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Second World War (1939-1945)

 Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 2742 Collections and/or Records:

 File

"London Notes", 1933 - 1949

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/PRKR 3
Scope and Contents

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of ARP recruitment; guidance about the Official Secrets Act; ARP department annual report for 1936 (apparently unpublished); statement by Sir Ernest Gowers about the Battle of Britain to MPs; and casualty figures.

Dates: 1933 - 1949
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

London Press Exchange: Questionnaire, 1940

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/ABMS 2/2/1
Scope and Contents

Two copies of a blank interviewer's questionnaire produced by the London Press Exchange for the Ministry of Food's 'Investigation of Food Consumption'.

Dates: 1940
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 Series

Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), 1939 - 1990

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0014/BGND C
Scope and Contents This section presents documentation of the history and activities of the LRDG. Bagnold intended to write a history of the LRDG from an early date and assembled material likely to be of interest. This includes original instructions for and reports of many LRDG operations and draft chapters of a 'war diary and narrative'. A lecture by Bagnold on 'Early Days of the Long Range Desert Group' was published in The Geographical Journal 105. nos. 1 and 2 (1945), but the contemporary history of the...
Dates: 1939 - 1990
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

Manuscript diary, 1939-09 - 1945-06

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/SPRS 11/3/1
Scope and Contents Subjects include: the outbreak of war; directing the Hadfield-Spears Mobile Hospital Unit in France and its evacuation; ELS's departure for Dakar [Senegal] with General Charles de Gaulle and her concern for his position with the Government; bombing raids in London; taking the ambulance unit to the Levant; accounts of torture by the Gestapo in southern France; her view of de Gaulle's hostility to Britain; the unit's part in the victory parade in Paris; de Gaulle's ingratitude to ELS; her own...
Dates: 1939-09 - 1945-06
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

Manuscript diary, 1941-03 - 1942-03

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/SPRS 11/3/2
Scope and Contents Diary kept during ELS's time as Head of the Spears Mission to Syria and the Lebanon and First Minister to the republics of Syria and the Lebanon. Subjects include: the journey of the Hadfield-Spears Mobile Hospital Unit to the Levant via South Africa and Egypt; difficulties in dealing with the Free French; her happiness at being with ELS; moving up to the front line in Syria; her poor view of General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East]; life keeping house for ELS in...
Dates: 1941-03 - 1942-03
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

Manuscript diary, 1943-02 - 1944-01

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/SPRS 11/3/3
Scope and Contents Diary kept during ELS's time as First Minister to the republics of Syria and the Lebanon. Subjects include: meeting Winston Churchill [Prime Minister] in February 1943; returning to Tobruk [Libya]; the promise of free elections in Syria; tensions between ELS and the French; a war council in Cairo [Egypt] called by Richard Casey [Minister of State Resident in the Middle East], May 1943; tensions between followers of General Charles de Gaulle and General Henri Giraud; ELS's work towards...
Dates: 1943-02 - 1944-01
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

Map of Cambridge, annotated for HL’s use with the Home Guard, 1941

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/LAUT 5/3
Scope and Contents

Includes notations of road blocks, pill boxes, tank traps, wire, special guards, petrol pumps, military [?] report centres, first aid posts, decontamination centres and police phone boxes.

Dates: 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

Material on war damage, 1945

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 9/634
Scope and Contents

A manuscript regarding the bombing of London during 1940-1944, detailing the number of houses destroyed, people killed, bombs dropped, etc., and stating when the Royal Observatory was bombed. There is also a photograph of the damage incurred by the Observatory.

Dates: 1945
Conditions Governing Access: From the Management Group: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 File

Memoir, 1929-39, 1992

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/MORE 1
Scope and Contents

Mainly concerns his school career, 1936-9, and training as a naval cadet, 1939.

Dates: 1992
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 Fonds

Memoirs of the Preparation of the Home Office War Book by Ronald Wells

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0014/WELL
Scope and Contents

Wells describes his role in the compilation and maintenance of the Home Office War Book. He also relates anecdotes about key figures such as Warren Fisher as well as staff including Sir Joseph Ball and Lawrence Burgis.

Dates: 1935 - 1939
Conditions Governing Access: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

Memorabilia

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/BGND A.61
Scope and Contents

Second World War Identity Card; driving licence 1938-50; motor fuel ration book; headed notepaper, calling cards etc.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 Series

Memoranda and speeches by Croft, 1917 - 1945

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CRFT 2
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Subjects covered by the papers include the campaign for Protection and the Empire Industries Association, the National Party, India, the Spanish Civil War and the First and Second World Wars.

Dates: 1917 - 1945
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

Mena and Teheran Conferences, 1943-11 - 1943-12

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/BRDW I Photo 8
Scope and Contents

Photographs of the conferences in Egypt and Iran.

Dates: 1943-11 - 1943-12
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 Fonds

Mers-el-Kébir, 3 juillet 1940: Exposé chronologique du combat de Mers-el-Kébir, d'après les documents photographiques

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10389
Scope and Contents Portfolio produced by A. Devauchelle issued in slipcase including dedicated compartments for 75 photographs (15 photographs of the site before the attack, 54 photographs of the attack, 6 photographs of the military funeral), a copy of 'Expose chronologique du combat de Mers-el-Kébir' (cover title: 'Mers-el-Kébir, 3 juillet 1940'), and a facsimile ("réimpression pour complément de collection") excerpt of issue 5085 of the journal "L'illustration", 24 August 1940, pages [453]-462, including...
Dates: 1980s?
 Fonds

Metals Society

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0014/METL
Scope and Contents

British Intelligence Objectives Sub-committee and Combined Intelligence Objectives
Sub-committee reports on German and Japanese war industry.

Dates: 1939 - 1952
 Fonds

Microfilm copies of "ULTRA" signals

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0014/ULTR
Scope and Contents

Consisting of intelligence from intercepted enemy communications, forwarded from the Admiralty to Allied Commands, "Cairo Series", June 1942-September 1943.

Generally being decrypts from the Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, using the Enigma machine. The Enigma signals were given a special security classification, "MSS" (Most Secret Source) or "ULTRA".

Dates: 1942-06 - 1943-09
Conditions Governing Access: The collection is not currently available.
 Series

Middle East, 1940-09 - 1942-08

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CORB 4
Scope and Contents

Includes: reports on Corbett's visits to Egypt and the Western Desert; papers on armoured tactics; intelligence reports; Corbett's proposals for reorganization of Armoured Divisions in the 10th Army; correspondence between Corbett and General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East; analysis of operations at Cyrenaica [Libya]; Corbett's notes on tank operations in Egypt and Palestine; letters and papers on Corbett's departure from the Middle East.

Dates: 1940-09 - 1942-08
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 Sub-Series

Ministry of Defence Chronometer Department, Herstmonceux, Papers, c.1872-1876, 1924, 1927, 1937, 1939-1948, and c.1954-1983 (bulk) , 1924 - 1937, bulk: 1954 - 1983

 Sub-Series
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 71/1
Scope and Contents Most of the records retained by the Chronometer Department date to the Herstmonceux era and relate to the service, repair and overhaul of Admiralty owned chronometers at the workshop there. Many of the files bear ‘Chronometer Laboratory’ file series numbers 38 or 39 and have been grouped accordingly. A series of photographs (series 4) includes images of H1, H4 and Kendall 1 and 2, along with two sets of photographs showing the Chronometer Department and staff at Bradford on Avon during the...
Dates: c.1872-1876, 1924, 1927, 1937, 1939-1948, and c.1954-1983 (bulk) ; 1924 - 1937; Majority of material found within 1954 - 1983
Conditions Governing Access: From the Management Group: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Series

Ministry of Defence Chronometer Department, Herstmonceux, Papers; with John Hobden Papers and George Rickett Papers, 1872-2018 (mainly 1939-1983)

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 71
Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the papers of the Ministry of Defence Chronometer Department (series 1), based at Bradford on Avon (1939-1948) and then Herstmonceux Castle. Also catalogued here are two donated collections: papers relating to marine chronometers by John Hobden who worked at the Chronometer Department (series 2); and papers and photographs from George W. Rickett (1903-1978) who ran the Chronometer Department while it was based at Bradford on Avon (series 3).

Dates: 1872-2018 (mainly 1939-1983)
Conditions Governing Access: From the Management Group: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 File

Miscellaneous articles and items, 1937-08 - 1948-10

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/AMEL 1/7/31
Scope and Contents Texts of papers by LSA on subjects including: Free Trade and the Most Favoured Nation clause; functions of a National Planning Board; the future of Italy; trade; Europe, the Commonwealth and world security; comparisons between the Swiss and British systems of government; Europe and Germany; economic warfare; the 1940 budget. Also includes: list of articles; pamphlet on post-war opportunities in the colonial service; notes on George Yeh, representative of the Chinese Ministry of...
Dates: 1937-08 - 1948-10
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 Fonds

Monte San Martino Trust Archive

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10473
Scope and Contents

The archive consists of unpublished personal accounts of prisoners of war held in Italy at the time of the Italian Armistice in 1943. The accounts variously detail the individuals' war service, capture and captivity, escape from captivity, and attempts to evade recapture with the assistance of members of the Italian civilian population.

Dates: 1930s-2010s
 File

Moving Image Research Collections, University of South Carolina, 1942 - 1944

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/MCHL 12/1/12
Scope and Contents

Newsreels and uncut footage of Winston Churchill, including: Churchill’s visit to Bradford [Yorkshire], 1942; arriving back from the Soviet Union, Sept 1942; Quebec [Canada], Aug 1943; MS at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia [United States], Sept 1943; MS christening a bomber, May 1944; Churchill visiting MS’s anti-aircraft battery, Edenbridge [Kent], Jun 1944.

Dates: 1942 - 1944
Conditions Governing Access: From the Series: Access copies must be requested in advance.
 Unknown

"Mr Churchill to the Czechs: Be of Good Cheer", 1 Oct 1940

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/144/71-75
Scope and Contents

Extract from the Times containing the text of WSC's broadcast (30 September 1940, BBC) to the people of Czechoslovakia [later Czech Republic and Slovakia] including Germany's breach of the terms of the Munich Agreement, Hitler's ambitions to incorporate Czechoslovakia, admiration for the Czechs. Ends by stating: "Be in good cheer. The hour of your deliverance will come. The soul of freedom is deathless; it cannot, and will not perish."Carbon typed copy. Filing envelope present.

Dates: 1 Oct 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

MS diary, 1939-08 - 1939-09

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/DUFC 15/1/28
Scope and Contents

Covers the outbreak of war.

Dates: 1939-08 - 1939-09
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 File

MS diary, 1945-01 - 1945-12

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/DUFC 15/1/33
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Manuscript and typescript diaries kept by Cooper, including some typescript copies of the manuscript diaries.

Dates: 1945-01 - 1945-12
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.