Notes for WSC's speech (County Hall, London) on: civil defence forces in London and Civil Defence Review [in Hyde Park]; conditions in London; the German bombing of London; the prospects for the future; improvements to defence and shelters; and British bombing of Germany.Typescript laid out in "psalm style" with manuscript annotations in black ink and red crayon by WSC, and with pencil notes of changes suggested by Herbert Morrison [Home Secretary].

This collection mainly consists of private papers and correspondence, 1885-1954, and family papers, 1783-1963. The material, especially the ministerial and ambassadorial papers, collected together by David Geddes provides an insight into the 1910s and 1920s. The collection also includes Geddes' writings on medical, spiritual and military matters.

Letter from Air Marshal Sir John Salmond to WSC sending card for his brother-in-law, Matthew Smith's exhibition of paintings, also commenting on the "infantile paralysis" affecting his Home Defence Force.

Letter from WSC to Sir Kingsley Wood, Secretary of State for Air, on the responsibilities of junior officers in anti-aircraft batteries. [carbon].

Letter from Sir Kingsley Wood [Secretary of State for Air] (Air Ministry) to WSC explaining Air Ministry policy on anti-aircraft responses to hostile activity and allowing authority in this matter to rest with the Commander-in-Chief, Fighter Command [Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding].

Letter from WSC (Admiralty) to Sir Samuel Hoare [later 1st Lord Templewood, Lord Privy Seal] with suggestions for the reorganisation of the Home Front and rationing. [see CHAR 19/2C/311-313 for draft].

Letter from WSC to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on issues such as training of territorial troops by deployment to India; the need for more Air Squadrons and the exaggerated emphasis placed on Air Raid Precautions. [typed copy, with manuscript annotations by WSC].

Letter from WSC to Sam [Sir Samuel Hoare, later 1st Lord Templewood, Lord Privy Seal] with suggestions for the reorganisation of the Home Front and rationing. [draft; see CHAR 19/2A/51-53 for final version].

Letter from 1st Lord Addison to WSC on deficiencies in the defence of London, mentions Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, Leslie Hore-Belisha, Anthony Eden (Secretary of State for War, later 1st Lord Avon), Clement Attlee [Lord Privy Seal] and Major- General Francis Crossman, Commander, 1st Anti-Aircraft Division. [Typescript].

Letter from Alexander Duckham to Anthony Bevir [Private Secretary to WSC] enclosing letter to Sir John Anderson [Home Secretary later 1st Lord Waverley] with a suggestion for changing the Air Raid Warning note from "the demoralising wail of the amorous gargantuan tom cat" to the "cock-a-doodle-doo" signalling "defiance and triumph". [Carbon].

Letter from WSC to Sir John Squire thanking him for his letter on the Home Guard and agreeing that a dress rehearsal for invasion is a very good idea.

Letter from WSC to [Harold] Vincent Tewson [Assistant Secretary, Trades Union Congress] on Fire Precaution Orders; Government did not consult the Trades Union Congress due to the extraordinary circumstances of the incendiary bombing of London.

Printed note by WSC on proposed changes to the black-out system.

Letter from Kathleen Hill [Secretary to WSC] to Brigadier Charles Hertzberg, Chief Engineer, 7th Corps, on camouflage at Chartwell [Kent]. [Carbon].

Letter from Brigadier Charles Hertzberg, Chief Engineer, 7th Corps, to Maryott Whyte, on camouflage at Chartwell [Kent], confirming that work on alteration of the ponds had been completed and that they had been made useless for the guidance of aircraft by night [annotated by WSC].

Note from Kathleen Hill [Secretary to WSC] to Commander Charles Thompson [Personal Assistant to WSC], news that WSC had been invited to lunch with the Canadian Division at Leatherhead [Surrey], also that the Canadian Engineers had been camouflaging the swimming pool and draining the lakes at Chartwell [Kent]. [Carbon].

Note by Kathleen Hill [Secretary to WSC], reporting a conversation between Maryott Whyte and the Chief Engineer, 7th Corps, on camouflage at Chartwell [Kent], particularly attempts to camouflage the middle pool, which was taking much time and labour, confirming that they would obtain WSC's permission before draining it.

Letter from Kathleen Hill [Secretary to WSC] to Maryott Whyte, on an estimate from Hammond and Hussey Limited, for a long ladder for use at Chartwell [Kent] in case of incendiary bombs.

Note from Mary Shearburn [Secretary to WSC, later Mary Thompson] to WSC, confirming that although construction of Anderson Shelters had ceased, there were a few available, at 10 pounds for a six seater, and 15 pounds for one accommodating up to 10 people [annotated by WSC, asking her to buy a large shelter for Chartwell, Kent].

Note from Mary Shearburn [Secretary to WSC, later Mary Thompson] to WSC, on air raid precautions at Chartwell [Kent], noting that there were adequate shelters for the staff and the cottages, that for anyone sleeping in the "big house" there was a cellar which would make a splendid shelter, leading out of the day nursery, and that if an Anderson Shelter were required for CSC when staying in the new cottage, a good place for it would be opposite the door to the muniment room.

Letter from [Grace Hamblin, Private Secretary to CSC] to Kent War Agricultural Executive Committee, asking if it would be possible to use German prisoners-of-war to remove barbed wire from the Chartwell estate [Kent]. [Carbon].

Note from Grace Hamblin [Private Secretary to CSC] to CSC, on the possibility of using German prisoners-of-war to clear barbed wire from the Chartwell estate [Kent], also on the possibility of employing a second gardener, and on the removal of two copper beech trees from in front of the house.