Diaries, 1901-1968

References on this page: FOULKES: 2/1-69

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1901

Diary, Sierra Leone. Illness during Jan and Feb, and photographs taken. Details on the trial of three men, Johnson, Crighton and King [surnames only given] charged in Dec with conspiracy, at the police court. Notes on monetary matters. 1 vol

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1902

Diary, including the continuing trial, transferred to the Supreme Court in Jan. Invalided home, arriving 17 Apr. Sailed 14 May for West Indies, arriving in Barbados on 24. To England in Jul, becoming engaged to Dorothea Oakey of Eastbourne in Aug. Return to Northern Nigeria in Oct on the Anglo-French Boundary Commission. 1 vol

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1903

Diary, Boundary Commission, describing military activities and occultations, meetings with French members of the Commission in Feb. Including entries relating to capture of Aliyu, the Emir of Kano. 1 vol

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1904

Diary, including physical fitness training with Henry Sandow's School of Physical Culture, Apr to May, preparations for his wedding on 14 Sep and visit to Ireland in Aug. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/5

1905

Diary, including command of Ordnance Survey project in Scotland. 1 vol

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1906

Diary kept in Scotland, with notes on photographs including those taken in Northern Nigeria. 1 vol

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1907

Diary kept in Scotland. Training with the Royal Engineers at the Curragh during August, including musketry, fieldworks and bridging. 1 vol

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1908

Diary kept in Scotland, including hockey for Scotland against Wales, Ireland and England, and in the Olympic Games; birth of son Thomas, 29 May and exams for promotion. 1 vol

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1909

Diary including time in Scotland; temporary posting to Royal Engineers depot, Chatham; application for transfer to and journey to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), sailing 1 Oct and reaching Colombo 23 Oct. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/10

1910

Diary kept in Sri Lanka, including colour photographs (with list of exposures). Training with Royal Engineers, including musketry, fieldworks. Death of daughter Margaret following an accident, on 6 Oct. 1 vol

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1911

Diary kept in Colombo, Sri Lanka, including musketry course in Feb. Lectures at the Government Factory to 'volunteers', on the work of the Royal Engineers; examinations, presumably for promotion to Major (passed in Nov). Birth of son Charles 3 Dec and arrival in Madura, India in Dec for shooting trip. 1 vol

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1912

Diary kept in India and Sri Lanka, including Volunteer lectures, bridging, shooting, field firing, musketry and photography. Arrival in England, Dec and to Lausanne, on death of mother Jessie aged 70, on 30 Dec. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/13

1913

Diary, including posting to Chatham, Royal Engineers Depot, in Jan. Musketry duties, manoeuvres in Daventry during Sep, and colour photography. With letter dated 22 Apr from the Maharajah of Mysore, thanking Foulkes for photographs sent. 1 vol, 2 pp

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1914

Diary, including time in Chatham and Gillingham, first class certificate examination Board in Feb (promoted to Major in Feb), confidential lecture on naval firing, Mar; tactical fitness exams in Apr, travels in Sussex during May. Emergency mobilisation on 29 Jul, joining 2 Div on the Western Front, 7 Nov. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/15

1915

Diary kept by Dorothea Foulkes, few entries only. Award of Legion of Honour and DSO in Feb. Foulkes home on leave in Feb, Jun, Jul; damage caused by Zeppelin air raids and birth of son George in Jun. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/16

1914 Oct 4-1916 Dec 31

Diary, initially in 2 Div, 11 Company on Western Front, near Zillebeke and Ypres in Belgium, Nov 1914; battle at Givenchy, 25 Jan and counterattack, 1 Feb 1915; description and sketches of attack on Germans, 6 and 14 Feb at La Bassee road, near Bethune; battle at Richebourge St Vaast near Neuve Chapelle, May; assaults at Rue du Bois and Ferme du Biez during May, with list of casualties within 11 Field Company, Royal Engineers. Appointed gas adviser, Apr. Final conference before first British use of gas, 18 Sep at Helfaut, with plan of proposed attack on 25 Sep at Loos. Description of gas attack, 25 and 27 Sep; assessment of the effect of the attacks; third gas attack, 13 Oct at Hulluch. Experiments with flame thrower and phosphorus smoke bomb, 15 Nov. Minor gas attacks on 20 to 22 Dec, near the La Bassee canal; demonstration of the Stokes Mortar and Livens Projector, 9 Feb at Wembley; visit to phosgene factory in Bois du Boulogne, 18 Feb and discussion in London with Du Cane on use of prussic acid and phosgene, 28 Feb; experiments, including those with Stokes Mortar in London, Apr and smoke demonstrations in May. Lectures in Aug, probably in Paris, on use and properties of gas. Attack at Hulluch using gas, 5 Oct; experiments in London, Nov on Stokes shells. Lists of photographs taken. 1 vol

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1915 Jan-Feb

Manuscript copy of secret minute dated 5 Jan 1915, headed 1 Army No.A. S.35, by the French Commander-in-Chief, Joffre at General HQ relating to the improvement of defensive arrangements. With covering note dated 6 Feb, addressed to 2 Division from Brig Gen R Whigham of 1 Corps. 10pp

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1915 Mar 9

Printed leaflet entitled, 'Special Order to the 1st Army', from Douglas Haig, Commander, relating to the planned attacks on 10 Mar. 1p

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1915 Mar 28

Letter to Foulkes from Curthouse, listing officers in his company (not named). 1p

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1915 cMay

List compiled by Foulkes of the men in 11 Company, Royal Engineers noting casualties. 1p

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1915 Dec

Printed leaflet, 'Christmas Message from His Majesty the King', with reply from Sir Douglas Haig dated Christmas Day, 1915. 1p

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1916 Sep 13

Newspaper cutting from Truth, giving details of the recent gazetting of Foulkes. 1p

FOULKES: 2/17

1917 Jan 1-1918 Oct 12

Diary, including notes for lectures on and trials with gas and projectiles, in England and France to Companies and senior staff (including Americans and Russians), throughout the year; Battle of Arras, 9 Apr and tour of battleground, 14 Apr; interviews with candidates for commissions, 1917-1918; conference in London on gas filling of shells, 31 May; Battle of Messines involving thermit (molten metal) bombardment, Jun; experiments with use of smoke screens during Jun, including visit to see and testing of German smoke generator at the Central Laboratory, St Omer on 7 Jun; frequent meetings with Winston Churchill; trials with flame projectors and cylinders filled with chloropicrin gas, carbon dioxide and compressed air, and bomb raid at St Omer during Sep; renewed campaigns during Mar and Apr, including near La Bassee Canal, 9 Apr. With names and descriptions of the nurses at Duchess of Westminster's Hospital. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/18

1918 Oct 13-1920 May 17

Diary, including tour of the North West Frontier Province, India and Sri Lanka. Visit to Italy and meetings with Italian directors of gas warfare, 5 Nov and gas factories, 8 Nov. Conference at War Office on 27 Feb on the future of gas warfare; meeting in London of the Royal Engineers Organisation Committee, 29 Apr. To India, Jun; travels in North West Frontier Province, Jul and Aug; dinner with Viceroy, 7 Oct. Joined Tochi column expedition to Datta Khel, Nov; submission of Wazir Malik, 17 Nov; interview with Commander-in-Chief, 26 Dec concerning order of aeroplanes, bombs and gas shells; lectures on gas warfare, 1920. Travels and hunting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Mar and return to England in May. With telegram from the Secretary of the War Office, 31 May 1919 with sailing orders to India. 1 vol, 1p

FOULKES: 2/19

1920

Diary, entries begin 16 Jun, on return to England. Travels in Sussex. Papers relating to the murder of Foulkes' brother Lt Col Thomas Howard Foulkes, FRCS and his wife Bertha by Pathan tribesmen in Kohat District, North West Frontier Province on 15 Nov, including letters and telegrams from the Secretary of the Military Department, India Office informing of the incident, dated 16 and 19 Nov; newspaper cuttings including The Daily Mail, 30 Dec; and letters of condolence from friends.

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1921

Diary, with cutting from The Daily Mirror, 29 Jan 1920, on death of Lt Cdr Herbert Richardson Stokes, RN; arrival in Fermoy, 3 Mar; propaganda committee begun 29 Mar; meeting with Commander-in-Chief in Dublin in May; transferred to Dublin on 10 May; visited American Consul, 18 May and completed first propaganda leaflet, 19 May. Meetings with Sir Alexander Sprot, Unionist sympathiser during Jun; truce begun, 11 Jul; conference on propaganda, 3 Aug; suggestions on reorganisation of propaganda machinery during Aug. Peace terms published, 7 Dec; return to England, 22 Dec. 1 vol, 1p

FOULKES: 2/21

1922

Diary kept in Ireland and Newcastle; lecture to Queen's Regiment in Fermoy, 17 Feb; transferred to Newcastle as Commander, Royal Engineers, Northumbrian District, 5 Apr; inspection of barracks and coast defences in Tyne area, May; to London to give evidence concerning the claims of Capt W H Livens (inventor of the projector) at the Royal Commission on War Inventions, 29 May; Royal Engineers reception at Grafton Gallerias, London on 7 Jun with list of members present. Obituary of Brig Gen F G Lucas from The Times, dated 12 Oct 1922. 1 vol

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1923

Diary kept as Commander, Royal Engineers, Northumbrian District, including conference in Aug, fieldworks in Sep and tour of Wales during Oct. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/23

1924

Diary kept in Newcastle; periodic inspections of barracks by Gen Hartington; Stainton Moor to inspect technical training of 55 Company, 14 Mar; visit of Commander-in-Chief to camp, 11 Jul; London, to give evidence in case of rights of way in Catterick and conference at War Office, 15 Jul, losing case, 22 Jul. Transferred to Aldershot, 27 Sep as Deputy Chief Engineer, Southern Command based in Salisbury, as from 1 Oct. 1 vol

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1925

Diary, including conference with Commander-in-Chief in Bath, 31 Mar-3 Apr; visit to France, Apr; interview with Commander-in-Chief, 27 Apr concerning the veto of Foulkes' selection as Chief Engineer of Western Command; army manoeuvres in Sep; involved in draft of Official History of the War, concerning the Battle of Loos, 21 Dec. 1 vol

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1926

Diary, including appointment as Chief Engineer, Aldershot Command in Aug, and conference of chief engineers at the War Office, Oct. 1 vol

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1927

Diary, kept while Chief Engineer, Aldershot including winter exercises and General Officer Commanding Conference, Jan; president of General Court Martial in Sep. 1 vol

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1928

Diary, including Staff Conference at Camberley, Jan; appointed ADC, May; accompanied King and Queen to see 3 Medium Brigade, Salisbury in May; training in Northumbria and East Anglia. 1 vol

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1929

Diary, including Royal Engineers conferences and military exercises and manoevres; on parade as ADC in Trooping the Colour, Jun. 1 vol

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1930

Diary, including inspections of all military buildings in the command, Jan-Mar; Trooping the Colour as ADC, Jun. Retirement from the Army in Aug. With inserts, largely comprising personal letters. 1 vol, 42pp

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1931

Diary, including tour of Spain and France, visiting battlefields of the Western Front, Jan-Apr. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/31

1932

Diary, including Special Brigade dinner, 13 Feb. Started writing of "Gas!" The Story of the Special Brigade (published in 1934 by W Blackwood and Sons, Edinburghj and London) in Nov. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/32

1933

Diary, including writing of "Gas!", draft finished in Aug. 1 vol

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1934

Diary, including final additions and corrections to "Gas!", published in Oct. Detailed notes on tour of central Europe, Sep-Oct. 1 vol

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1935

Diary, largely domestic and social activities. 1 vol

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1936

Diary, including Special Brigade dinners in Mar and Oct and work as air raid precautions schemes adviser to firms and businesses. 1 vol

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1937

Diary, including work as air raid precautions adviser on buildings used by industries and commerce. Travels in Norway, Aug. 1 vol

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1938

Diary, including work as air raid precautions adviser, giving names of firms advised; began writing book, Commonsense and ARP (published by C A Pearson, London, in 1939) in Oct. 1 vol

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1939

Diary, including air raid precaution schemes; comments on outbreak of war; Chemical Weapons Committee meeting at Porton in Oct. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/39

1940

Diary, including commentary on local bombing and air raid activity and work as air raid precautions adviser; joined Local Defence Volunteers (later the Home Guard) in May. 1 vol

FOULKES: 2/40

1941

Diary, including duty in the Local Defence Volunteers. 1 vol

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1942

Diary, including retirement from Home Guard and writing of reminiscences. 1 vol

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1943

Diary, including work on reminiscences and notes on local air raid alarms. 1 vol

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1944

Diary, including appointment as representative Colonel Commandant, Royal Engineers for 1944, involving tour of Royal Engineers establishments; attempts to get reminiscences published; local air raid alarms. 1 vol

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1945

Diary, including comments on local and international situation. 1 vol

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1946

Diary, including attendence at farewell party for Sir Ronald Charles, Commander, Royal Engineers on 14 Jun. 1 vol

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1947

Diary, including work on photograph albums and attendance at Royal Engineers reception in London, Jun. 1 vol

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1948

Diary, including work on photograph albums, and appointment in Dec as President of local branch of British Legion. 1 vol

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1949

Diary, including attendence at Royal Engineers dinner. 1 vol

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1950

Diary, including appointment as Chairman of the local British Legion branch and holiday in Wales. 1 vol

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1951

Diary, including tour of West Country. Sale of house in Walton on Thames, and move to the Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne. 1 vol

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1952

Diary, including move to Bournemouth, and work on memoir recording early life. 1 vol

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1953

Diary, including return to Eastbourne. 1 vol

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1954

Diary, including continued work on the memoir. 1 vol, 12pp

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1955

Diary, including time in Bournemouth and Eastbourne. 1 vol

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1956

Diary, including visits from friends and motoring in Sussex. 1 vol

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1957

Diary, including continued revision of book recording early life. 1 vol

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1958

Diary, including attempts to get book published. Death of brother Lt Col Henry Drury Foulkes on 17 Aug and settlement of his affairs. 1 vol

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1959

Diary, including work on articles for the Royal Engineers Journal and West African Review. 1 vol

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1960

Diary, including work on photograph albums and attendance at the Royal Engineers Annual Dinner in London. 1 vol

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1961

Diary, time spent largely in Eastbourne. 1 vol

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1962

Diary, including takeover of John Oakey and Son Ltd, manufacturers of abrasives. [Foulkes was on the Board of Directors of his wife's family firm]. 1 vol

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1963

Diary, including Royal Engineers reception at Chatham on 4 Jul. 1 vol

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1964

Diary, including Royal Engineers reception at Chatham in Apr and presentation of Gold Medal of the Institution of Royal Engineers in London, 24 Jun. 1 vol

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1965

Diary, including Special Brigade Reunion Dinner, 25 Sep on the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Loos. 1 vol

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1966

Diary, including move to nursing home in Crowborough. 1 vol

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1967

Diary, including move back to Eastbourne. Death of wife in Mar. Move to Fleet to stay with son Tom. 1 vol

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1968

Diary, including move to nursing home in Fleet, Hampshire. Died 6 May 1969. 1 vol

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1901-1912, 1920-1926, 1931-1940

Extracts from the diaries, including itineraries and notes on travel. 44pp

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1911-1912, 1919-1920

Diary extracts relating to hunting trips in India, including itinerary, animals killed and photographs taken. 7pp