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Photograph of aircraft formations overhead, from Biggin Hill RAF station [Kent] during the Battle of Britain.

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Photograph of aircraft formations overhead, from Biggin Hill RAF station [Kent] during the Battle of Britain.

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WSC is shown walking out of a bomb-damaged building. A sign behind him reads "Bed & Breakfast 5/".

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Photo of WSC in Ramsgate [Kent] air raid shelter. Photo shows WSC smiling ruefully wearing a suit and metal helmet. He is sitting next to a table on which rest his Fedora style hat and walking cane.

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WSC in silhouette in the bomb-damaged House of Commons.

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Papers on conspiracy theories surrounding the bombing of Coventry during the Second World War, comprising printed emails sent by Mavis Batey to various correspondents enclosing details about her research into intelligence history.

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Diaries covering Colville's time as Assistant Private Secretary to Prime Ministers Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, and Clement Attlee.

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's broadcast (BBC) on subjects including: the night bombing of London; the Battle of Britain and the successes of British fighter squadrons; the possibility of invasion and German deployment of barges, ships and troops in readiness; a call for every man and woman to do his duty; and the strength of British fleets and flotillas, air power, fortification and the million and a half men of the Home Guard. Includes the phrase "This wicked man [Adolf Hitler]...this monstrous product...

Scope and Contents Draft speaking notes for WSC's broadcast (BBC) on subjects including: the night bombing of London; the Battle of Britain and the successes of British fighter squadrons; the possibility of invasion and German deployment of barges, ships and troops in readiness; a call for every man and woman to do his duty; and the strength of British fleets and flotillas, air power, fortification and the million and a half men of the Home Guard. Includes the phrase "This wicked man [Adolf Hitler]...this...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's broadcast (BBC) on the war situation including: the repulsion of the threat of German invasion, the Blitz and the bombing of Britain; the strength of British spirit; the Italian attack on Greece; successes in Libya and Egypt, including victory at Sidi Barrani under General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander in Chief Middle East] and General [Henry] Wilson; successes of the British Mediterranean Fleet against the Italian navy under Admiral [Sir Andrew] Cunningham...

Scope and Contents Includes typescript and galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 13 "At Bay" (provisionally entitled "Alone"); Appendix A "Minutes and Telegrams, May -...

Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26...

Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz" (provisionally entitled "The Blitz Continues"); Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26...

Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26...

Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 7 "Back to France"; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State...

Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26 "Relations with Vichy [France] and Spain"...

Scope and Contents Includes typescript and galley proofs of Chapter 16 entitled "The Battle of Britain", annotated with suggested amendments and corrections by various individuals including: WSC, William Deakin, Denis Kelly, Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall, Sir Edward Marsh, 1st Lord Cherwell [earlier F A Lindemann], 1st Lord Ismay, Sir Norman Brook [later 1st Lord Normanbrook, Secretary to the Cabinet], CSC and Elizabeth Gilliatt, WSC's secretary.Also includes: note from Jo Sturdee ["N S", later Lady...

Scope and Contents Includes notes by Sir Norman Brook [later 1st Lord Normanbrook, Secretary to the Cabinet] on Volume 2, on subjects including: Chapter 1 "The National Coalition"; Chapter 2 "The Battle of France. The First Week. [General Maurice] Gamelin"; Chapter 3 "The Battle of France. The Second Week. [General Maxime] Weygand"; Chapter 5 "The Deliverance of Dunkirk"; Chapter 8 "Home Defence. June"; Chapter 10 "The Bordeaux Armistice"; Chapter 13 "At Bay" (provisionally entitled "Alone"); Chapter 16 "The...

Scope and Contents Includes notes and comments by Pownall on subjects including: factual and printing errors throughout Volume 2; the build-up to the German attack on the Soviet Union; the build-up to "Dynamo" [codename for the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk, France]; the British Expedition Force; the meeting between 6th Lord Gort [Commander-in-Chief of British Field Force, earlier John Vereker] and General Maxime Weygand [Commander-in-Chief, French Army], May 1940; British casualties; the defence of...

Scope and Contents Includes typescript and galley proofs of the prefaces, acknowledgements and tables of contents (with indications of the number of words in each chapter) and galley proofs of Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain". Also includes notes and annotations by individuals including WSC, William Deakin, Denis Kelly, Charles Wood, CSC and Elizabeth Gilliatt and Chips Gemmell, WSC's secretaries.Also includes: galley proofs of the prefaces to volumes 3 - 6; a map showing the Allied and German armies in...

Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs from: Chapter 12 "The Apparatus of Counter-Attack. 1940"; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 27 [Benito] "Mussolini Attacks Greece"; Chapter 28 "Lend-Lease"; Chapter 30 "Ocean Peril" (provisionally...

Scope and Contents Includes notes and correspondence on research and corrections for Volume 2 from individuals including: Daniel Longwell [Editor of Life Magazine]; Professor Albert Goodwin [former Staff Officer, Air Ministry War Room, and member of Historical Branch, Air Ministry] on the Blitz, and WSC's chapters on the Blitz and Battle of Britain (includes comments by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall); George [Gordon] Allen on Operation "Sea Lion" [codename for planned German invasion of Britain], with...

Scope and Contents Includes: extracts from the Belgian press on the surrender of Belgium in 1940, with comments by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall; issue of the Air Ministry pamphlet "The Battle of Britain"; typescript draft of Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain" annotated by WSC, Denis Kelly and [?] Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park [former Commander of No 11 Fighter Group]; supplements to the London Gazette on the Battle of Britain and the evacuation from Dunkirk [France], containing despatches from Air...

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The reports cover the blitz and the bombing of London and include sections on the general character of the raids; the direct effect of the raids (casualties, homeless, damage, and transport restrictions); general effects of war conditions; and policy and administration. The first report includes a retrospective section on the general character of the raids since August 1940.

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Home Office papers including: statistics of ARP recruitment; guidance about the Official Secrets Act; ARP department annual report for 1936 (apparently unpublished); statement by Sir Ernest Gowers about the Battle of Britain to MPs; and casualty figures.