Scope and Contents Letter from 1st Lord Monsell [Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence South Eastern Region] (Bredbury, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells [Kent]) to WSC marked "personal" stating that he is giving up his job at the end of the month and would like to report "the magnificent conduct of the people of the South East of England". He refers to the inhabitants of the Cinque Ports, who are all looking forward to welcoming their Warden, and suggests that something special may be done for Dover, "a town...

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to "Bobbie" (1st Lord Monsell) [Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence South Eastern Region] marked "private" thanking him for his letter of 15 Mar written on his retirement as Regional Commissioner, thanking him for "the valuable service you have rendered at a key position in the defences of England", stating that he shares his admiration for the conduct of the people of the South Eastern Region, and agreeing with his feeling that "the special sufferings and steadfast...

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Cutting from the Daily Telegraph of letter to editor from Major Mowbray (District Warden, Blackheath [London]) referring to the remarks by Herbert Morrison [Home Secretary] that no alert had been sounded before the flying bomb fell near the Clock Tower, Lewisham, and stating that if a warning had been given the casualties would have been much greater as it fell on an air raid shelter which would have been full.

Scope and Contents Letter from Major C H Mowbray (District Warden, 43 Lee Park, SE 3 [London]) to Prime Minister's Private Secretary regarding the "Lewisham Bomb Incident" asking that WSC's attention be drawn to his letter in the Daily Telegraph [see CHAR 20/198B/214]. He comments on why "It was the greatest blessing that there was no alert", and refers to a second letter that he is sending to the Daily Telegraph informing them that the alert was sounded three minutes after the bomb had fallen. States that all...

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Letter from WSC to Edward Fitzroy [Speaker of the House of Commons], explaining that he wants to have a debate in Parliament on the work of the Committee of Imperial Defence's sub-committee on defence against attack from the air, to emphasize the importance of the subject. Unsigned copy.

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Letter from Desmond Morton (Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1) to WSC, on Major General Henry Rowan-Robinson's book "Efficiency and Economy through a Ministry of Defence". Describing it as an able and compelling statement, and a valuable contribution to the subject, particularly the proposal for a single Ministry of Defence.

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Letter from Lord Winterton (Eccleston Square, London SW1) to WSC, on the possibility of an Adjournment Debate on air policy. Stating that the Speaker [Captain Edward Fitzroy] had advised against, as the Government would be compelled to give a whole day debate after the Easter Recess.

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Letter from WSC to Sir John Anderson [later 1st Lord Waverley Lord President of the Council] marked "Personal and Private" stating that he has no objections to him returning to his house and that he has not yet returned to No 10 on the advice of the Civil Aviation Service as the building is so old that even a near miss by a heavy bomb may bring it down and informing him that trouble in Dudley's domestic affairs may lead to comment by the palace. Signed.

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Telegram from the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps] (India) regarding the serious position in India with regard to ARP and fire fighting provision: comments on the existing position; details requirements for fire fighting personnel, trailer pumps and hose, and instructors for ARP schools. Annotated: "Phoned Mr Harrison, India Off" [Francis Harrison, Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for India].

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Letter from WSC to Major-General Sir Alfred Knox informing him that rifles are not being sent to the Soviet Union: "On the contrary, we suggested to them that they might let us have a quarter of a million from their very large stocks. They were mildly surprised"; discusses supplies to the Home Guard in Buckinghamshire.

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...

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Minute from V G Laithwaite to Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet] giving Sir William Brown's (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Security) comments on happenings in the Ministry on receipt of the news of the Lewisham [London] flying bomb. [Copy].

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Extracts from War Cabinet, Chiefs of Staff, and Civil Defence Committee minutes for June and July 1944 of discussions on warnings for flying bomb attacks.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC [Hendaye, France] marked "Reveal No. 2" passing on messages to: Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet] requesting he look into the constitutional position concerning [Herbert] Morrison's statements at Greenock [Renfrewshire, Scotland] on warnings for V1 [flying] bombs and giving his own perspective on the matter. His Private Office requesting they send him relevant background information on the statement and the incident at Lewisham [London, in July 1944]. [copy...

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Cutting from the Daily Telegraph reporting a speech by Herbert Morrison at a Labour rally in Greenock [Renfrewshire, Scotland] attacking WSC's electoral performance, accusing him of "dictatorial" tendencies, and commenting on the Lewisham [London] flying bomb incident.

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Minute from [General Sir Hastings] Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence] to WSC giving background on the decision not to sound the sirens for single flying bomb incidents, sending on information on the "spread" of flying bombs [around London] in June and July 1944 [CHAR 20/231/52], and recommending that WSC does not make use of these statistics because of a ban on publishing such details. [signed].

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Note on the "spread" of V1 flying bombs around London in June and July 1944. [prepared by the Ministry of Defence and flagged "A"].

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Minute from "J H P" [John Peck, Prime Minister's Private Secretary] to WSC on the background to the decision that a warning should not be sounded for single flying bombs. [initialled; annotated by Peck and WSC].

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Cutting [from the Kentish Mercury] on statements by Herbert Morrison at an election meeting in East Lewisham [London] on WSC and the decision not to sound warnings for single flying bombs.

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Memorandum [from Henry Brooke, later Lord Brooke of Cumnor, MP for West Lewisham, London] attaching a report from the Kentish Mercury [CHAR 20/231/56] and commenting on the likely effect on local Conservative electoral fortunes of remarks by Herbert Morrison on the Lewisham flying bomb. [Carbon copy].

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Cutting from the Times reporting a meeting in East Lewisham [London] at which Herbert Morrison, former Minister of Home Security, defended himself in connection with two bomb incidents in the constituency, claiming he countermanded WSC's order that sirens should not be sounded in single flying bomb incidents.

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Cutting from Hansard of a statement by Herbert Morrison, Home Secretary, on warning signals for flying bomb attacks followed by a number of questions.

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Extract from War Cabinet minutes of discussions on the public warning system for attacks by flying bombs in relation to public transport, including contributions from the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security [Herbert Morrison] and the Minister of War Transport [1st Lord Leathers].

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Minute from "H M" [Herbert Morrison], Minister of Home Security, to WSC on revising a draft statement on the imminent danger warning [for flying bomb attacks] in relation to advice to the public and public transport. [initialled].

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Minute from "H M" [Herbert Morrison], Minister of Home Security, to WSC on the imminent danger warning system [for flying bomb attacks] in relation to bus drivers and advice given to people receiving the warning indoors. [initialled; annotated by Leslie Rowan, Prime Minister's Private Secretary].