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Civil defence

 Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 261 Collections and/or Records:

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Speeches: House of Commons and others: speech notes and source material [all dates below are 1938]., 1938 - 1939

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/130A-D
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (30 June) entitled "The Sandys storm" supporting the motion to set up a Select Committee to enquire into a complaint by Duncan Sandys concerning anti-aircraft defences. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5985-90.Notes for an unused speech (July) on agricultural policy, free trade, and the dangers to sea trade in time of war. Notes for WSC's speeches (11 and 19 July) entitled "The Sandys storm" on the report of the Committee of Privileges concerning an alleged breach of...
Dates: 1938 - 1939
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes., 01 Jun 1937 - 21 Dec 1937

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/124
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (1 June) on the finance bill, taxation, and objecting to the method of raising the proposed National Defence Contribution. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5857-67.Notes for WSC's speech (15 July) supporting the government and objecting to the opposition motion of censure on non-intervention in Spain. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5870-4.Notes for WSC's speech (19 July) expressing his concern about the mounting of heavy howitzer cannons near Gibraltar,...
Dates: 01 Jun 1937 - 21 Dec 1937
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 23 May 1940 - 04 Jul 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/140A-B
Scope and Contents Statement by WSC (23 May) on fighting in France. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI p 6223.Hansard copy of statement by WSC (28 May) on the fall of Belgium. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6223-4.Notes for WSC's speech (4 June) entitled "Wars are not won by evacuations" on the fall of Belgium, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France] and the successes of the RAF. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the...
Dates: 23 May 1940 - 04 Jul 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 30 Jul 1940 - 17 Sep 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/141A-B
Scope and Contents Statement by WSC (30 July) on making the remainder of the day's sitting a secret session. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard.Statement by WSC (17 September, secret session) on the danger to the Houses of Parliament posed by air raids and possible changes to House of Commons procedures as a consequence of this threat. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6280-3.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (13 August) on an aeroplane disaster involving Australian ministers and military...
Dates: 30 Jul 1940 - 17 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 08 Oct 1940 - 19 Dec 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/142A-B
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (8 October) on the Battle of Britain, the Home Guard and the Home Front, Hitler's threat to invade Britain, events at Dakar [Senegal], the desertion of Vichy France, the Burma road [between Burma, later Myanmar, and China] and events in Spain. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6284-94.Notes for WSC's statement (17 October) on Robert Boothby [Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Food] and Czechoslovak claims.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on the war situation,...
Dates: 08 Oct 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 29 Jan 1934 - 23 Apr 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/107A-B
Scope and Contents Source material includes a government memorandum for the Disarmament Conference [Geneva, Switzerland].Brief notes for WSC's speech (7 February) against disarmament and on Britain's defence needs, which includes the phrase "We are vulnerable as we have never been before". Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5321-6.Notes for WSC's speech (6 March) on the army estimates and India. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5329-35.Notes for WSC's speech (8...
Dates: 29 Jan 1934 - 23 Apr 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 13 Jun 1934 - Dec 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/108A-B
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (13 June) on the Committee of Privileges' report into allegations concerning the Secretary of State for India [Sir Samuel Hoare, later 1st Lord Templewood] and 17th Lord Derby [Member of the Joint Select Committee on the Indian Constitution]. Also includes copies of Hansard containing speech. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5359-73.Brief notes for WSC's speech (13 July) on the League of Nations and disarmament. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5377-81.Notes for...
Dates: 13 Jun 1934 - Dec 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 11 Mar 1935 - 15 May 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/112A-B
Scope and Contents WSC's notes for the defence debate (11 March) on defence spending and German military strength.Notes for WSC's speech (19 March) on the relative strengths of the German and British air forces, questioning figures previously quoted by Lord President of the Council [Stanley Baldwin]. Source material includes cuttings from the Daily Telegraph. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5543-51.Notes for WSC's speech (2 May) on foreign policy, the Stresa [Italy] conference, the German threat in Europe,...
Dates: 11 Mar 1935 - 15 May 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 22 May 1935 - 24 Oct 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/113
Scope and Contents Brief notes for WSC's speech (22 May) on a speech by Adolf Hitler, and comparing German and British military strength. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5610-7.Rough notes for WSC's speech (31 May) entitled "Deepening and Darkening Danger" on Germany's threat and influence in Europe. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5624-7.Notes for WSC's speech (5 June) on his continued doubts about the Government of India Bill, the role of the Indian Princes and Civil Service in the scheme, and...
Dates: 22 May 1935 - 24 Oct 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 28 Jul 1936 - 10 Dec 1936

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/119A-B
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speeches (28 and 29 July, Secret Defence Deputation to the Prime Minister [Stanley Baldwin]) on the relative strengths of the British and German air forces, the war making capacity of British and German industry, British air training facilities, and German power to bomb British cities.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on supporting the League of Nations, collective security, and policy towards Germany and Italy. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5800-4.Notes for WSC's...
Dates: 28 Jul 1936 - 10 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 05 Sep 1940 - 08 Oct 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/174A-C
Scope and Contents Statement by WSC (5 September) on the war situation and an agreement with the United States over destroyers and defence bases, events in Romania, the achievements of the RAF, damage through bombing and the insurance scheme, evacuation, air raid warnings and other Home Front issues. Source material includes: notes and correspondence from Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse [Vice-Chief of Air Staff], Norman Brook [later 1st Lord Normanbrook] (2), Arthur Cary [Assistant Principal, Air Ministry] (4),...
Dates: 05 Sep 1940 - 08 Oct 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 05 Nov 1940 - 19 Dec 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/175
Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on the war situation including the air battles, the bombing of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, the threat posed by U Boats, the possibility of invasion by Germany, civil defence and the Home Guard, affairs in Egypt and the Middle East, and the Italian invasion of Greece. Source material includes correspondence from 1st Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Max Aitken, Minister for Aircraft Production], Henry Strutt [Assistant Under-Secretary of...
Dates: 05 Nov 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 03 May 1944 - 06 Jul 1944

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/199A-D
Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (24 May) on the foreign affairs debate entitled "The world situation" including: a meeting of the Dominion Prime Ministers; the unity of empire; discontinuation of arms to Turkey; the fall of Mussolini and the position of Italy; relations with and events in Spain, Greece, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia], the Soviet Union and Poland. Also includes correspondence from: Anthony Eden...
Dates: 03 May 1944 - 06 Jul 1944
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: Non House of Commons., Aug 1902 - Oct 1902

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/8
Scope and Contents

Press cutting reporting speech by Ernest Beckett MP [later Lord Grimthorpe] at Sleights, Whitby, Yorkshire on Army Reform [undated].Typescript copy of speech by WSC at Plymouth on home defence, 18 Aug Unpublished.Manuscript draft of speech by WSC in Dublin on Imperial Federation [undated] Unpublished.Press cuttings and source material for speech by WSC on Tariff Reform at the Colosseum, Oldham, 23 Oct Unpublished.

Dates: Aug 1902 - Oct 1902
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: Non House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 05 May 1941 - 26 Dec 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/182A-B
Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's broadcast (3 May) to the Polish people on the attack on Poland by Germany and the siege of Warsaw. Also includes correspondence from Count Edward Raczynski [Polish Ambassador to Great Britain], Anthony Eden [later 1st Lord Avon , Foreign Secretary] and notes and copies of correspondence from Kathleen Hill [Secretary to WSC] and John Colville [Assistant Private Secretary to WSC]. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6385-7.Speech notes for WSC's broadcast (recorded 29...
Dates: 05 May 1941 - 26 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: Non House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 11 May 1943 - 30 Jun 1943

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/194A-B
Scope and Contents Press cuttings of WSC's broadcast from Washington, United States (14 May) on the Home Guard in which he pays tribute to the members of the Home Guard. Also includes correspondence from Sydney Redman [Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for War]; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore [Chairman of the Home Guard Joint Parliamentary Committee] (3); Robert Gransden; George Anderson, Principal Officer Eastern civil defence region (2); telegrams from the Ministry of Information;...
Dates: 11 May 1943 - 30 Jun 1943
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: speech notes and other material., 19 May 1939 - 28 Jun 1939

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/137
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (3 June, Woodford Wells and Wanstead [Essex]) on the Thetis submarine disaster, maintaining a strong policy against Germany, and Czech gold. Also includes cutting from the Walthamstow [Essex] Guardian reporting WSC's speech. Part published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6138-9.Notes for WSC's speech (19 May, Corn Exchange, Cambridge) entitled "The new army" on the Conscription Act and uniting against the Nazi and Fascist powers both domestically and internationally. Also...
Dates: 19 May 1939 - 28 Jun 1939
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: speech notes and other material., 14 Jul 1941 - 11 Nov 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/152A-B
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (14 July, County Hall, London) entitled the "Grit and Stamina of London" on the German bombing of London, the prospects for the future, and British bombing of Germany. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6448-52.Brief notes for WSC's speech (14 July, Civil Defence Review, Hyde Park, London). Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6447-8.Also includes cuttings from the Yorkshire Post and the Glasgow Herald reporting the above two speeches.Cutting from the Times on the...
Dates: 14 Jul 1941 - 11 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: speech notes and other material [dated 1939 unless otherwise indicated]., [Nov] [1938] - Apr 1939

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/136
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (23 May, House of Commons) on his objections to the White Paper on Palestine, and the legacy of the Balfour declaration [supporting a Jewish national home in Palestine]. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6128-37 [further notes in CHAR 9/135].Typed report of WSC's speech (1 February, Buckhurst Hill [Essex]) on Germany, the international situation, and civil defence. Part published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6063-4.Typed report of WSC's speech (10 March, Chigwell [Essex])...
Dates: [Nov] [1938] - Apr 1939
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: speech notes and source material., 19 Mar 1934 - 24 Jul 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/110
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (19 March, Mansion House, London) on ex-services welfare. Source material includes letter from George Tryon [Minister of Pensions], cutting from the Manchester Guardian, statistics on the scale of losses for various nations in World War I, and suggested headings for WSC's speech. Part published: Complete Speeches V p 5349.Rough notes for WSC's speech (20 April, Mansion House, London, Honourable Company of Merchant Mariners Dinner) on the courage of the merchant service...
Dates: 19 Mar 1934 - 24 Jul 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: speech notes and source material., 01 Nov 1934 - 04 Dec 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/111
Scope and Contents Notes and draft press statement for WSC's speech (1 November, Woodford Bridge [Essex], Constituency meeting) on subjects including the need for Conservatives to be ready for the next general election, the National government, India and air defence against Germany. Part published: Complete Speeches V pp 5389-90.Notes and drafts for WSC's speech (16 November, BBC broadcast) entitled "The Causes of War" on German domestic policy, and the German threat to Europe and Britain. Also includes galley...
Dates: 01 Nov 1934 - 04 Dec 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: speech notes and source material., 31 May 1937 - 20 Nov 1937

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/126
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (31 May, Caxton Hall [Westminster, Conservative Party meeting]), moving the motion for Neville Chamberlain's [Prime Minister] election to the Conservative Party leadership and praising his achievements as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5856-7.Notes for WSC's speech (11 June, [London] Australia Club Dinner) proposing a toast to the Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph Lyons, and commenting on naval security in the Far East and Singapore....
Dates: 31 May 1937 - 20 Nov 1937
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Speeches: speech notes (some by WSC as First Lord of the Admiralty) and other material., 30 Mar 1940 - 01 Oct 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/144
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's broadcast (30 March, BBC) entitled "A hideous state of alarm and menace" on the fate of the neutral nations, German atrocities, particularly in Poland, and wishing to avoid conflict with the Soviet Union. Also includes various cuttings reporting the speech. Part published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6199-201.Notes for WSC's broadcast (19 May, BBC) entitled "Arm yourselves and be ye men of valour" on the war situation in France and the formation of the coalition government,...
Dates: 30 Mar 1940 - 01 Oct 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Fonds

The Bickersteth War Diaries and the Papers of John Burgon Bickersteth

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0014/BICK
Scope and Contents

The 17 volumes cover both World Wars and comprise letters home from the front, accounts of particular events by individual family members, photographs and postcards as well as newspaper clippings and telegrams. They provide a unique perspective on the war years both from those who fought abroad and those who remained at home in Canterbury.

The papers of John Bickersteth are photocopies of correspondence and reports to Maurice Hankey on Canadian affairs (1932 - 1940).

Dates: 1914 - 1972
Conditions Governing Access: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
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"The Few", 20 Aug 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/141A/37-68
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech covering subjects including: reflections on the differences between the present war and the First World War including weapons, casualty numbers and the increased importance of science and strategy; Britain's aptitude for the new forms of warfare; the decision to enforce a strict blockade on Germany, Italy and France and food supplies and distribution in Europe; review of the war situation; air warfare and the Battle of Britain including the threat of German bombing,...
Dates: 20 Aug 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open