Military Archives » The Collection

Typescript unpublished memoir of Squadron Leader Harry 'Wacker' Pain, 1937-1978, including descriptions of: training as an Aircraft Apprentice, RAF Halton, 1937; wireless operator training in Wallace and Wapiti biplanes; airborne wireless operator training, RAF Driffield, 1939; working for Special Duties Flight, Coastal Command, as a gunner in long range Sunderland flying boats, 1939-1942, including…

Carbon out-letter book, dated Mar 1917-Jan 1920, mostly relating to Pakenham-Walsh's service as British Representative, International Commission, Teschen, Czech-Polish frontier, 1919-1920. Seven manuscript, narrative diaries, Nov 1927-Apr 1939. Fifteen manuscript narrative diaries, containing photographs, newspaper cuttings, letters and reports, 19 Nov 1939-3 Feb 1947. Correspondence received by Pakenham-Walsh,…

Papers relating to his naval service, 1927-1951, dated 1927-[1951], notably including a brief summary of his career, 1932-1951, dated [1951]. Notebook of F M Palmer (Palmer's father), containing notes relating to his work in the Naval Store Department, HM Dockyard, Devonport, [1898-1900].

Editions of His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) pamphlets relating to the British war effort during World War Two, including The Battle of Britain by the Air Ministry (HMSO: London, 1941); Bomber Command by the Air Ministry (HMSO, London, 1941) Coastal Command by the Air Ministry (HMSO, London, 1942); Frontline by the Ministry of Home Security (HMSO, London, 1942); Fleet Air Arm by the Air Ministry…

Papers relating to his military career, 1913-1945, dated 1915, 1919 and 1945, notably including his commission as 2nd Lt, Royal Engineers, 1915.

Papers relating to military forces in West Africa, including pamphlet entitled A brief history of the Gold Coast Regiment, West African Frontier Force, c 1918; Notes for the guidance and information of visiting contingents during the independence celebrations of Ghana, 2nd to 8th March 1957, Gold Coast Military Forces HQ, Accra, 1957; Nigeria Year Book 1969 (Times Press Ltd, Nigeria); order of service…

Transcripts and Files of the Paris Peace Talks on Vietnam, 1968-1973 are microfilmed copies of the official transcripts of the Paris Peace Talks between political and military representatives from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), the Vietnamese National Liberation Army (Viet Cong), the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), and the United States, and accompanying files relating to…

Papers of Lt Col Robert Malcolm Parker, 1945-1946, relating to his career in the Royal Engineers, comprising account of the operations of 8 Corps in North West Europe, Mar-May 1945, entitled 'The River Rhine to the Baltic Sea: a narrative account of the pursuit and final defeat of the German Armed Forces, March-May 1945', with a foreword by Lt Gen Evelyn Hugh Barker, as Commanding Officer, 8 Corps;…

Diary covering his service in France, notably his involvement in gas attacks on German troops near St Omer, 1916.

Papers relating to 16 (Irish) Div, 1914-1918, dated 1914-1918, 1932, [1977], 1984, notably a typescript transcript of extracts from Parson's diary, 1914-1916, relating to the raising and training of 16 (Irish) Div, 1914-1915, and their service in France, 1915-1916, copied in [1977]; correspondence, 1915-1918, principally comprising letters relating to Parson's replacement as Commanding Officer, 16…

Papers comprising printed or typescript reports and supporting publications, on the 1 Army, North Africa, Civil Affairs Staff Centre (CASC), and on the administration of civilians in occupied territory including the Control Commission Germany (CCG), 1885-1947; notably comprising printed and typescript instructions, orders and reports issued by the Provost Marshal's Office, 1 Army, North Africa, including…

Papers relating to his command of 1 Infantry Div, Anzio, Italy, 1944, dated 1943-1962, principally comprising correspondence and memoranda, 1943-1944; diary and typescript diary entries, 1943-1944; operation orders, tactical notes and maps, 1944; written accounts of operations carried out by 1 Div and individual regiments and battalions, 1944; correspondence relating to historical accounts of the landings,…

List of stations on the Tomsk, Sabaikal, Omsk and Chinese Eastern Lines compiled in connection with British Military Mission in Irkutsk, USSR, 1919, with annotations made by the Commanding Officer of the mission while retreating from the Bolsheviks, 1919-1920. Passed to Percival for use on a planned round-the-world flight.

Copy of typescript letter sent by Sir John Gerald Lang, Permanent Secretary of the Admiralty, to V Adm Sir William Gerrard Andrewes, Commander in Chief, America and West Indies Station, regarding the efficiency of the cryptographic staffs of HMS SUPERB and HMS SNIPE during naval operations in the Antarctic, 13 Apr 1953

Copy papers relating to career of Col R G Philipps: Historical Record and Comments on the Mounting of OVERLORD, a personal impression by Southern Command , with accompanying maps, by Col John N Oliver, Head of Planning Staff, 20 Aug 1944; and report 'Operation MEDLOC - Planning Staff Report No 3 and Proposed War Establishments', by Lt Col R G Philipps, 22 Feb 1945.

Papers relating to his service in East Africa, 1912-1923, and Iceland, 1940-1941, dated 1916-1918, 1935, 1940-1941 and 1976, notably including maps of German East Africa (Tanzania), 1916, and Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), 1918; field service correspondence book, including war diary entries, covering his service with 3 Bn 2 King's African Rifles, East Africa, 1917; letter to the Historical Section…

Copies of papers relating to his naval career, 1886, 1890 and 1916, some dated 1930, principally comprising an undated account of the role of HMS WARSPITE in the Battle of Jutland, 31 May-1 Jun 1916, written by Cdr Humphrey Walwyn.

Albums of Nazi propaganda photographs recording the achievements of the Third Reich, 1933-1936, compiled by the German Ministry of Propaganda in 1934-1937 and presented to Phipps as British Ambassador in Berlin. With covering letter from Dr Joseph Paul Goebbels, 1934.

Papers relating to Piggott's service in World War Two, 1939-1945, notably the sinking of HMS VAN MEERLANT, 4 Jun 1941, including typescript list of the ship's company, annotated to show survivors of the sinking, with manuscript notes by an unknown survivor relating to Piggott's exemplary conduct during the sinking, Jun 1941; manuscript letter to Piggott from Hugh G Collins, HMS WILDFIRE, relating to…

37 volumes of Pincher's published press articles, 1937, 1940 and 1946-1993, published chiefly in the Daily Express, on defence, security, scientific and medical topics including: UK rocket research, 1946-1963, nuclear weapon testing, 1946-1976 atom bomb development and testing, 1946-1954, hydrogen bomb development and testing, 1954-1956, atomic power, 1946-1976 human longevity, 1946-1968 supersonic…

Photograph album with 61 photographs of RAF service in Haifa, Palestine, and Baghdad, Iraq, 1917-1918 and 1928. Three notebooks containing extracts from Pirie's diaries, 1923-1945, 1946-1966 and 1967-1976. Eight letters of thanks, relating to Pirie's success as Allied Air Commander-in-Chief, South East Asia, and Inspector General, RAF, 1947-1949, including letter from V Adm Rt Hon Louis Francis Albert…

Copy of dossier containing maps, plans and technical data on the port of Boulogne, produced by the Director of Ports and Inland Water Transport, War Office, for the use of port construction and repair companies engaged on the rehabilitation of ports damaged by enemy action, [1943-1944].

Papers of Barrie Pitt relating to military history, 1940-1991, including draft of book Special Boat Squadron by Pitt, annotated with corrections; draft of book Crucible of War: Western Desert 1941 by Pitt, annotated with corrections; transcripts of radio and television broadcasts on the First and Second World Wars including transcripts of the BBC 1 series 'Grand Strategy' on the Second World War, 1972;…

Copy of typescript memoirs of the service in Africa of John Pitt, 1940-1943, entitled 'Adui Mbele (Enemy in Front): Some Recollections of a Platoon Commander in the East African Campaign (1940-41) and on Brigade Staff in Madagascar (1942-43)', detailing the arrival in South Africa of Pitt, the background to the campaign, personalities and expeditionary summaries.

Bound copy of text of Platt's Lee Knowles lectures on 'The campaign against Italian East Africa, 1940-1941', given at Cambridge University, 1951.

Papers relating to his career with the Royal Naval Reserve, 1926-1950, dated 1926-1950, 1985-1986, 1989, 1994 and 1995, notably including commands, reports, correspondence and notes concerning his service on HMS GLOXINIA, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1940-1942, on the staff of Flag Officer, Liverpool, HMS EAGLET, 1942-1943, on HMS DELHI, Mediterranean, 1943-1945, and on the staff of Cdr in Chief,…

Papers, 1902-1975, mostly concerning Weihaiwei, northern China, including typescript notes on the history of Weihaiwei, 1934, with three printed Annual Colonial Reports entitled Weihaiwei (HMSO, London, 1902, 1920 and 1929) and edition of the Weihaiwei Government Gazette containing the Convention for the rendition of Weihaiwei (5 May 1930); various invitations, menus, concert and sports programmes,…

Papers relating to the British Military Mission to the Volunteer Army under Gen Anton Ivanovich Denikin, South Russia, 1917-1919, and Poole's tenure as General Officer Commanding, North Russia Expeditionary Force, 1918-1919, including maps of Russia, various scales, 1917-1919; typescript report by Capt George A Hill, RAF, entitled 'Report of work done in Russia to end of 1917', 27 Nov 1918; printed…

Papers relating to his life and career, [1891]-1931, dated [1891]-1931, 1977, 1985, 1988, principally comprising diaries, 1899-1900, and letters to his family, 1900-1902, describing his service as Provost Marshal with the South African Field Force; memorandum to Col Duff, Assistant Adjutant General, South African Field Force, concerning the functions of the Provost Marshal, 1900; photographs, [1891-1931],…

Papers relating to his life and career, 1896-1902, 1908-1918, principally comprising letters to his family, 1896-1902, notably describing his service in operations in Orange Free State and Transvaal, South Africa, 1899-1900; notebook relating to his service in South Africa, 1899-1902, containing copies of brigade and divisional orders, notes on horses health, lists of men killed and financial accounts;…

Papers relating to his life and career, 1887-1924, comprising published pamphlets and articles relating to his establishment of a freehold colony at Winterslow, Wiltshire, [1892], dated 1887, 1891, 1893, 1894, [1912], 1924; correspondence relating to his candidature for a seat on Wiltshire County Council, 1888; photograph of portrait of Poore by T Binney Gibbs, 1912.

Letters to his father, Maj Robert Poore, describing his work as a mining engineer in the New Mashonaland Development Company Ltd, Rhodesia, 1900-1901.

Potsdam Conference Documents, 1945: The Presidential Documents Series is a themed microfilm collection including the personal and official documents and correspondence of President Harry S Truman during proceedings of the Potsdam Conference, 29 Mar-2 Aug 1945. Papers are drawn from a variety of originating bodies including US President Harry S Truman; US Gen of the Army George Catlett Marshall; US…

Twelve detailed, narrative, manuscript diaries, Jan 1933-Aug 1936 and Jan 1938-Dec 1944 (with postscripts added in Jan and Sep 1945), including Pownall's time as Military Assistant Secretary, Committee of Imperial Defence, 1933-1935, Commandant, School of Artillery, Larkhill, Wiltshire, 1936-1938, Chief of General Staff, BEF (British Expeditionary Force), France, 1939-1940, Commander-in-Chief, British…

Papers and maps chiefly concerning the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, [1918]-1959, including typescript copy of war diary, 1 Armoured Reconnaissance Bde, British Expeditionary Force (BEF), Belgium and France, 30 Mar-30 May 1940, with typescript recommendations for awards, 1940; typescript account, dated Jun 1942, of dispositions and operations of B Sqn, 1 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, Belgium and France, 14…

Prentice's manuscript diaries, mainly detailing his services at General Headquarters, Middle East Command, Cairo, Egypt, including mention of Long Range Desert Group operations in the Western Desert, 1942; manuscript diaries and notebooks kept by Prentice and Wickstead, mainly relating to SOE operations in West Macedonia, Greece, 1943-1944; reports, mainly compiled by Allied Military Mission personnel,…

Minutes and Documents of the Cabinet Meetings of President Eisenhower, 1953-1961 is a themed microfilm collection which includes copies of the minutes, memoranda, and supporting documents of the Cabinet meetings during the Presidential administration of Dwight David Eisenhower, 12 Dec 1952-13 Jan 1961. The meetings included discussions relating to all aspects of the domestic and foreign policy affairs…

President Harry S Truman's Office Files, 1945-1953: Korea is a themed microfilm collection relating to US foreign policy decision making with respect to Korea, 1945-1953. Included in the collection are copies of Presidential memoranda and eeting minutes, 1945-1953; US foreign policy analyses relating to the Japanese occupation of Korea, 1945; US Department of State reports relating to the social, economic,…

Harry S Truman Presidential Oral History Files is a themed microfiche collection composed of transcribed interviews relating to the professional career of Harry S Truman. From 1961 to 1989, the Harry S Truman Library conducted over 400 interviews for the oral history project, each relating to aspects of Truman's professional life, including his career as an artillery officer during World War One; district…

The Papers of the President's Science Advisory Committee, 1957-1961 are microfilmed copies of meeting minutes, correspondence, agenda, scientific reports and studies from the President's Science Advisory Committee (PASC), 1957-1961. The records of the PASC in the Eisenhower administration detail science policy, 1957-1961, primarily relating to arms control and disarmament through nuclear power; space;…

Press cuttings relating to First Boer War, 1881, and the Second Boer War, 1899-1902, notably concerning the death of Gen Sir George Pomeroy Colley at the Battle of Majuba Hill, 1881; the Transvaal Crisis, 1896; the Siege of Ladysmith, Natal, 1899; British rule in South Africa, 1899; the controversy over the publication of official despatches from the campaign at Spion Kop, Natal, 1900. Press cuttings…

Collection includes four copies of printed leaflets, 'No 1 Workshop Group, REME, Chillwell', relating to the organisational structure of the Royal Electical and Mechanical Engineers, 1945; printed leaflet, 'The Part a British Oil Company played in the War', reprinted from the Petroleum Times, 28 Apr 1945, concerning asbestos compound waterproofing of Allied tanks and vehicles for Operation OVERLORD,…

Papers relating to his service in the Far East in 1942-1945 and 1950, dated 1942-1945 and 1950, principally comprising two photograph albums of Keijo (Seoul) POW camp, 1942-1944; copy of obituary from The Lancashire Lad, North Lancashire Regt (Loyal Regt) journal (Dec 1950); copy of covering letter to the Centre from Joan Procter (Procter's sister), 1992.

Edition of Profile 207: Messerschmitt BF 110 Night Fighters magazine (Profile Publications, Windsor, [1976]) with article by Alfred Price

Publications on psychological operations, 1915-2002, including books, editions of Falling Leaf (the magazine of the Psywar Society), other publications by the Psywar Society, journals, newsletters, VHS tapes, photocopies and printouts.

Public Statements by the Secretaries of Defense, 1947-1981 are microfilmed copies of official statements, press releases, speeches, announcements and memoranda released by successive US Secretaries of Defense, 1947-1981. Compiled by the US Department of Defense at the Pentagon, Washington, DC, the material reflects US government national security concerns during the height of the Cold War. Arranged…

List the bugle, reminiscences of an Irish soldier (Greystone, Antrim, 1993), a memoir of his life and career, 1921-1976, notably his service in the UK and France, 1942, including the Allied raid on St Nazaire,1942, his experiences as a POW, Germany, 1942-1945, his service in Palestine, 1945-1946, Egypt, 1949-1951, Malaya, 1956-1958, and Cyprus, 1958, and his command of the 1 Bn, Royal Ulster Rifles,…

The collection includes: DVDs of the series as broadcast on BBC2, Jan-Feb 2012: Part 1, Taking control; Part 2, Democracy threatens; Part 3, War; Part 4, New start; transcripts of interviews conducted (chiefly in 2011) with interviewees from France, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Poland, Russia, UK, Ukraine and USA; DVDs of original interviews; final scripts; background information gathered in the course…

Microfilm copy of manuscript narrative diary by Pyle covering the voyage of two Sqns of 5 (Royal Irish) Lancers from Kingstown, Ireland, to the Sudan, and the subsequent Suakin campaign against Dervish forces commanded by the Mahdi (Mohammed Ahmed Ibn Al-Sayid Abdullah), 20 Feb-11 Apr 1885, including an account of the Battle of Tofrek, 22 Mar 1885.

The collection covers Pyman's career from 1937 until 1963 when he suffered a severe stroke which forced his retirement in 1964. The earliest papers date from Pyman's work with the Royal Tank Cadre in converting the 17/21 Lancers from a cavalry to an armoured regiment. There are also papers from Pyman's period as an instructor at the Staff College in Quetta, India, 1939-1941. Pyman was involved in the…