Collection GB 0064 DAU - HMS Dauntless

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 DAU

Title

HMS Dauntless

Date(s)

  • [1914-1975] (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

15ft: 457cm

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

HMS DAUNTLESS, a naval shore establishment at Burghfield in Berkshire, has been used by the Women's Royal Naval Service since 1946 as a training and drafting centre.

Archival history

GB 0064 DAU [1914-1975] Collection 15ft: 457cm HMS Dauntless

HMS DAUNTLESS, a naval shore establishment at Burghfield in Berkshire, has been used by the Women's Royal Naval Service since 1946 as a training and drafting centre.

The collection was presented in 1976.

Papers of HMS Dauntless consisting of volumes and loose papers, 1914 to 1921 and 1939 to 1975. One quarter of the collection consists of the papers of Dame Katharine Furse (1875-1952), the first Director WRNS. Many of these relate to her period as Commandant-in-Chief, VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment); during this time, 1914 to 1917, the main subject covered by the papers was the need to co-ordinate women's war work. Correspondents, mostly politicians and administrators, include B Seebohm Rowntree (1871-1945), Lord Derby (1865-1948), W C Bridgeman (1864-1935), Dame Katherine's brother-in-law, Lieutenant-General Sir William Furse (1865-1953), Arthur B Cane (1864-1939), Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940), Mrs May Tennant (1869-1946) and the future Deputy Director W.R.N.S., Miss Edith Crowdy (d 1947). The rest of Dame Katharine's papers relate to the establishment of the WRNS in 1917, its development during the remainder of the war and the demobilization. With regard to the setting up of the Service, her correspondents include Lord Northcliffe (1865-1922), Admiral Sir Herbert Heath (1887-1956) and Sir Eric Geddes (1875-1937), First Lord of the Admiralty. The official papers contain memoranda and reports on the administration of the new Service. They cover all aspects of the organization from recruitment and training to accommodation and welfare. Among those papers dealing with demobilization are reports and correspondence, 1919 to 1921, about the possibility of establishing the Women's Royal Naval Reserve. The remainder of the collection contains photographs, printed matter, pamphlets and offprints. Most of this material dates from after the Second World War, although there are a number of earlier miscellaneous papers, such as a file relating to Dame Vera Laughton Mathews (d 1959); statistics and casualties, 1940 to 1947; papers concerning the closure of the Western Approaches Command, 1945; WRNS copies of Admiralty Historical Section files, 1946, and files and case books for the WRNS Benevolent Trust, 1949 to 1961. There are many photographs, loose and in albums. A few date from the First World War, but most of them, taken mainly for recruiting purposes, date between the 1940s and 1970s. There are also press cuttings, 1941 to 1946.

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.

2011-03-30 Mathews , Dame , Vera Laughton , 1888-1959 , suffragist and journalist Geddes , Sir , Eric Campbell , 1875-1937 , Knight , industrialist and statesman Heath , Sir , Herbert Leopold , 1861-1954 , Knight , Admiral Crowdy , Edith Frances , d 1947 , Deputy Director WRNS Harmsworth , Alfred Charles William , 1865-1922 , 1st Viscount Northcliffe , newspaper proprietor Furse , Dame , Katharine , 1875-1952 , nee Symonds , nurse and nursing administrator Rowntree , Benjamin Seebohm , 1871-1954 , sociologist and manufacturer Stanley , Edward George Villiers , 1865-1948 , 17th Earl of Derby Bridgeman , William Clive , 1864-1935 , 1st Viscount Bridgeman , statesman Furse , Sir , William , 1865-1953 , Knight , Lieutenant General Chamberlain , Sir , Neville Bowles , 1820-1902 , Knight , Field Marshal Tennant , Margaret Mary Edith May , 1869-1946 , nee Abraham , social work pioneer Women's employment Wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) World wars (events) World War One (1914-1918) Admiralty Women's Royal Naval Service , Great Britain Voluntary Aid Detachment

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The collection was presented in 1976.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of HMS Dauntless consisting of volumes and loose papers, 1914 to 1921 and 1939 to 1975. One quarter of the collection consists of the papers of Dame Katharine Furse (1875-1952), the first Director WRNS. Many of these relate to her period as Commandant-in-Chief, VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment); during this time, 1914 to 1917, the main subject covered by the papers was the need to co-ordinate women's war work. Correspondents, mostly politicians and administrators, include B Seebohm Rowntree (1871-1945), Lord Derby (1865-1948), W C Bridgeman (1864-1935), Dame Katherine's brother-in-law, Lieutenant-General Sir William Furse (1865-1953), Arthur B Cane (1864-1939), Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940), Mrs May Tennant (1869-1946) and the future Deputy Director W.R.N.S., Miss Edith Crowdy (d 1947). The rest of Dame Katharine's papers relate to the establishment of the WRNS in 1917, its development during the remainder of the war and the demobilization. With regard to the setting up of the Service, her correspondents include Lord Northcliffe (1865-1922), Admiral Sir Herbert Heath (1887-1956) and Sir Eric Geddes (1875-1937), First Lord of the Admiralty. The official papers contain memoranda and reports on the administration of the new Service. They cover all aspects of the organization from recruitment and training to accommodation and welfare. Among those papers dealing with demobilization are reports and correspondence, 1919 to 1921, about the possibility of establishing the Women's Royal Naval Reserve. The remainder of the collection contains photographs, printed matter, pamphlets and offprints. Most of this material dates from after the Second World War, although there are a number of earlier miscellaneous papers, such as a file relating to Dame Vera Laughton Mathews (d 1959); statistics and casualties, 1940 to 1947; papers concerning the closure of the Western Approaches Command, 1945; WRNS copies of Admiralty Historical Section files, 1946, and files and case books for the WRNS Benevolent Trust, 1949 to 1961. There are many photographs, loose and in albums. A few date from the First World War, but most of them, taken mainly for recruiting purposes, date between the 1940s and 1970s. There are also press cuttings, 1941 to 1946.

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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

National Maritime Museum

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area