Letter from Desmond Morton to WSC, on statement by the French Air Minister, Victor Denain, in which he claimed that the Germans had 1100 aircraft capable of immediate use or rapid conversion as service aircraft, and between 3500 and 4000 fully qualified pilots. His own estimate was slightly lower at 1000 military aircraft and over 3000 pilots.

Dates: 22 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 24 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/39
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to David Lloyd George, confirming that he had sent him a copy of precis he had given to Stanley Baldwin for the Air debate, mentioning that he had done the same for LLG before debate in Secret Session in 1917. Hoping that he would come to lunch to discuss the air situation, commenting that his Amendment to the Address had caused much disturbance in Government circles [carbon].

Dates: 24 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 03 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/42-43
Scope and Contents

Letter from Michael von Saint-Obyn, Newport, Kentucky, United States to WSC, on German air expansion. Stating that the Germans were "working feverishly" to bring out a more formidable military aircraft, powered by a gas turbine engine. Also on their use of light magnesium alloys for the instruction of aircraft and weapons. "The next war will be decided in the air but it will not be done by the number of planes engaged, but by the size, speed, and silence of those in operation".

Dates: 03 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/44
Scope and Contents

Letter from Desmond Morton to WSC, commenting on abusive anonymous letter from "An Austrian but a German" [CHAR 2/228/45-46].

Dates: 26 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 28 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/47
Scope and Contents

Letter from Lord Winterton, Eccleston Square, London SW1 to WSC, stating that he had been told "on high authority" that the Government were going to announce that they would "concertina" the five year RAF expansion into two years. Suggesting that a shorter period and a greater extension was necessary.

Dates: 28 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 29 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/48-51
Scope and Contents

Letter from Desmond Morton, Beaufort Gardens, London SW3 to WSC, congratulations on "masterly" speech in the Air debate in the House of Commons. Expressing relief that Stanley Baldwin had pledged not to allow the strength of the RAF to fall below that of Germany. Commenting on Baldwin's statements on the relative strength of the two air forces.

Dates: 29 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 29 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/52
Scope and Contents Letter from Colin Coote, The Times, to WSC, congratulations on speech on defence in the House of Commons. Commenting on the absence of any official comment on German dual-purpose aircraft, stating that he disliked the easy assumption that it took months to turn a civilian pilot into a military one "the professional bunkum to which regular officers are all too prone". Stating that during the War he used to be told that it took months to make a machine gunner "but in point of fact anyone of...
Dates: 29 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 03 Dec 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/53
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to Colin Coote, The Times, commenting on the Air Debate in the House of Commons, particularly the anxiety of the Government to classify the 127 territorial Air Force machines with the best front line aircraft. Commenting that these were the oldest, had no reserves, and only weekend pilots. [carbon].

Dates: 03 Dec 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 09 Dec 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/56-57
Scope and Contents Letter from F A Lindemann, (later Lord Cherwell), Christ Church, Oxford, to WSC, commenting on letter from a Mr Pollock [which has not survived]. Stating that Pollock's ideas for "aerial sentries" were well intentioned, but that there were many practical difficulties. Also stating that he had ideas for locating aircraft without sound, which would be worth exploring, and that he hoped that Britain would not be compelled to rely on fighters picking up and destroying enemy bombers. Although...
Dates: 09 Dec 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 03 Aug 1928

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/158/93
Scope and Contents

Letter from C L Bullock (Air Ministry] to WSC reminding him, with reference to his wish to fly from Biggin Hill [Kent] to Tidworth [Hampshire] next week, that Monday is a Bank Holiday when the Air Ministry and RAF stations are closed.

Dates: 03 Aug 1928
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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(Untitled), 02 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/210/10-12
Scope and Contents

Letter from Lilian Buck, PS to Randolph Churchill, May Fair Hotel, Berkeley St., London W1, to Violet Pearman, PS to WSC, enclosing copy of letter RSC had received from Terence Hanbury, Ashford, Middlesex, on Britain's inadequate strength in the air and the need for deep underground shelters.

Dates: 02 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 07 Jan 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/2-3
Scope and Contents

Letter from F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell), Christ Church, Oxford, to WSC, enclosing draft letter from WSC and Austen Chamberlain to the Prime Minister [Ramsay Macdonald], on the need for a Committee to discuss the problem of defence against night bombers.

Dates: 07 Jan 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 08 Jan 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/4
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to [Austen Chamberlain], on draft letter from WSC and Chamberlain to the Prime Minister [Ramsay Macdonald], on the need for a Committee to discuss the problem of defence against night bombers [carbon].

Dates: 08 Jan 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 09 Jan 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/5
Scope and Contents

Letter from Sir [Joseph] Austen Chamberlain (58 Rutland Gate [London]) to WSC, informing him that he had signed and sent a letter [jointly from himself and WSC, on the need for an enquiry on air defence] to the Prime Minister [James Ramsay MacDonald], with a covering note.Chamberlain also says that the second volume of WSC's biography of the 1st Duke of Marlborough had formed his Christmas reading, and had fascinated him: "What a man!".

Dates: 09 Jan 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 13 Jan 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/6
Scope and Contents

Letter from F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell), Christ Church, Oxford, to WSC, on letter to the Prime Minister [Ramsay Macdonald] on air defence.

Dates: 13 Jan 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Jan 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/7
Scope and Contents

Letter from F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell), Christ Church, Oxford, to WSC, on letter to the Prime Minister [Ramsay Macdonald] on air defence. Commenting that it was "hopeless the way Ramsay chops and changes", also that he had learned that Air Ministry was determined to "do everything to inhibit action of the sort we want".

Dates: 18 Jan 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Jan 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/8
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to F A Lindemann, (later Lord Cherwell), on letter from the Prime Minister [Ramsay Macdonald] on air defence. Describing Macdonald as a "hopeless twister" and stating that the only solution was a debate in the House of Commons [carbon].

Dates: 21 Jan 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 22 Jan 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/10-12
Scope and Contents Letter from F A Lindemann [later 1st Lord Cherwell], (Christ Church, Oxford) to WSC, sending further letters from the Prime Minister [James Ramsay MacDonald] and Sir [Joseph] Austen Chamberlain on air defence. Particularly on the composition and terms of reference of the Air Defence Research Committee, commenting that Henry Tizard was a good man, but that both he and Harry Wimperis received salaries from the Air Ministry, and that neither of the other two members "have ever had anything to...
Dates: 22 Jan 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 27 Feb 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/16
Scope and Contents

Letter from Desmond Morton, (21 Queen Anne's gate, London SW1) to WSC, on letter from Air Commodore Peregrine Fellowes. Commenting that Fellowes had been one of the Air Ministry's experts on dirigibles, and that he might have a considerable personal bias towards "matters of air policy with which the Air Ministry would not be wholly in agreement".

Dates: 27 Feb 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 10 Feb 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/17
Scope and Contents

Letter from Air Commodore Peregrine Fellowes (Chester Street, London SW1) to WSC, asking for meeting to discuss air policy.

Dates: 10 Feb 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 22 Mar 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/22-26
Scope and Contents

Letter from James A Petrie, Estoril, Portugal, to WSC, on German military aviation. Stating that the Germans had 1500 new aircraft, and in time of war could put into the air 4000 machines. Suggesting that Britain should start to re-arm immediately, and that to pay for it, Super-Tax should be increased by 6d or 1s in the pound.

Dates: 22 Mar 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 07 Apr 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/243/27
Scope and Contents

Letter from Robert Dele, Geneva, Switzerland (Geneva Correspondent of the Manchester Guardian) to WSC, on the German Air Force, drawing attention to an article on enormously increased consumption of aluminium in Germany in "Das Neue Tage-Buch" published on 6 Apr. Commenting that it showed that there was every reason to believe that the German Air Force was much larger than the British or the French.

Dates: 07 Apr 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open