Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1893-1964] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
5ft; 153cm
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Entering the service in 1893, Dewar specialized in gunnery. He was a lieutenant in 1900 and became a commander in 1911. In 1912 he won the Royal United Service Institution Gold Medal for his essay on the influence of overseas commerce on the operations of war and its past and present effects. He was Assistant Director of the Plans Division of the Admiralty in 1917, was promoted to captain in 1918 and commanded cruisers on the North America and West Indies Station, 1922 to 1924. Between 1925 and 1927 he was Deputy Director, Naval Intelligence Division. His command of the ROYAL OAK in the Mediterranean in 1928 ended in the notorious 'incident'. In 1929 he became a rear-admiral, was retired the following day and advanced to vice-admiral in 1934. During the Second World War, however, he served again at the Admiralty. He stood as Labour candidate for Portsmouth in 1931. Dewar was one of the founder members of The Naval Review and a strong advocate of naval reform and of improved staff training. He wrote an autobiography, 'The Navy from within' (London, 1939).
Repository
Archival history
GB 0064 DEW [1893-1964] Collection 5ft; 153cm Dewar , Kenneth Gilbert Balmain , 1879-1964 , Vice-Admiral
Entering the service in 1893, Dewar specialized in gunnery. He was a lieutenant in 1900 and became a commander in 1911. In 1912 he won the Royal United Service Institution Gold Medal for his essay on the influence of overseas commerce on the operations of war and its past and present effects. He was Assistant Director of the Plans Division of the Admiralty in 1917, was promoted to captain in 1918 and commanded cruisers on the North America and West Indies Station, 1922 to 1924. Between 1925 and 1927 he was Deputy Director, Naval Intelligence Division. His command of the ROYAL OAK in the Mediterranean in 1928 ended in the notorious 'incident'. In 1929 he became a rear-admiral, was retired the following day and advanced to vice-admiral in 1934. During the Second World War, however, he served again at the Admiralty. He stood as Labour candidate for Portsmouth in 1931. Dewar was one of the founder members of The Naval Review and a strong advocate of naval reform and of improved staff training. He wrote an autobiography, 'The Navy from within' (London, 1939).
The papers were presented in 1966 by Dewar's widow, Mrs Gertrude Dewar.
Papers of Kenneth Dewar, consisting mainly of letters received, including some from Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond (q.v.) and drafts and memoranda relating to Dewar's Admiralty service, there being little official or other correspondence relating to his career afloat. Private and family letters, and papers concerning the court-martial arising out of the Royal Oak affair, were presented subject to certain conditions and access to them remains restricted. There are also diaries kept for both the First and Second World Wars and official service documents.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
English
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
Edited by Sarah Drewery, Jun 2011.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
2010-08-26 Dewar , Kenneth Gilbert Balmain , 1879-1964 , Vice-Admiral Administration of justice World War Two (1939-1945) Wars (events) World wars (events) World War One (1914-1918) Richmond , Sir , Herbert William , 1871-1946 , Knight , Admiral Admiralty HMS Royal Oak
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers were presented in 1966 by Dewar's widow, Mrs Gertrude Dewar.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Kenneth Dewar, consisting mainly of letters received, including some from Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond (q.v.) and drafts and memoranda relating to Dewar's Admiralty service, there being little official or other correspondence relating to his career afloat. Private and family letters, and papers concerning the court-martial arising out of the Royal Oak affair, were presented subject to certain conditions and access to them remains restricted. There are also diaries kept for both the First and Second World Wars and official service documents.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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Subject access points
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Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English