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

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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].

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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].

Scope and Contents First Lord of the Admiralty's printed minutes, December 1939.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (sometimes annotated with additional printed information) to: the Sea Lords, particularly [3rd Sea Lord and] Controller [Rear-Admiral Bruce Fraser], 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound], and 4th Sea Lord [and Chief of Supplies and Transport, Vice-Admiral Guy Royle]; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff [Rear-Admiral Tom Phillips]; Prime Minister [Neville Chamberlain]; [Permanent] Secretary...

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

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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].

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

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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].

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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].

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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].

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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.

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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].

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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.

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

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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].

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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].

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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.

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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.

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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...

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...