First World War (1914-1918)
Found in 1510 Collections and/or Records:
(Untitled), 13 Dec 1914
Letter from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, to Field Marshal Sir John French [Chief of Imperial General Staff, later 1st Lord Ypres] on his request for armed craft for service on the canals. [Hand-written copy, signed by WSC].
(Untitled), 15 Dec 1914
Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John French [Chief of Imperial General Staff, later 1st Lord Ypres] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], stating that the naval support of the Army's attack on Ostende [Belgium] had been "most useful". French recommends that the same co-operation be given the next day, with note by WSC, confirming that naval co-operation would be continued. [Initialled by WSC].
(Untitled), 26 Dec 1914
Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John French [Chief of Imperial General Staff, later 1st Lord Ypres] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], stating that the advance along the Belgian coast from Nieuport was not as fast as hoped, and asking for surprise bombardment by monitor and big gun ships. [Typescript copy].
(Untitled), 24 Aug 1914
Telegram from the Supreme Commander of the Russian Armies [the Grand Duke Nicholas] to WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, accepting in principle the offer of assistance from the Royal Navy to a Russian Army landing on the North German Coast, if the British fleet gained command of the Baltic Sea. [Typescript copy].
(Untitled), 25 Aug 1914
(Untitled), 19 Aug 1914
(Untitled), 02 Sep 1914
(Untitled), 14 Nov 1914
(Untitled), 15 Nov 1914
Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, to Field Marshal Sir John French [Commander-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force, later 1st Lord Ypres] on air attacks on German Zeppelin bases. WSC states that all naval aircraft and armoured cars would be withdrawn to Dunkirk [France], "so as to keep quite clear of the British Army and its communications", but would remain there for the present. [Hand-written copy, unsigned].
(Untitled), 29 Nov 1914
Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal Sir John French [Commander-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force, later 1st Lord Ypres], on the military situation on the Western Front, offering to come over to see him to discuss the matter. [Hand-written copy].
(Untitled), 10 Dec 1914
Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal Sir John French [Commander-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force, later 1st Lord Ypres] on a naval bombardment to support the advance of the Army on Ostende [Belgium]. WSC suggests that the Navy attack Zeebrugge, the base of the German submarines, at the same time. [Hand-written draft, unsigned].
(Untitled), 10 Dec 1914
Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel [George] Tom Bridges [Head of Military Mission with the Belgian Field Army] to WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, on the work of the Naval Division in Belgium.
(Untitled), 19 Dec 1914
Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to Field Marshal Sir John French [Commander-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force, later 1st Lord Ypres], regretting that the Royal Navy could not provide artillery support on the Belgian coast. WSC explains that small ships were not powerful enough, and it was not justifiable to expose battleships to risk of attack by submarines, except to support a land attack of primary importance. [Hand-written draft, unsigned].
(Untitled), 21 Dec 1914
Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War] on the treatment of naval units serving with the Army in France. WSC argues that they should continue to be subject to the Naval Discipline Act, not given the choice to "become a soldier or be sent home"; he lists the five units concerned: armoured trains, motor omnibuses, aircraft, armoured cars and 15-inch howitzers. [Two draft carbon copies].
(Untitled), 23 Dec 1914
(Untitled), 31 Dec [1914]
Memorandum by WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on the need to secure naval command of the Baltic, in view of the stalemate on the Western Front. [Hand-written draft, initialled by WSC].
(Untitled), 27 Dec 1915
Letter from CSC to WSC, on his return to Belgium after leave in Britain. Typescript transcript at CHAR 1/118B/2.
(Untitled), 11 Jan [1916]
Letter from CSC to WSC, on the Conscription Crisis, the Prime Minister's method of dealing with opposition, and the possibility of publication of the Dardanelles Papers. Typescript transcript at CHAR 1/118B/23-25.
(Untitled), 23 Feb [1916]
(Untitled), 19 Nov 1918
(Untitled), 08 Feb 1915
Letter from Anthony Quilter, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, to Edward Marsh [Private Secretary to WSC] on the state of his brigade, including problems with snipers, and suggesting that the Drake Battalion be added to the Hood, to make a 5 Battalion Brigade, adding that they would have a "really useful lot" in about a month.
(Untitled), 09 Feb 1915
Letter from Victor Augagneur, French Minister of Marine to WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, approving WSC's plans for joint naval operations in the Mediterranean, and detailing the French fleet, including aircraft sent to the Suez Canal [Egypt], and explaining that they had no light cruisers available. Includes hand-written copy and note by WSC marking the letter as satisfactory.
(Untitled), 07 Feb 1915
Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Herbert Asquith, Prime Minister [later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith], on the importance of Serbia, asking why nothing had been done, and warning that Britain would soon be facing a disastrous situation in the Balkans. WSC states that Britain should be prepared to "play a stake" in the Balkan situation, and also mentions hiding the loss of HMS Audacious, explaining that the Admiralty would not be printing any more Navy Lists during the war.
(Untitled), 17 Feb 1915
Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] on complaints from Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War] about responsibility for Naval units serving with the Army on the Western Front. [Hand-written draft, unsigned].