Old file cover: "Norway" and "Operation Paul" [mining of Scandinavian shipping channels to prevent ore being exported to Germany].

Minute from WSC to "M.C.C" [Military Co-ordination Committee] and [Major-]General [Hastings] Ismay [Secretary, Committee of Imperial Defence] asking if a Commander in Chief of a North West Expeditionary Force [?Major-General Pierse Mackesy] is still required simply to deal with Bodo, Mo and Mosjeon, now that operations are limited to Narvik [all in Norway] under the command of [Admiral of the Fleet, 12th] Lord Cork [and Orrery]; initialled by WSC.

Minute from [Major-General Hastings] Ismay [Secretary, Committee of Imperial Defence] (Offices of the War Cabinet) to First Lord [of the Admiralty, WSC] giving the decision of the Chiefs of Staff that the post of Commander-in-Chief, North West Expeditionary Force, [?Major-General Pierse Mackesy] should cease to exist once his work has passed to the Flag Officer at Narvik [Norway, Admiral of the Fleet, 12th] Lord Cork [and Orrery].

Letter from WSC to [Major-General Hastings] Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence] and copied to Colonel [Ian] Jacob [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet] on the needless delay over operation "Paul" [mining of Scandinavian shipping channels to prevent ore being exported to Germany]; comments on the Illustrious being wasted when it is needed to collect aeroplanes from the United States. [carbon copy].

Minute from the 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] to WSC informing him that after the evacuation of Narvik [Norway] is finished the Ark Royal will carry out Operation Paul [mining of Scandinavian shipping channels to prevent ore being exported to Germany] in a modified form. Annotated by WSC on 8 June: "Good".

Memorandum from "D P" [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound, 1st Sea Lord] to WSC and copied to First Lord [of the Admiralty, A V Alexander, later 1st Lord Alexander of Hillsborough], explaining modifications to Operation Paul [mining of Scandinavian shipping channels to prevent ore being exported to Germany], necessary due to ice in the Gulf of Bothnia and the German occupation of Norwegian aerodromes; annotated by WSC.

Draft minute from WSC to 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] and copied to First Lord [of the Admiralty, A V Alexander, later 1st Lord Alexander of Hillsborough] insisting that Operation Paul [mining of Scandinavian shipping channels to prevent ore being exported to Germany] go ahead in some form; suggests aerodromes at "Bardufoss" and "Skaanland" [both Norway] be bombed.

Telegram from Flag Officer, Narvik [Norway, Admiral of the Fleet, 12th Lord Cork and Orrery] to WSC and high ranking members of the Admiralty marked "Secret" on action concerning aerodromes and possible landing sites in Norway. [copy].

Telegram from Admiralty to Flag Officer, Narvik [Norway, Admiral of the Fleet, 12th Lord Cork and Orrery] requiring aerodromes at "Bardufoss" and "Skaanland" [both Norway] to be rendered incapable of use so they cannot be used by the Germans to interfere with Operation Paul [mining of Scandinavian shipping channels to prevent ore being exported to Germany]. [copy with covering note].

Minute from WSC to [Major-]General [Hastings] Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence] asking if the "Mowinckle Plan" will prevent the laying of mines in the approach to Lulea [Sweden], thus interfering with Operation Paul [to prevent ore being exported to Germany]. [annotated copy].

Minute from WSC to [Major-]General [Hastings] Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence] requiring mines to be laid in the approach to Lulea [Sweden] before the evacuation of Narvik [Norway]; asks for a plan to be drawn up using flights from aircraft-carriers. [copy].

Minute from WSC to [Major-]General [Hastings] Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence] on obstructing German ships from removing ore from Lulea [Sweden]; suggests planting "vegetables" [mines]. [copy].

Letter from [President] Franklin Roosevelt (The White House, Washington [United States]) to WSC commenting on [Lord Louis] Mountbatten's usefulness to the US Navy, "the Jap situation", and a matter concerning US relations with Vichy France. [signed manuscript with envelope].

Letter from WSC to General [Claude] Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief Middle East] criticising [Air Marshal Sir Arthur] Tedder's [Air Officer Commanding in Chief, RAF, Middle East] estimate of strength; looking forward to receiving news of Operation Crusader as "the whole immediate future of the war" depends on it; and suggesting that although troops are preparing for Norway they could easily be diverted to Africa if necessary. [copy].

Letter from WSC to Max, [1st] Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Sir Max Aitken, Minister of Supply] on efforts to conceal "Crusader" [British North African operation] and let "Ajax" [a planned landing at Trondheim, Norway] become public; refuses to allow him to resign from the Defence Committee. [carbon, annotated by WSC].

Note from "B" [1st Lord Beaverbrook, earlier Sir Max Aitken, Minister of Supply] to WSC commenting on leaks of future campaigns to attack in Libya and not in the west, suggesting deception techniques, and commenting on his character: "I am a victim of the Furies." [typescript].

Letter from King George VI (Windsor Castle [Berkshire]) to WSC on the loss of the Repulse and the Prince of Wales, and the news about the American battleships. [signed manuscript].

Summary of night-time operations for RAF Station at Waddington [Yorkshire], naming officers involved. [Typescript].

Report of damage caused by bombing raid from RAF Waddington [Yorkshire] on Berlin [Germany].

Letter from Group Captain Charles Anderson to WSC on bombing raid on Berlin [Germany].