Copies of three letters to his family describing action at Gallipoli, Aug-Sep 1915.
Bray , Eustace Arthur , 1884-1973 , Lieutenant Colonel'MIL F 83300 Military specification of piloted V/STOL aircraft' issued by US Government Printing Office, 1970.
Bramwell , Anthony Robert Southey , 1927-1981 , Professor of Aeuronautical EngineeringCorrespondence of Lt Col George Charles Bradbury on the history of the 10th Baluch Regt, Indian Army, 1983-1991. Subjects include regimental history, uniform and regalia, battle honours, gallantry awards, the origin of the regimental warcry "Kai Kai", and the Officers' Dining Club.
Bradbury , George Charles , 1906-1995 , Lieutenant ColonelAutobiography of Capt Humphrey Gilbert Boys-Smith From the Cradle to Within Sight of the Grave (1983). Including childhood and education; service in Merchant Navy, 1922-1934; account of Invergordon Mutiny, 1931; appointment to command of anti submarine corvette, HMS ANEMONE, 1940; evacuation from Dunkirk, making 6 crossings in requisitioned boats; service in HMS ANEMONE, Atlantic convoys, Jun 1940- Feb1942, including HMS ANEMONE'S sinking of Italian submarine NANI, 1941; comment on shortcomings of Asdic, 1940-1941; patrol against possible approach of the German battleship TIRPITZ, Arctic Circle, 1941; promotion to Cdr, Dec 1941; appointment to command of frigate HMS SPEY, Atlantic convoys, Mar 1942; service in Support Groups, Atlantic, autumn 1942- summer 1943 (hunting U boats, not protecting convoys); invasion of North Africa, late 1942; Capt, 1943-1945, in Officer Appointments, Second Sea Lord's Office, Admiralty; Marine Superintendent, Colonial Office service, South Seas islands, 1946-1950; Senior Officers' War Course, RN College Greenwich, 1950-1951; Staff Recruiting Officer, Courtaulds Ltd, 1951-1968; retirement, 1968-1982 Also file of copies of correspondence and press cuttings on honours and awards and report by Boys-Smith on marine policy in the Western Pacific, Sep 1946
Smith , Humprey Gilbert Boys- , 1904-1999 , Captain RNRPapers of Lt Col Robert Verelst Boyle, 1897-1943, including: Battalion standing orders of the 1st Battalion The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) (Gale & Polden, Aldershot, 1930); notes and correspondence regarding the Combined Operations Training Centre, Comox, Vancouver Island, Canada, 1942-1943; papers relating to lectures given while GSO1, HQ Combined Chiefs of Staff, USA, including: text of lecture on commandos, Economic Society, Detroit, 4 May 1942; article on commandos in Military Review, Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Jul 1942; text of lecture considering how to attack a strongly defended coast, Junior Staff College, RMC Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Aug 1942; text of lecture on commandos given to the Annual Convention of American Newspaper Editors, New York, 1942; text of lecture on ship-to-shore operations, given at the US Army Amphibious Training Centre, 1942; text of lecture on preparations for the resumption of the land offensive, given to US Army Armoured Training Centre, 1942.
Formal photographs of Combined Chiefs of Staff events at Fort Benning and Fort Jackson, USA, including photographs of FM Sir John Dill, General George Marshall, Chief of Staff, US Army, Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Chief of Combined Operations, Lt Gen Mark Clark and Lt Col Dennis Price, meeting troops, watching parades, demonstrations and exercises, and inspecting weaponry. Also photograph labelled 'My official yacht whilst I started and commanded the Canadian Combined Operations Training Centre at Comox, Vancouver Island, 1942-43'.Photograph album, invitation and programme of events for the Presentation of New Colours to the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), in Famagusta, Cyprus, 7 Oct 1949.
Also items belonging to Boyle's father in law Lt Col Adrian Grant Duff: The Pathan Revolt in North-West India by H Woosnam-Mills (Civil and Military Gazette Press, Lahore, India, 1897) and Razmak station standing orders (Commercial Steam Press, Dera Ismail Khan, India, 1931).
File of papers by Lt Col Charles Leofric Boyle on tensions between Hindu and Muslim troops on HM Troopship EMPIRE PRIDE, Oct 1947. Including report by Maj O A Mitchell, Officer Commanding 105 GPT Company, 10 Oct 1947, for Boyle as Officer Commanding Troops, HM Troopship EMPIRE PRIDE, on the morale of the Indian troops, both Muslim and Hindu (1 page); Seven telegrams between HM Troopship EMPIRE PRIDE and Bombay, 11-16 October 1947, on the worsening relations between the Muslim and Hindu troops on board, and obtaining permission to disembark Muslim troops at Karachi, instead of Bombay, as planned (7 items); report upon the diversion of HM Troopship EMPIRE PRIDE to Karachi, owing to the communal unrest on board by Boyle as Officer Commanding Troops, 19 Oct 1947; file also includes a photograph of Boyle and Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, [1940-45], standing on railway gun 'HMG Boche-Buster', near Canterbury, Kent
Boyle , Charles Leofric , 1899-1999 , Lieutenant ColonelPhotographs of landscape, towns and local Pathans, North West Frontier, India [1930-1936]; photographs of civilian engineering training, UK, 1934-1936; diary, 1939-1940, narrative of service as Engineer Staff Officer and Field Engineer, Rawalpindi and Staff Officer Royal Engineers 3, Delhi; diary, 1957-1959, narrative of service as Chief Engineer, Far East Land Forces. Photographs of official duties as Chief Engineer, Northern Army Group NATO and British Army of the Rhine, 1959-1962.
Boyd , Ian Herbert Fitzgerald , 1907-1978 , Major GeneralPhotocopy of a report on role of engineers of Far East Land Forces in Borneo, 1963, following the Brunei rebellion, 1962; and photocopy of a directive relating to recruitment and training within the Engineering Corps, 1968.
Bowring , John Humphrey Stephen , 1913 - 1998 , Major GeneralReport to the Director General of Medical Services, Surgeon Gen Sir Arthur Sloggett, on the introduction of steel helmets, 1916.
Bowlby , Sir , Anthony Alfred , 1855-1929 , 1st Baronet , Surgeon GeneralPapers of Ivor Bowen, 1926-1973, relating to his career in aeronautics, comprising manuscript volume entitled 'Bomb and Bombsight figures'; photographs, some captioned, relating to a long haul flight to Singapore, 1946, including exterior and interior details of plane and an aerial view of Singapore; Air Ministry Laboratory report, 'Bomb ballistics experiments, Orfordness, 1926', written by L C Bygrave and Ivor Bowen, including aerial photographs, photographs of recording equipment, bomb at moment of release, cine film stills of explosion, detailed technical drawings of recording equipment and periscopic bomb sight, and graphs of time lags, trail angles and fall times of bombs; publications relating to aeronautics including Air Ministry manuals, chiefly on air navigation, 1926-1941; typescript draft handbook, 'Aircraft compass installations', by C S Hudson, for publication by HMSO, [1949]; patents issued to General Precision Laboratory, USA, 1956-1959; lecture text, 'The development of visual landing for flight simulators' by G M Hellings, Chief Scientist, General Precision Systems Ltd, Oct 1961; technical product descriptions including for Miniature Inertial Navigation System (MINS), produced by Kearfott Division, USA and Kearfott C702519001 floated rate-integrating gyro, Aug 1962; performance data for floated rate-integrating gyro King II, produced by Kearfott Division, USA, Dec 1962; offprint articles on aeronautics, 1962; memoranda and minutes of meetings of the Air League, 1963-1973; 'Unservile State Papers, no 15: A Defence for Britain' by Anthony Paice, Liberal Publication Dept, [1966]; letter from I J Bettison, General Equipments Ltd, Adelaide, Australia, 3 Jun 1963, on selling flight simulation training systems; and 'extracts from the technical supplement to the annual report of the Aeronautical Research Council', 1 Apr 1965.
Bowen , Ivor , 1902-1984 , aeronautical engineer'Fusilier, memoir of life and service, 1930-1960', typescript memoir by Lieutenant Colonel Neville Bosanquet, including detailed description of living and working in the army in the interwar period, stationed in the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Hong Kong, with analysis of the attitudes of soldiers in peace time; detailed descriptions of travelling in Communist Russia, 1935; living in Riga, Latvia, to learn Russian, 1938; travelling through Europe, Turkey and Egypt, 1938; life and work in England at the beginning of World War Two; training at Staff College, Quetta, India, 1942-1943; account of service under General Sir Hugh Charles Stockwell in the Arakan region, Burma, 1943-1945; including comparison of British and Japanese tactics, description of attack on Brigade headquarters, conditions experienced by soldiers and psychological effects of jungle warfare; account of service as General Staff Officer Grade Two under General Sir Francis Wogan "Frankie" Festing, 36 Division, including description of securing Shan region for Allies and liaising with American forces; account of service as instructor, British Military Mission in Greece, 1948, working with Greek National Army in Florina, Grammos, Vitsi and Salonika, including descriptions of the tactics of both the Greek National Army and the Democratic Army of Greece, and the difficulty of guerrilla warfare.
Bosanquet , Neville Richard Gustavus , 1911-2003 , Lieutenant ColonelPapers relating to Soldier true, the life and times of FM Sir William Robertson, 1860-1933 (Frederick Muller, London, 1963), dated [1960-1963], principally comprising Bonham Carter's corrected proof of the book, together with his typescript and notes. Papers relating to BBC television series The Great War, broadcast in [1964], dated [1963-1964], principally comprising programme summaries, Bonham Carter's notes, his drafts of the script and a joint script with Antony Jay.
Carter , Victor , Bonham- , 1913-2007 , authorCopy of account of the Survey Service of the Eastern and 14 Army in India and Burma during the period 1942-1945, written in 1945.
Bomford , Guy , 1899-1996 , ColonelCopies of papers, 1909-1974, comprising typescript copy of the 'Interim Report of the Advisory Committee for Aeronautics', 1909; night order book, HMS THESEUS, Korea, 1950-1951; newspaper cuttings on HMS THESEUS' departure from UK to Korea and subsequent return, 1950-1951; typescript transcript of Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies lecture by Bolt, Oct 1951, entitled 'HMS THESEUS in the Korean War and some special problems of naval aviation in that theatre' (subsequently published in the Journal of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies; standard circular letters to all retired admirals, containing Royal Navy news and information, from Chief of Naval Staff and First Sea Lord Adm Sir Varyl (Cargill) Begg, 1966-1968, Adm Sir Peter (John) Hill-Norton, 1971, and Adm Sir Michael (Patrick) Pollock, 1972-1974; article by Bolt on minesweeping in 1940-1941 by Vickers DWI (Directional Wireless Installation) Wellington aircraft entitled 'Minesweeping Wellingtons: Part 1: equipment and technique: early operations in the Thames Estuary', published in Air Pictorial (Apr-May 1979), with nine uncaptioned photographs of Wellington aircraft and a captured German magnetic mine.
Bolt , Arthur Seymour ('Ben') , 1907-1994 , Rear AdmiralProof copy of article on his military career, 1915-1944, notably concerning his experiments with the transmission and interception of wireless messages and radar, [1962].
Bolitho , Richard John Bruce , 1889-1965 , CaptainTwo letters written to his sister describing action at Menin Road, third Battle of Ypres, Sep 1917, and battle of the Selle, Oct 1918; typescript copies of extracts from The Times relating to the award of his MC, 1917, and bar, 1918; card from Maj Gen Reginald John Pinney, Maj Gen Commanding 33 Div, BEF, commending Bloxham for his distinguished service, 1918; two obituaries cut from newspapers, 1928.
Bloxham , John Francis , 1873-1928 , ReverendCopies of two reports on actions of 9 Armoured Bde Group during the second Battle of El Alamein, Egypt, Oct-Nov 1942.
Blount , Hubert , 1910-1979 , Lieutenant ColonelFour copy photographs of 9 Western Div (Heavy Bde) and 72 Company (Heavy Bde), Royal Garrison Artillery, in India, showing elephant battery manoeuvres and parade, 1898-1900.
Block , Arthur Hugh , 1859-1931 , ColonelDetailed memoir, 'I'd live it again', covering his life and military career, 1898-1945, notably his service in France, 1918, Egypt, 1919-1921 and 1939-1941 and East Africa, 1941-1942, written in 1947 and privately published in pamphlet form.
Houston , John Matthew , Blakiston- , 1898-1984 , Lieutenant ColonelCopies of papers relating to her work as an WRNS administrator at Bletchley Park Decoding Centre, notably two drafts of a text on WRNS at Bletchley Park, [1945], an account of the employment of WRNS at Bletchley Park and outstations, [1945]; copy photograph of Blagrove and her assistant Doreen Scott, [1944], and photocopies of photographs of buildings and WRNS personnel at Walton Hall, Wavenden, Gayhurst and Eastcote, 1944-1945; copies of papers relating to a reunion of ex-HMS PEMBROKE V WRNS personnel, 1978, notably a text of Blagrove's speech on HMS PEMBROKE V and an attendance list; copy of obituary from The Wren, Jun 1979.
Blagrove , Edith Gordon , 1895-1979 , Superintendant , wife of Admiral Henry Evelyn Charles Blagrove , later wife of Admiral Sir Patrick Eric James BrindCopies of papers relating to his service in the Boer War, 1899-1901, notably two letters from E A Wiggin, giving an account of operations around Greylingstad, July 1900, sketches and notes on scenes of action, [1900], including Spion Kop; notes by way of transcript of statements of witnesses, including Kriegler himself, in the trial of S G Kriegler, a Boer spy, [1899-1901], war news bulletins published by the Boers, 1899-1900, two letters to Col Blagrove from Lt C E Jenkins, a prisoner in Piet Retief Jail, 1900, and printed minutes of Burgher Peace Committee meeting, 20 Dec 1900.
Blagrove , Henry John , 1854-1925 , ColonelCopies of papers relating to his service in France, 1917, principally comprising orders and summaries of operations for Royal Field Artillery, 12 Div, 1917, orders, maps and timetables relating to trench mortar batteries on the Somme front, Jul-Sep 1917, and General Staff publications on wiring, signalling, the employment of guns and trench mortars captured from the enemy, and 2 Army operations, 1917; copies of correspondence, 1915-1917, 1969-1970, mainly letters written by Blagrove from the Somme front to his father, Col Henry John Blagrove, 1916-1917.
Blagrove , Peter , 1889-1969 , CaptainTwo albums of black and white photographs relating to service in Iraq with No 1 Armoured Car Company, 1936, including images of sailing aboard the HMS DORSETSHIRE, Mar 1936; Port Said and the Suez Canal, Egypt, Apr 1936; No 1 Armoured Car Company on deployment in the desert near Salman Pak, Iraq; reconnaissance trip to Kurdistan, Aug 1936; landscapes and snapshots of local life, Iraq; the streets of Baghdad, Iraq; armoured vehicles and aeroplanes at headquarters; biplanes in flight; snapshots of Blackton and colleagues at headquarters and at an athletics event; accommodation and recreation facilities at headquarters. Also loose photographs of the battleship HMS RODNEY and of seaplanes being tested, including the Saro Windhover, [1933].
Blackton , Percy , 1909-1990Texts of lectures and related letters on military government in Tripolitania, Eritrea and Ethiopia, given at the School of Military Government, University of Virginia, 1943; papers relating to the 50th Annual and 2nd War Conference, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Detroit, 9-11 Aug 1943, including lecture notes on military government in Tripolitania; lecture notes dated 1943 relating to pre-World War Two administration in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Copy out-letter book kept by Blackley as Area Intelligence Officer, 5 Indian Division, Ethiopia, 1941.
Blackley , Travers Robert , 1899-1982 , Brigadier'Look back with pleasure', typescript memoirs covering his life and career, 1897-1965, notably his service in Mesopotamia and Palestine, 1915-1918, India, 1919-1925 and 1957-1962, Africa, 1939-1944, Germany, 1945-1950, and Cyprus, 1964-1965, written in 1971.
Bishop , Sir , William Henry Alexander , 1897-1984 , Major GeneralPapers relating to his military career, 1937-1972, principally comprising recruitment poster for North Staffordshire Regt, 1937; unsigned account of operations of 2 Bn North Staffs Regt, France, 12 May-1 Jun 1940, written in [1940]; unsigned account of operations of 6 Bn North Staffordshire Regt, France, 1 Jul-31 Aug 1944, written in [1944]; The Battle of Flanders by Kenneth Adam (Hutchinson and Co, London, 1940); papers relating to his service with North Staffordshire Regt in Trieste, 1951-1953, principally comprising press cuttings concerning protests against the Allied Military Government in Trieste, 1953, and official photographs of visit by Adm Louis (Francis Albert Victor Nicholas) Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, [1952-1953]; copies of letters written to his family during his service in Korea, 1953-1954; press cuttings relating to evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, 1940. Papers relating to Bird's grandfather Gen James Lewis Bird, 1857- 1938, notably including copy of a letter from Gen James Lewis Bird to his sister Pamela, 2 Jun 1857, describing the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny at Meerut, India, May-Jun 1857.
Bird , Aylmer Douglas Wilberforce , 1908-1972 , Lieutenant ColonelPrinted 'Report of the Board of Enquiry appointed to enquire into the circumstances in which the German Battle Cruisers (SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU) and Prinz Eugen proceeded from Brest to Germany on 12th February, 1942, and on the operations undertaken to prevent this movement', Mar 1942, relating to Operation CERBERUS or the 'Channel dash', with typescript covering letter from Binney to AF Sir (Alfred) Dudley (Pickman Rogers) Pound, Mar 1942.
Binney , Sir , (Thomas) Hugh , 1883-1953 , Knight , AdmiralCopy of single letter from Biddulph to a Mr Fanshawe, 13 Jun 1904, commenting on recent administrative changes at the War Office, in comparison with reforms to the British Army proposed by Edward Cardwell, Viscount Cardwell, Secretary of State for War, 1868-1874.
Biddulph , Sir , Robert , 1835-1918 , Knight , General , colonial governorCopies of 95 photographs and negatives relating to the Second Boer War, South Africa, 1899-1902, including two photograph albums, 'Snap shots by Capt E A Williams Esq' and 'Snap shots in Natal and Transvaal taken by Capt E A Williams, KDG', and photographs of the Boer President of the Transvaal Stephanus Johannes Paulus (Paul) Kruger and of Col Edward Cecil Bethune. Microfilm copies of two bound order books 'Regimental Orders, 1899-1900' and 'Brigade Orders', and microfilm copies of three scrapbooks of cuttings relating to Bethune's Mounted Infantry in South Africa, 1899-1900, including detailed accounts of specific actions.
Bethune , Sir , Edward Cecil , 1855-1930 , Knight , Lieutenant GeneralPapers relating to Bethell's life and career, 1894-1932, and to his death in action, as First Lt, HMS NESTOR, 13 Destroyer Flotilla, Battle of Jutland, North Sea, 31 May 1916, including Birth Certificate and Certificate of Baptism, 1894; RN record and certificates relating to Bethell's naval career, 1907-1915; one Christmas card, 1913, and three letters to his sister Agatha [Hilda] Bethell, 1915, and eight letters to his mother, Hilda Mary Bethell, Lady Bethell, 1914-1916. Two letters from the Admiralty notifying the family of Lt Bethell's death, 1916; two letters to Hilda Mary Bethell, Lady Bethell, from Cdr Hon (Edward) Barry (Stewart) Bingham, Capt of HMS NESTOR, on Lt Bethell's heroism and on the loss of HMS NESTOR at the Battle of Jutland, 1916; two letters to Agatha [Hilda] Bethell from Lt William Stephen Richard King-Hall, HMS SOUTHAMPTON, on the Battle of Jutland and the sinking of HMS NESTOR, with extract from account of Jutland by Lt Harold Percy Keeley, HMS ATTACK, 1 Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet, Jun 1916; seven letters and telegrams of condolence, notably including HM King George V, Rt Hon Arthur James Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, V Adm Sir David Beatty, 1 Battlecruiser Sqn, Grand Fleet, Capt Wilmot Stuart Nicholson, HMS AURORA, and Capt Charles Edward Le Mesurier, HMS CALLIOPE, 1916-1918; three letters on the loss of HMS NESTOR and the death of Lt Bethell from Surgeon Probationer Alexander Joe, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 1918. Edition of Supplement to the London Gazette, containing details of the award of a posthumous Mention in Despatches for Lt Bethell, 4 Oct 1918; nine letters between Adm Hon Sir Alexander Edward Bethell and the Admiralty relating to whether Lt Bethell's heroism was worthy of the award of the VC, Jan-Feb 1919; edition of Parliamentary debates, House of Commons (Hansard) containing questions asked in Parliament by Rt Hon Thomas James Macnamara, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, relating to Lt Bethell's heroism during the Battle of Jutland, 12 Mar 1919. Photograph of Bethell [1914]; edition of Falklands, Jutland, and the Bight by Cdr Hon (Edward) Barry (Stewart) Bingham, RN (John Murray, London, 1919); official scroll and bronze plaque, sent to the next of kin of servicemen killed in action [1919]; certificate of Mention in Despatches, 1920. Copy of manuscript poem relating to the loss of HMS NESTOR by Robert Malise Bowyer Nichols entitled 'The souls of the righteous', 1931, with related correspondence from John Masefield, Poet Laureate, Cdr Hon (Edward) Barry (Stewart) Bingham, RN and Lt Dudley Rowe, RN, 1931.
Bethell , Maurice John , 1894-1916 , RN LieutenantPapers relating to Bethell's life and career, [1898]-1927, and to his death in action, near Epehy, France, 21 Sep 1918, including letters and telegrams of condolence to Bethell's parents, notably from HM King George V, Brig Gen Charles Robert Graham Mayne, commanding 19 Infantry Bde, and Brevet Lt Col Percy Charles Esdaile, Commanding Officer, 1 Bn, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt), 1918; photograph of Bethell's grave, Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, France [1920]; seven photographs of Bethell [1898-1918]; Capt Bethell's Record of Services book, 1911, and the official scroll, sent to the next of kin of servicemen killed in action [1919]; letters from the War Office, the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries, and the Imperial War Graves Commission relating to Capt Bethell's death, gravestone and location of cemetery and grave, 1918-1927; letter to Adm Hon Sir Alexander Edward Bethell from Maj George Nowers Dyer, Commanding Officer, Depot, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt), Guildford, Surrey, relating to the collection of photographs of the Regiment's officers killed in World War One, for inclusion in the Regimental Museum, Nov 1923.
Bethell , Edward Walter , 1891-1918 , CaptainPapers relating to early naval career, 1872-1907 including midshipman's log books; papers relating to service as Director of Naval Intelligence, 1909-1912, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, 1911-1918, commander of Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth, 1913-1914, commander of 3 Battle Fleet and Channel Fleet, 1914-1915 and Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, 1916-1918; correspondence with Adm Sir Alexander Duff, 1917-1918, AF Lord Fisher, 1909-1918 and AF Lord Jellicoe, 1913-1918; personal papers and correspondence, 1865-1932; miscellaneous papers, 1901-1911; correspondence between the family and researchers using the papers, 1935-1979.
Bethell , Hon , Sir , Alexander Edward , 1855-1932 , Knight , AdmiralAccount of his work as Scientific Adviser, Combined Operations, in relation to D-Day, covering the period 5-8 June 1944, France.
Bernal , John Desmond , 1901-1971 , physicistTranscripts of 45 interviews recorded for The Berlin Airlift, a television documentary produced by 3BM Television for Channel 4's Secret History series and broadcast on 29 June 1998. Those interviewed include individuals and or relatives of individuals connected with the airlift operation which took place in response to the Berlin blockade, 24 June 1948 - October 1949, notably members of the armed forces of UK and USA including the RAF, RN and WAAF, a representative of the Foreign Office, journalists and authors, German interpreters, German civilians and children, members of Soviet administration and relatives of servicemen.
Attention is given to direct roles and experience of the airlift but also seeks views of its historical significance to them personally and to the wider world. Topics covered in the interviews relate to causes of the blockade, Stalin's aims for Germany after 1945, the potential threat of war in 1948, British and US responses to the blockade, Soviet intelligence gathering and espionage in the UK Foreign Office, attitudes of British servicemen to American servicemen in Germany and vice versa, German experience of the Soviet conquest of Berlin in 1945 and ensuing occupation, living conditions at the air bases in West Germany and in Berlin, food and fuel shortages, rationing, operation of the black market, prostitution, relations between conquered and occupying forces, 'no fraternisation' rule, the logistics of the airlift operation - aircraft maintenance, loading and unloading of supplies, Soviet harassment, experience of pilots and crew, incidents such as air crashes, evacuation of Berliners including children, and Operation Little Vittles. The role of significant individuals such as Ernest Bevin (1884-1951), British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the time, and Gen. Lucius D. Clay (1897-1978), Military Governor of Germany 1947 - 1949, are also discussed.
Notable participants include Sir Frank Kenyon Roberts (1907-1998) diplomat and Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs during 1948 - 1949, Mrs Jessamy Waite, widow of Air Cdre Reginald Newnham Waite (1901-1975), who devised and organised the airlift operation, and Col Gail S Halverson who became known as the 'Candy Bomber' for his drops of packages of candy attached to miniature parachutes to the children of Berlin.
Transcripts include questions and answers, and the tape counter numbering has been logged. The interviewer is not identified. Where interviews were translated this has been noted. Some names, places or phrases have been guessed at, or spelled phonetically by the transcriber. No information is given about the date or identity of the transcriber.
Copies of papers in French relating to the shooting and wounding of Bergès by the Gestapo in an attempt to escape from France to Spain, Jun 1944, and documents to establish his status as a disabled and pensionable victim of the German occupation of France, 1985-1996, including ten testimonies from witnesses and contemporaries relating to the shooting, wounding and recuperation of Bergès, 1945, 1973 and 1985-1987; typescript account entitled 'Jean Bergès: un jeune Biarrot fusillé par les Allemands...et rescapé!', with three maps of the French-Spanish border region [1996]; typescript official form, completed by Bergès, in order to receive an invalidity pension as a victim of World War Two, 1996.
UntitledPapers, of Col Oliver Charles Berger, 1934-1983, comprising:
Papers relating to Berger's education and early career, including: notes and essays on the history of political thought, 1934; Wilton Park Training Centre lecture notes and leaflets for German POWs 1946; correspondence relating to Berger's appointments and awards, 1946-1958; standing orders, memoranda and notes relating to A Sqn, Royal Scots Greys, Lopshorn Training Camp, Germany, Jul-Aug 1948; annual confidential reports on Berger, 1951-1953 and 1955-1957.
Papers relating to diplomatic service and international relations, 1954-1980, including: reports, correspondence, guest lists and notes relating to Berger's service as Military Attache, British Embassy, Rangoon, Burma, 1954-1957, with notes on visits to London by senior Burmese military personnel, 1956. General background information, 1956-1983, including: US government publication, `Mutual inspection for peace', [1956], relating to the role of aerial reconnaissance and photographic interpretation in US-USSR mutual inspection and peace-keeping; press cuttings, 1961-1980, chiefly relating to the Middle East, Africa, USSR, South East Asia and British nuclear policy; speeches made by Sir Alec Douglas-Home as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, 1970-1971.
Copies of typescript minutes of 21st meeting of Deputy Commandants of Allied Kommandatura Berlin, 4 Jun 1948; 'British Military Government Berlin, 1945-1950', pamphlet printed in 1950; typescript draft of 'Suez: the seven day war' by Arthur James Barker (Faber and Faber, London, 1964), [1964].
Benson , Edward Riou , 1903-1985 , Major GeneralPapers relating to his service in World War One, 1915-1918, principally comprising French and British casualty and strength figures, 1915-1918. Correspondence and associated papers relating to his work with Groupe des Armées du Nord and Grand Quartier Général, France, 1915, 1917-[1919], notably including correspondence between FM Sir Douglas Haig and Generals Robert Georges Nivelle and Henri-Philippe Pétain, 1917-1918. Operational documents, 1917-1918, mainly concerning 5 Army, IX Corps and III and VI French Armies. French Grand Quartier Général official communications, reports and telegrams, 1918, with maps relating to operations in France and Belgium, 1917-1918 and 1939-1940.
Benson , Sir , Reginald Lindsay , 1889-1968 , Knight , Lieutenant ColonelCopies of papers of Col Alexander Dumaresq Bennett, including photographs, papers and press cuttings relating to his service with Mohmand Field Force, North West Frontier Province, India, 1935-1936, including a report on a night ambush 28-29 Sep [1935] and Bennett's record of service.
Papers of Edward Claude Pine-Coffin including portrait photograph; group photograph [of the 14 Punjabi Regiment] and souvenir booklet relating to the Shanghai Defence Forces, May 1927.
Copies of papers of John Trenchard Pine-Coffin including papers relating to his OBE, 1963; photograph of John Pine-Coffin, 1974 and recommendation for Joint Services Staff College, 1955.
Bennett , Alexander Dumaresq , 1887-1975 , ColonelCoffin , Edward Claude , Pine- , 1895-1978 , Lieutenant-Colonel
Coffin , John Trenchard , Pine- , 1921-2006 , army officer
Undercover University, an illustrated account of the language lessons he organised and ran as a POW at Kuching, Borneo during the period 1943-1945, written in 1945-1946, privately published in 1990.
Bell , Frank , 1916-1989 , linguistPapers used by Beevor during the preparation of Inside the British Army (Chatto Windus, London, 1990), including papers on Defence estimates; officer education; Army Personnel Research Establishment, with Sandhurst reports relating to social conditions; officer and other rank recruitment, bullying; the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; UK Land Forces; the Falklands Islands and BFFI (British Forces, Falklands Islands); Northern Ireland; the Intelligence Corps; women in the Army; medical and psychological services and facilities; punishment; the Army in the Field; officer careers; reduction in numbers of personnel; the Territorial Army. Papers used in the preparation of Crete: the battle and the resistance (John Murray, London, 1991), including retrospective personal accounts of operations in Greece and the evacuation of British forces in Apr 1941; the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Yak Mission to train Greek resistance forces; the defence of Crete during the German invasion, May 1941; retrospective personal testimonies of the land and sea battle for Crete, 1941, and typescript copy of the SOE final report on operations in Crete, 1945. Also, typescript text of lecture by Beevor, entitled 'The defence of Crete', given at National Army Museum, 1991, and paperback edition of Crete: the battle and the resistance (Penguin, London, 1992).
Beevor , Anthony , b 1946 , author and military historian'My life', unpublished memoirs describing his life and career, 1884-1960, notably his involvement in the Curragh Incident, Ireland, Mar 1914, and his staff appointments during World War One, 1914-1918, written in 1960.
Beddington , Sir , Edward Henry Lionel , 1884-1966 , Knight , BrigadierMemoir covering his life and career, 1893-[1918], notably his time at Eton College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and his service in the Grenadier Guards, 1912-[1918], including his experiences in France, 1914-[1918], written in [1950-1970]. Photographs, mainly of Grenadier Guardsmen and other army personnel, [1930-1945].
Nesbitt , Frederick George , Beaumont- , 1893-1971 , Major General x Beaumont-Nesbitt , Frederick GeorgeTypescript extract from unpublished memoir relating to Beaumont's RAF service in World War Two, 1939-1945, including Operation DYNAMO, the evacuation of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) from Dunkirk, France, May-Jun 1940, visits to France by Prime Minister Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, Jun 1940, the Battle of Britain, 1940, and Beaumont's involvement as Deputy Air Officer, Administration, No 84 Group, 2 Tactical Air Force, in the preparations for Operation OVERLORD, the Allied invasion of occupied Europe, 1944, and the North West Europe campaign, 1944-1945.
Beaumont , Stephen Gerald , 1910-1997 , Group CaptainPapers relating to Beaufoy Brown's life and RN career, 1925-1979, including scrapbook with newspaper cuttings and fifty five photographs, Aug 1927-Jul 1929, including Atlantic Fleet exercises, 1927, the loss of HM Submarine H47, off St David's Head, Pembrokeshire, following collision with HM Submarine L12, 9 Jul 1929, and photographs of HMS REVENGE, HMS FORRES, HMS RODNEY, HMS HOOD, HMS NELSON and HMS ADVENTURE, 1927-1929. Two Midshipman's journals, 26 Aug 1927-12 Jul 1930, relating to service on HM Ships REVENGE, RODNEY and WALKER, including manuscript sketches and maps, two photographs of the main armament of HMS RODNEY, and photograph of HMS CENTURION, RN radio-controlled target ship, Portland, Dorset, Nov 1928, with twelve loose photographs, 1925-1929, including HMS RODNEY, HMS STURGEON and group of Cadets, Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Devon, 1925. Typescript report by Beaufoy Brown on the visit to Malta of the Yugoslav training ship JADRAN, 9-11 Jul 1934. Papers and photographs relating to the development and deployment of X craft midget submarines and Chariot manned torpedoes, 1943-[1950], including sixty seven photographs relating to the training of crews for X craft midget submarine operations, 1943-1945, notably six aerial photographs, taken by 544 Sqn, RAF, of Bergen harbour, Norway, before and after Operation GUIDANCE, the sinking by X Craft of German merchant ship BARENFELS, Apr 1944, and Operation HECKLE, the destruction of a floating dock, Laksvaag, Bergen, Norway, Sep 1944; edition of The Illustrated London News, 15 Dec 1945, with article on X Craft operation against Japanese cruiser TAKAO, Singapore, Jul 1945; edition of The Dittybox, the Navy's own magazine, containing article by G V Galwey entitled 'Life in a midget submarine', Feb 1948; typescript text of lecture by Beaufoy Brown on World War Two midget submarine operations [1950]. Photograph album containing 111 photographs relating to Beaufoy Brown's service as Executive Officer, HMS GAMBIA, Mediterranean and East Indies, 1951-1952, including peace keeping patrols, Port Said, Egypt, 1951, and inspection of ship by acting Adm Louis (Francis Albert Victor Nicholas) Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Commnder-in-Chief Mediterranean, Malta, 1952. Typescript Curriculum Vitae for Beaufoy Brown [1965], and obituary, 1979.
Brown , John Frederick , Beaufoy , 1910-1979 , RN CaptainCopy of detailed memoir, 'From air to chair', covering his RAF career, 1929-1961, including sections on his RAF training, bomber squadron service, 1930-1933, armament training and duties, 1933-1944 and service in Iraq, 1937-1939, Bomber Command, 1939-1940, the Air Ministry, 1940, 1947-1949 and 1954-1956, Malaya, 1946, Joint Services Staff College, 1947, Central Gunnery School, 1949-1951, Rhodesian Air Training Group, 1951-1953 and Technical Training Command, 1956-1961, written in 1985. Copy of chapter of personal family history giving an account of his father, Lt Col Lewis Collinwood Bearne, during the period 1878-1918, including his service in the Boer War and World War One, [1980-1985].
Bearne , Guy , 1908-2005 , Air Vice MarshalMemoir of Brig Derrick Baynham, 1939-1942, including descriptions of assisting in the evacuation of Dunkirk, 1940; work in the Local Defence Volunteers, 1941; Special Operations Executive (SOE) training, including resisting interrogation and handling explosives; preparation for mission to support agents in occupied France and identify targets for sabotage; account of the mission including encounter with Milice (Vichy police), liasion with sympathetic French locals in Limoges, recovery of radio transmission equipment from the Milice, establishment of permanent base station in Perigueux and return to England, 1942. Also accounts of the attempted rescue of the surviving crew member of a crashed British bomber off the coast of Anglesey, 1941, for which Baynham was awarded the George Medal, and account of his capture by German troops and subsequent escape, Germany, April 1945.
Baynham , Derrick Hubert , 1924-2006 , BrigadierPhotographs relating to his service in India, 1933-1934, notably including two photographs of 11 Field Battery testing wireless equipment, 1934.
Batten , John Forbes , 1893-1979 , Lieutenant ColonelPapers relating to operations of 20 Corps in Palestine, 1917-1918, including third Battle of Gaza; correspondence including with Gen Sir Kenneth Wigram, 1935, and FM Sir Philip Chetwode, 1926-1936, with related papers, 1911-1950; Bartholomew Committee, Jun 1940 including operations in Flanders, organisation and training of troops; Northern Command and civil defence, 1940-1945.
Bartholomew , Sir , William Henry , 1877-1962 , Knight , GeneralPapers relating to his military service, 1944-1945, principally comprising war diary including maps and photographs, Sep 1944-Jul 1945; copy of report on the liberation of Belsen written for the Director of Military Government by Lt Col R I G Taylor, Officer Commanding, 63 Anti Tank Regt, [1945]; orders relating to the occupation and administration of Belsen, from Brig General Staff of 8 Corps, British Liberation Army, April 1945; report on Belsen by Capt Barker, Royal Army Medical Corps, 63 Anti Tank Regt, Jun 1945; letter to British officers from a group of Czech women prisoners describing their treatment in Belsen, 1945; Barnett's notes for a talk on Belsen, ND; photographs showing inmates and conditions in Belsen, 1945; newspaper cuttings relating to Victory in Europe Day, the liberation of Belsen and the Belsen trial, May-Oct 1945; 'Report by the Supreme Commander to the Combined Chiefs of Staff on the operations in Europe of the Allied Expeditionary Force, June 1944-May 1945', issued by HMSO, 1946.
Barnett , Benjamin George , 1912-1998 , Major