Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, May 1942.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence].Subjects covered by the minutes include: aircraft production; bombing policy; operation "Ironclad" in Madagascar; the availability of ammunition for the Home Guard; naval operations in the Indian Ocean;...

Scope and Contents Letter from John Ryle, Regius Professor of Physic, Cambridge University, to WSC on a campaign to boost national morale, output and the Home Front and also advice allegedly given to a special constable not to retaliate in case of invasion, with reply by John Peck [Assistant Private Secretary to WSC]; letter forwarded by Peck to Arthur Poynton [Private Secretary to Minister of Supply and Minister of Production] and Henry Strutt [Principal Private Secretary to Home Secretary], with replies by...

Scope and Contents Memoranda by 3rd Lord Tollemache, on subjects including: the defence of the Empire, on modernising the Imperial Defence Cabinet, the Ministry of Production and the Imperial General Staff; modern war on land, including the army, transport and supply; the Home Guard; the RAF; fuel supply co-ordination; improving the railways; army training; with covering letter from Tollemache to WSC including notes on supplying fighter aircraft to the Middle East and Far East and strategic islands in the...

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Letter from WSC to Sir Henry Tizard [Chairman, Aeronautical Research Committee] thanking him for reports on retaliation against enemy jamming of the night air defence radio system.

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Letter from WSC to Major-General 2nd Lord Loch enclosing a note reassuring him on the roles of the police and Civil Defence Services in the event of an invasion.

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, June 1941.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; Desmond Morton and F A Lindemann [later 1st Lord Cherwell, Prime Minister's Personal Assistants]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff.Subjects covered by the minutes include: the defence of...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, November 1941.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; 1st Lord Cherwell [earlier F A Lindemann] and Desmond Morton [Prime Minister's Personal Assistants]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; Chief Whip [James Stuart].Subjects covered by the...

Scope and Contents Papers on possible gas attack, particularly by a phosgene bomb or mustard gas, including: notes by Private Secretaries to WSC on files in the possession of Group Captain Charles Anderson [former Personal Assistant to the Minister of Aircraft Production] including minutes on Anti-Gas Protection belonging to the Ministry of Aircraft Production [enclosed] and confidential files from the Air Ministry; also papers on the Assessment of a Gas Attack, phosgene or mustard gas, and suggested...

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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.

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Note from "J M M" [Prime Minister's Private Secretary John Martin] to WSC on the functions of Sir Hugh Elles as Chief of the Civil Defence operational staff: concentrating on operations ratther than training, acting as a link between the Minister of Home Security [Sir John Anderson, later 1st Lord Waverley] and the Service Departments, and leading the Home Security War Room.

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, August 1940. Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff, General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence], and other senior military figures; F A Lindemann [later 1st Lord Cherwell, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant]; a press statement by WSC; and a minute...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, September 1940.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence], the Chiefs of Staff and other senior military figures; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; senior civil servants including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet] and Sir Alexander Cadogan [Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs];...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, October 1940.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; senior civil servants including Sir Horace Wilson [Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury and official Head of HM Civil Service] and Sir James Grigg [Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War]; the Chiefs of Staff; Colonel Ian...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, November 1940.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants including Sir James Grigg [Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War] and Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence].Subjects covered by the minutes include: air force plans...

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Letter from WSC to the Archbishop of Canterbury [William Temple] allowing the ringing of church bells only on Christmas Day.

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Extract from letter from 1st Lord Addison to Clement Attlee [Lord Privy Seal] on the defence of London. [Copy].

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Letter from Sir Abe Bailey, Grand Hotel, Bagnoles de l'Orne, France, to WSC, praising his speech on the Air Force, and commenting on Germany, and the international situation.

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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 [typescript copy, with handwritten annotations].

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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.

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, January 1944.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Henry Wilson [Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean Theatre]; Desmond Morton [Prime Minister's Personal Assistant]; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the...

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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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Printed civil defence pamphlet entitled "A farewell message from the Regional Commissioner Sir Arthur W. Lambert to the personnel of the Northern (No.1) Region", containing a personal message of thanks from Sir Arthur Lambert, a cartoon by Bos of WSC and Sir Arthur Lambert during the Prime minister's visit to Tyneside in 1941, a review of civil defence work in the region during the war, a list of scheme making authorities, and statistics for air raids and casualties in the region.

Scope and Contents Letter from Herbert Morrison [Lord President of the Council] (Privy Council Office, Great George Street) to WSC marked "Secret" commenting on: the recent election campaign and remarks made by WSC on a visit to Lewisham [London]; WSC's method of conducting War Cabinet business; discussion on warnings for single V1s [flying bombs]; reaction to the subsequent incident at Lewisham; and hoping their disagreement will not have a long-term effect on their relationship. [Carbon copy of CHAR...