Military Archives » The Collection

Typescript and manuscript notes, calculations and sketches made by Sainty during the designing of sand eliminators for tanks and the filtration of atmospheric air, which was extensively used in tanks for the war in North Africa, 1943-1945; leaflets and pamphlets relating to the work of Carrier Engineering Co Ltd in designing and installing filters for gas protection prior to and during World War Two,…

Papers relating to his life and career 1928-1981, including correspondence, (letters, reports, memoranda, training programmes, photographs and maps) relating to the Allied invasions of North Africa and Sicily (Operation TORCH and Operation HUSKY), 1942-43; correspondence between Salmon and the Air Ministry relating to the daily running of RAF Regt units under his command in North Africa, Sicily, Italy,…

Command study of the Battle of Gazala, 26 May-21 Jun 1942, produced by the Education Branch, HQ Malta and Libya, 1967.

Papers relating to Sanders' life and military career, 1911-1966, including five letters of appreciation, 1911-1927, mostly relating to Sanders' work as Superintendent, Army Remount Service, No 3 Depot, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, 1914-1920, notably typescript letter from Gen Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, 3 Jun 1918; manuscript letter to Sanders from Lt Gen Adrian…

Copies of typescript Indian Corps Intelligence Summaries, France, Aug 1915, and typescript account in French entitled 'Quelques faits importants de la Guerre par rapport a Merville', 1919. Papers relating to Sanderson's military intelligence work, 1940-1945, including typescript intelligence reports and summaries relating to the likely invasion of UK, 1940-1941, notably typescript Southern Command…

Copy of memoirs of Lt Col John Burden Sanderson, including description of deployment with Territorial Army, 1938-1940; and brief recollections of service in India and Burma, 1941-1946, including liberation of POWs from Japanese internment camps, transcribed by Sanderson's son. Also transcript of interview with John Sanderson's father Maj Alexander Sanderson, 3 Australian Tunnelling Company, recorded…

Two letters from FM Sir Cyril John Deverell to Sandilands, relating to Deverell's dismissal as Chief of Imperial General Staff, 1937, written in 1945 and 1947. Associated correspondence, principally comprising letters from Professor James Ramsay Montagu Butler concerning the possible use of the above documents in the official History of the Second World War (HMSO, London, 1949-1988), 1952, 1960.

Three audio cassette tapes of the proceedings of the conference on the Sandys White Paper on Defence, 1957, King's College London, 1 Jul 1988, mostly relating to the proposed purchase of an independent nuclear deterrent, including contributions from Sir Richard (Royle) Powell, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, 1957; (Thomas) Cecil (Garside) James, Assistant Secretary, Air Ministry, 1957; Rt…

Typescript job description for Deputy Chief of Operations, Western European Union Police Contingent [1995]; one manuscript and nine typescript letters by Sawers to his family relating to his service with Western European Union Police Contingent, Mostar, Bosnia, Feb-Aug 1996; two letters praising Sawers' work as Deputy Chief of Operations, Western European Union Police Contingent, Mostar, from Lt Gen…

Photocopies of correspondence and photographs, taken from five albums, relating to Sclater's career, 1898-1927, including letter from FM Sir (Henry) Evelyn Wood, Adjutant General to the Forces, confirming Sclater's appointment as Bde Maj, Aldershot, 1898; seventeen copies of photographs and nine sketch maps relating to the Second Boer War, South Africa, 1899-1902, including photographs of Bloemfontein…

Papers relating to the campaign in France, 1940, including copy of typescript War Diary, written by Scott Elliot, of 154 Infantry Bde, 1-30 Jun 1940, on the withdrawal and evacuation of 'Ark Force' from Cherbourg, 15 Jun 1940, and copy of typescript 'ARK Force Operation Order No 2', 11 Jun 1940. Papers relating to Sicily and Italy, 1943-1945, including copy of typescript War Diary, written by Scott…

'The attack on the Asopos Viaduct in German occupied Greece', May-Jun 1943, written in 1993.

Typescript 'Report on events leading to evacuation from Calais', with manuscript preparatory notes, May 1940; five printed maps and plans showing the extent of No 73 Wing Area, the distribution of anti-aircraft guns, and aircraft losses during the Battle of Britain, 1940; personal RAF documents, 1940-1945, including 'Service and Release book'; typescript unit history, by Scott-Taggart, entitled '73…

Copies of papers, 1953-1981, including typescript article by Scotter entitled 'Streamlining the Infantry Division', 1953; three typescript articles by Scotter, 'Streamlining the Infantry Division' [1954], 'Tactics in nuclear war' 1955, and 'Unification-Management and Command' 1970; typescript notes for Joint Services Staff College Exercise GAZETTE, 1959; typescript essay by Scotter on future options…

Papers relating to his life and RN career, 1902-1956, dated 1956, [1968-1977], 1983, 1987, 1989 and 1994, principally comprising photographs relating to the mining of the HMS SAUMAREZ, Corfu Channel, 1946; 'Memoires (sic) of a salthorse', an illustrated account of his life and career, 1902-1956, notably covering his service on HMS MASHONA, North Sea, Norway and Atlantic, 1940-1941, and HMS ONSLAUGHT,…

Copies of correspondence, 1916-1925, including letter from Lt Frank Sutherland, 2 Dragoon Guards, wounded with Serby in 1916, letters home from the Western Front, 1916 and from northern Russia, 1918- 1919, with letter to Serby from Capt P R Knowles, Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) on the Allied intervention in northern Russia, 1919. Copy of diary transcript detailing operations on the Dvina…

Order of service for the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of FM Sir Claude Auchinleck (1884-1981), Friday 5 June 1981, Westminster Abbey, London. Includes colour portrait photograph of Auchinleck, Marrakech, Morocco, 1978.

Presentation photograph album of HMS GLORY's tour of duty in the Mediterranean, 1949-1950.

Copies of papers coverning the career of Shea in South Africa, France, Palestine and India, general correspondence and lectures, 1897-1966; notably including letters and despatches from the Boer War, 1901-1902, compiled by Shea as an officer in De Lisle's Australian brigade with an account of a march to sieze the drift over the Vet Reiver, accounts and commendations; diaries describing his service…

Photograph albums relating to his military career, [1914-1942], notably his service in Northern Ireland, 1920, Hong Kong and Shanghai, 1930, North Africa and India, [1930-1940], and Kenya, 1940-1942, with associated papers, [1914-1942], notably a diary of C and D Companies, 1 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt, Belfast, 28 Jul-30 Jul 1920.

Collection consists of photocopies of a manuscript letter written by Col Günther Blumentritt, Senior Operations Officer, German Army Group A, relating to German operations in France, 25 May 1940; and Intelligence Branch, General Staff, German 26 Army Corps, memoranda and German Army witness statements relating to the killing of approximately 100 British prisoners of war from 2 Bn, Royal Norfolk Regt,…

Papers relating to Brigadier Short's service in Malaya, correspondence, journal articles and photographs, 1950-1994; notably including copies of the Army Quarterly and regimental newsletter Parbate containing articles on Short and on the role of the Staff College, 1958, 1982; copy of an extract from Jai Sixth. The story of the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles, 1817-1994 by James Lunt (Leo…

Manuscript letter written in Afrikaans by Boer soldier A J Tapper to the Boethma family, Groenfontein, 7 Nov 1899, detailing Boer attitudes and expectations during the Siege of Ladysmith, Second Boer War, South Africa, with English translation of letter supervised by Brig William Francis Kynaston Thompson, 1966, and correspondence between Thompson and former holder of the letter Mrs L K Dodderidge,…

Curriculum vitae covering the period 1940-1984, dated 1984. Order of service of thanksgiving, texts of memorial addresses and letters of condolence to his widow, 1986-1987.

Microfilm copies of papers relating to his naval career, 1942-1946, principally comprising 'Africa Navy blues', an illustrated account of his experiences in the RN, 1942-1946, written in 1946, covering his service on HMS BIRMINGHAM in a convoy from Egypt to Malta (Operation VIGOROUS), June 1942, and on anti-submarine trawlers in the Bay of Bengal, 1942, during the Allied invasion of Madagascar, 1942,…

Papers and photographs, 1888-1924, 1972, mostly manuscript letters by Simpson-Baikie to his wife, Marion Evelyn Simpson-Baikie, Lady Simpson-Baikie, 1906-1919, including letters whilst on active service on the Western Front, Gallipoli, Salonika and Palestine, 1914-1918; four manuscript letters from Simpson-Baikie to his mother-in-law, Emilita Miller, 1904-1918, and three manuscript letters from Simpson-Baikie…

Two typescript drafts of 'Failure in Malaya', an account of the Malayan campaign and the fall of Singapore, 1941-1942, written in [1963] and later published as Singapore, too little, too late (Leo Cooper, London, 1970).

Watercolours and sketches of the North West Frontier Province, India, 1909-1913, by an unknown artist. Views of Himalayan landscapes, forts and outposts including the Landi Kotal Camp, Khargali [Kargil] Heights, Michni Kandao Post, Kabul River, Fort Jamrud, Khyber Pass, Suru fort and Matanni; views of towns, streets and bridges including Sumbal, Bihara, Sopor and the Mar Canal in Srinagar; views of…

Self-published edition of Chinese Ink and Brush Sketches of Prisoner of War Camp Life in Hong Kong (Hong Kong, 1948) by Lt Alexander V Skvorzov, Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force [1941-1945], including fourteen ink and brush sketches drawn by the author whilst he was a prisoner of war in Hong Kong, 1943-1945

Two pilot's flying log books, 1933-1937 and 1937-1960. Typescript 'Report on GAF (German Air Force) night fighting from the interrogation of prisoners' by Wing Cdr W K Davison, Officer Commanding 88 Sqn, RAF [1944]; typescript report by James Lansdale Hodson entitled 'Night fighters' [1944]; typescript memorandum by Slade, 'Notes for new crews' [1944]; typescript 'Report on GAF night fighter system.…

Papers of MRAF Sir John Slessor, 1965-1968, including: correspondence regarding the Defence Review on Naval Airpower with Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Elworthy; W M Mills, Ministry of Defence; Edward Shackleton, Ministry of Defence; Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd; Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Cross, Transport Command; and others, 1965-1968, particularly debating the use of aircraft carriers. Correspondence…

Bound copies of illustrated French military magazine Le Miroir nos 75-108, 1915. Transcripts of diary entries and letters describing his service in France and Belgium, 1914-1917, notably the Battle of Le Cateau, Aug 1914, first Battle of the Marne, Sep 1914, first Battle of the Aisne, Sep 1914, and first battle of Ypres, Oct-Nov 1914, with related photographs, newspaper cuttings and correspondence,…

Papers relating to his military career, 1939-1962, principally his service in Burma, 1939-1941, UK, 1941-1943, North Africa, 1943, Italy, 1943-1944, and Korea, 1955-1956, notably including battalion orders for 2 Bn, Sherwood Foresters, 1945; German propaganda leaflets for US and Allied troops, [1944]. 'An ancient Yorkshire family', a history of the Slingsby family, written by Slingsby in 1989.

Photograph album relating to his service with the Royal Naval Air Service, Gallipoli, 1915.

Copy of typescript diary of his service on the Western Front, 1915-1917, notably in the second Battle of Ypres, Apr 1915, the Battle of the Somme, Aug-Sep 1916, and the Battle of Arras, Apr 1917.

Papers relating to the life and military career of Maj David Stuart Gilbert Smith, 1950-2003, including: detailed letters home from Korea, 1952-1953; account, 'The third Battle of "The Hook"', by Maj Rudolf Edmund Austin, c 1953; details of wanted members of Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (EOKA), Cyprus, 1956; instructions on personal security for members of 22 Bn Special Air Service (SAS), [1968].…

Papers dated 1942-1943 relating to the campaign in the Western Desert during World War Two comprising the history and organisation of Field Maintenance Centres, later known as Field Maintenance Areas, and message from Gen Bernard L Montgomery commending troops of 8 Army following the German defeat at El Alamein and capture of Tripoli, Jan 1943.

Pacifist publications and publications relating to conscription, [1914-1919], principally comprising leaflets issued by the Society of Friends Service Committee and the Joint Advisory Council of the Society of Friends Service Committee, the No-Conscription Fellowship and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, [1916]-1917, 1919; supplement to No-Conscription Fellowship newspaper The Tribunal , Jul 19 1917;…

The Soviet Estimate: US Analysis of the Soviet Union, 1947-1991 is a themed microfilm collection which presents an integrated record of US intelligence estimates and studies relating to Soviet strategic projections, military capabilities, science and technology, economics and internal politics, 1946-1991. The estimates and studies were produced either collectively as national intelligence products…

Papers relating to AM Sir Frederick Beresford Sowrey's life and career, 1940-1985, including manuscript meeting notes taken by Sowrey, on night air attacks, 17 Sep 1940; typescript lectures, notes and correspondence relating to course on Allied Defence at Royal College of Defence Studies, 1950; two volumes of typescript speeches by Chief of the Air Staff, ACM Sir Thomas (Geoffrey) Pike, Mar 1961-Jun…

Papers, mainly on World War One compiled by Sir Edward Louis Spears, 1851-[1974]; notably including official World War One correspondence and telegrams, to GHQ, 1 Army, Gen Douglas Haig, Lt Gen Sir Henry Wilson and other officers, on infantry composition, munitions and artillery, lists of officers, colonial troops, morale, observation and intelligence gathering, the lessons of specific campaigns, the…

Letters home by Spicer from France, Sep 1915-Sep 1916 and Apr 1917-Nov 1918, with nine Field Service Postcards, Western Front, 1915-1917. Letters home from Lt Roger Lancelot Spicer, 1 Bn, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Apr 1942-May 1944, killed in action near Anzio, Italy, May 1944; Edition of Letters from my son, 1942-1944, Roger Lancelot Spicer, edited by his father, Capt Lancelot Dykes Spicer…

Papers relating to her life in Singapore, 1941-1942, dated 1941-[1959], principally comprising diaries and personal letters describing her voyage to Malaya, 1941, and life in Singapore, 1941-1942; press cuttings, 1942, 1945-1946, relating to R Adm Ernest John Spooner's appointment as R Adm Malaya, 1942, and to his death on the island of Chibia (Tjibia, Tjebia) following his escape from Singapore, 1942;…

Typescript memoir entitled '37 years in the IMS [Indian Medical Service]', [1938], notably concerning the treatment of tuberculosis in India, 1910-1937, service in Waziristan, North West Frontier, India, 1901-1902, prison service, Jhansi, 1906-1907, and service in World War One with the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, 1916-1918, 304 pps.

Memoir of his service with the Royal Scots Greys in the Middle East, 1942-1943, Italy, 1943-1944, and North West Europe, 1944-1945, written from his own experiences and using regimental war diaries, 1947.

Edition of Squadron Histories, RFC, RNAS, and RAF, 1912-1959 by Peter Lewis (Putnam, London, 1959), a history of the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Naval Air Service, and the Royal Air Force, 1912-1959

Diary, Jul 1944-Jun 1945, covering his service as Consulting Surgeon, 8 Army, Italy.

Papers, 1940-1942, including correspondence, reports and memoranda relating to gunnery techniques and tactics, when Stanford commanded Support Group, 8 Armoured Div, Middle East, 1941-1942. Typescript summary of points arising from Exercise DRAGON, Jan 1941, with typescript precis of lecture 'Tactical handling of German and Italian armoured formations'; typescript memoranda by Maj Gen Charles Wake…

Papers relating to the career of Brig John 'Joe' Starling, 1947-1992, including copy of memoir Soldier On! The Testament of a Tom , (Spellmount Ltd., 1992), detailing 45 years of Starling's military career; pamphlets and brochures advertising the Parachute Regiment and the Red Devils display team including The Parachute Regiment: Challenge! , c.1970; Train to be a Parachute Soldier , [1975]; Parachute…

Papers of Lt Col John Stent, 1943, 1961 and 1991, comprising Tanganyika (Tanzania) driving licence, 1943; discharge letter from War Office, 1961; typescript letter containing vivid reminiscences of his service with the Royal Corps of Signals in Africa, [1990].

Papers, of Maj Frederick Simeon Dauncey Stephenson, 1930-1973, and publications, 1923-1951, mostly relating to his service with 5 Bn and 7 Bn, The South Staffordshire Regt, Territorial Army, 1923-1950, including five letters received by Stephenson, Mar 1930-Sep 1973, notably one manuscript letter from Edmund Charles Blunden, 2 Mar 1930; manuscript and typescript papers relating to the proceedings of…

Papers relating to his role in the development and production of armoured fighting vehicles, dated 1914-1959, 1964, 1994, principally comprising correspondence, memoranda and minutes relating to the Landships Committee, 1915-1916, and the Tank Supply Committee, Tank Supply Department (later Mechanical Warfare Supply Department) and Mechanical Warfare (Overseas and Allies) Department, 1916-1918; progress…

Unpublished typescript memoirs, 1893-1969, including: accounts of life in the British colony in St Petersburg before World War One; work in the British Military Mission at the Russian War Office; events witnessed during the Russian Revolution and conditions for the Russian Army during the Revolution, 1917-1918; evacuation of British personnel from Russia, February 1918; negotiating with Finnish Red…

Comprising a single volume of typescript letters by George Archibald Stevens to his parents from the Western Front, Nov 1914 - Nov 1918; notably including accounts of Second Battle of Ypres, Apr-May 1915, and Battle of the Somme, Jul-Nov 1916; photographs of Stevens, a group photograph of fellow officers, family, billet, bombed countryside and one unidentified aerial photograph; mostly uncaptioned.

Papers and photographs, 1913-1958, including fourteen panoramic photographs produced by Survey Company, Royal Engineers, Salonika Force, labelled to show topographical details, Feb 1917; 'Salonika fire', 18-19 Aug 1917, a series of 24 official photographs of the city, taken by Survey Company, Royal Engineers and Royal Flying Corps; two photographs, one of a uniformed group including Stevenson, [1946],…

Papers relating to his service in the Indian Army, dated [1941], 1942, [1944], 1947, 1962-1964, 1970, 1973, 1984, principally comprising photographs of convoys at Sarwekai on the route between Mangai and Wana, South Wazaristan, India, [1941]; operation instructions for 50 Parachute Bde exercise in Tughlakabad area, India, Mar 1942; 'Some notes on Gurkhas', typescript text by Stevenson-Hamilton, 1943;…

Papers relating to early career including memoirs covering 1903-1935 and Army Record of Service, 1923-1952; campaign in Norway, World War Two, including War Diary, May 1940, operational orders and diary covering preparation of 2 Independent Company for service in Norway; papers including lecture notes and schedules for courses at Special Training Centre, Inverailort Castle, Loch Ailort, 1940-1941;…

Copies of papers relating to Stone's career, 1939-1982, including typescript account entitled 'Duck shooting in the upper Jordan valley, 1938-1939', a shoot organised by Maj Gen Bernard Law Montgomery, General Officer Commanding 8 Div, northern Palestine, 1939; typescript extracts from letters by Stone to his wife whilst serving in Palestine, 1938, and extracts from letters to his wife whilst serving…

Photographs collected by Gunner Peter Strang during tour of India, 1916-1918. Images include portrait photograph of soldier in uniform, possibly Strang; views of the Club, Military Accounts Office and Soldiers Home in Rawalpindi; views of camps, forts and bridges including Camp Subhan Khwar, North West Frontier Province, Peshawar Fort, Gamrood (Jamrud) Fort, Shab Khadar Fort and Attock Bridge; views…

Typescript transcripts of letters home from Street, 1932, May-Sep 1938 and 1941-1944, including accounts of Allied evacuation from Greece, 1941, and Street's escape from an Italian submarine as a POW, 1943. Two narrative diaries relating to service in Palestine, Aug-Oct 1939, and Kenya, Jun-Dec 1940. Volume entitled 'Long ago and far away', typescript memoir by Annette Street, widow of Maj Gen Vivian…

Papers relating to his life and career, 1884-1919, dated [1885]-1887, [1902]-1903, 1914-1919, 1932-1935, principally comprising letters to his family describing his service with No 4 Section Telegraph Bn, Royal Engineers, Sudan, 1885-1887; diary, May-Jun [1885], including details of inspections of telegraph line between Halfa and Aswan; note on maintenance and operation of telegraph lines, Sudan and…

Transcripts of interviews relating to political, diplomatic and military aspects of the Suez Crisis of 1956, with Rt Hon Julian Amery, Baron Amery of Lustleigh; Sir Harold Beeley; Sir Frederick Arthur Bishop; Rt Hon Sir Frank Cooper; Sir Patrick Henry Dean; Sir (Arthur) Douglas Dodds-Parker; Sir William Goodenough Hayter; Rt Hon Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel; Brig Kenneth…

Audio recording of the Suez Seminar, held at King's College London, 5 Nov 1996, including three personal accounts of aspects of the Suez campaign, by Maj Gen Denis Arthur Beckett, 2nd in Command, 3 Bn, Parachute Regt in airborne landings, 5 Nov 1956, Maj Gen Nicholas Francis Vaux, 2nd Lt, 45 Commando Royal Marines, 3 Commando Bde, in helicopter-borne amphibious assault, 6 Nov 1956, and Dr Henry Cowper,…

Typescript text on 'The birth of the Intelligence Corps', BEF, 1939-1940, written in [1962-1970].

Eleven volumes of The Sunday Times Diary of the War (Withy Grove Press, London and Manchester, [1939-1945]), each volume includes six months of newspaper extracts from Sunday Times, 1939-1945, relating to political, diplomatic, and operational events during World War Two

Instructions for the Guidance of the Captains and Commanding Officers of Her Majesty's Ships of War employed in The Suppression of the Slave Trade (2 volumes, HMSO, 1892). Volume One includes general instructions for visiting, searching and detaining vessels, sending to port of adjudication, sheltering fugitive slaves, filling in forms and certificates, dealing with British vessels, vessels of no…

Photographs relating to bomb-aiming, 1943-1944, taken by Sutton during raids on North West Europe.

Papers and correspondence relating to Swinton's libel action brought against Herbert George (H G) Wells on the origin of the tank, 1941, including letters to Swinton from R Adm Sir Murray Fraser Sueter, H G Wells, B A Levinson and Sir Richard (Roy) Maconachie, 1940-1941. Typescript letter from Col Sir Maurice Paschal Alers Hankey, Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, dated 5 May 1932, on…

Typescript and manuscript versions of memoir covering his service with 2 Seaforth Highlanders in North Africa, 1942-1943, including the second Battle of El Alamein, 23 Oct-4 Nov 1942, and Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944, notably action around Francofonte, Sicily, Jul 1943, written in [1944]. Copy of 'The prisoners of the Vatican: the war-time life of the Diplomatic Corps', anonymous article from Catholic…

Two volumes entitled A battle to be remembered. Oral history extracts of war-time Singapore, edited by Tan Beng Luan, Project Co-ordinator, Oral History Department (Oral History Department, Singapore, 1988), and Syonan: Singapore under the Japanese. A catalogue of oral history interviews (Oral History Department, Singapore, 1986). Two audio cassette tapes entitled The fall of Singapore 1942-45, and…