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First World War (1914-1918)

 Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 1510 Collections and/or Records:

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(Untitled), 13 Dec 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27A/56
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 13 Dec 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Dec 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27A/60
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 15 Dec 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Dec 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27A/61
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 26 Dec 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 24 Aug 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/28
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 24 Aug 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 25 Aug 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/29
Scope and Contents Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith], Sir Edward Grey [Foreign Secretary], and Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], on naval power in the Baltic. WSC points out that the destruction of the Austrian Navy or the accession to Britain's side of Italy and Greece would enable two fleets to be maintained, each superior to Germany, one of which could be placed in the Baltic. [Hand-written,...
Dates: 25 Aug 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Aug 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/30
Scope and Contents Memorandum by WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on naval strength in the Baltic, stating that the Kiel Canal gave Germany the power of putting their whole naval force in the North Sea or the Baltic. He adds that the Royal Navy was not strong enough to provide two fleets, each individually superior to the German Fleet, and that the Admiralty could not obtain the naval command of the Baltic until either a decisive general battle had been won at sea or the Kiel canal was effectively blocked....
Dates: 19 Aug 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 02 Sep 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/39-40
Scope and Contents Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War] on the need for artillery on the Western Front, suggesting that territorial batteries be sent to India, and regular artillery brought home: "It is an awful pity to leave these splendid batteries keeping order among natives when trained artillery is our bitterest need. I think myself that every regular battery in India except mountain, ought to come home and be replaced by...
Dates: 02 Sep 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 14 Nov 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/92-93
Scope and Contents Letter from Field Marshal Sir John French [Commander-in- Chief, British Expeditionary Force, later 1st Lord Ypres] to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on naval aircraft, recommending that they be sent back to Britain for refitting, as attempting to refit in France or Belgium would cause congestion. French states that the Royal Flying Corps would attack Zeppelin sheds as soon as the Zeppelins arrived, and that the help of the Royal Naval Air Service would be very desirable. He adds that the...
Dates: 14 Nov 1914
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Nov 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/95
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 15 Nov 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 29 Nov 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/103
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 29 Nov 1914
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 10 Dec 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/111
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 10 Dec 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 10 Dec 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/112
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 10 Dec 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Dec 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/133
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 19 Dec 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Dec 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/143-155
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 21 Dec 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 23 Dec 1914

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/158-160
Scope and Contents Letter from Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on the status of naval units serving with the Army in France. Kitchener states that while the War Office would welcome a Naval Brigade or Division, they did not think it necessary to have "irregular" Naval units serving in armoured cars or trains, which could be provided by the War Office. He adds that if these irregular units were only a means for "certain officers and gentlemen...
Dates: 23 Dec 1914
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 31 Dec [1914]

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/27B/162-163
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 31 Dec [1914]
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 27 Dec 1915

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 1/118A/1-2
Scope and Contents

Letter from CSC to WSC, on his return to Belgium after leave in Britain. Typescript transcript at CHAR 1/118B/2.

Dates: 27 Dec 1915
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 11 Jan [1916]

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 1/118A/20-21
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 11 Jan [1916]
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 23 Feb [1916]

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 1/118A/76
Scope and Contents Letter from CSC (41 Cromwell Road [London]) to WSC on subjects including: news of a German offensive at Arras [France]; an air raid at Walmer [Kent]; dinner with Lady Randolph Churchill where she had met Hugh Warrender; "Lulu" [Lewis] Harcourt and May Harcourt; reports that AJB [Arthur Balfour] is "run entirely by Masterton [James Masterton-Smith ]"; WSC's improvements to his battalion which have been widely discussed. In a postscript she comments "I fear the war will last over another...
Dates: 23 Feb [1916]
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Nov 1918

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 1/129/24-25
Scope and Contents Letter from Brigadier Bernard Freyberg [29th Division] from France to WSC, describing events on Armistice Day on the Western Front. Freyberg explains how he decided to raid German forces with his cavalry and [motor-]cyclists for one last time a few hours before peace was declared, and describes how his forces took the village of Lessines [Belgium], capturing several machine-guns, four German officers and 102 soldiers of other ranks, at 10.58 a.m. Freyberg then asks WSC for his advice on what...
Dates: 19 Nov 1918
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 08 Feb 1915

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/47/25
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 08 Feb 1915
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 09 Feb 1915

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/47/28-30
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 09 Feb 1915
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 07 Feb 1915

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/47/31
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 07 Feb 1915
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Feb 1915

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/47/61
Scope and Contents

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].

Dates: 17 Feb 1915
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Feb 1915

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 13/47/64
Scope and Contents Letter from Herbert Asquith [Prime Minister, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], on a complaint from Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], that WSC had offered Field Marshal Sir John French [Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Forces in France, later 1st Lord Ypres] a Brigade of the Naval Division and 2 squadrons of armoured cars for service on the Western Front. Asquith states that Kitchener felt that the Army had no need of...
Dates: 17 Feb 1915
Conditions Governing Access: Open