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Library Manuscripts comprise manuscript items donated to the Royal Geographical Society. They are chiefly single files or a small number of items which are not large enough to warrant forming a special collection. The papers include, astronomical and meteorological observations, diaries, correspondence, notes, conference papers, reports, articles, photographs, sketches and maps covering all aspects of geography and exploration across the globe and date from 1691 to 1994. Highlights include:

Memorandum on a map of South America, by John Arrowsmith.

Papers of Maj R A Bagnold, 1929-1933, comprising positions, routes and heights in Egypt and letters from Bagnold.

Letters from Sir John Barrow to Lord Melville, 1935-1945 and letters to Barrow from Murzuq, 1822 and J D Dundas, 1818.

Papers of Dr Heinrich Barth, 1846-1952, letters and copy of a sketch map of Timbuktu.

Notes on heights of mountains in America by Capt F W Beechey, 1826.

Letters from the King of Siam to Sir John Bowring, 1855.

Letters relating to the British Arctic Air Route Expedition, 1928-1932.

Correspondence and reports of the British Ornithologists' Union Expedition to New Guinea, 1908-1911.

Papers of G Wyman Bury, 1913-1918.

Papers of Capt R F M Crozier, 1836-1906.

Account of a journey to Lhasa and central Tibet by Sarat Chandra Das, 1902.

Papers of Lt James Barker Emery, chiefly relating to Mombassa, 1822-1835.

Plan and elevation of the Screw Yacht FRAM as reconstructed in 1898.

'Narrative of a small party of HMS LEVEN under command of Lt C W Browns sent to explore the Zambesi by one of the survivors, a native of Angola', by Antonio Jozi, 1823.

Journal of Joseph Kaye's voyage from London to Genoa.

Papers and maps relating to William Kennish's exploration in South America for a canal route.

Papers relating to the Kufara expedition led by H W C J Penderel and P A Clayton to Gilf Kebir, 1933.

Papers relating to the Livingstone Award, 1875-1970.

H B Molesworth's diary of a journey to Mokalla (Mukalla), 1893.

Letters from Sir John Morrison to Henry Dundas and others concerning Persia and trade with Persia, 1783-1792.

Narrative of a shipwreck on the southern shores of Arabia by B A R Nicholson, 1836.
Correspondence of Walter Oudney, 1821-1823.

Papers of Adm Sir W E Parry, relating to the Arctic, 1819-1823.

Papers relating to the Pitcairn Islands, 1831-1885.

Annotated 'Code of Naval Signals' belonging to Adm Sir Home Popham, 1799.

Letter from Sultan Husain Sufrari, 1708.

Account of explorations on the coast of Patagonia by B Villarino, 1782.

Travel journals of J Washington, chiefly in South America, 1822-1829.

Letters to A F R Wollaston, 1896-1926.

Records of Rivers Steam Navigation Company Limited, including:

1) Corporate records, Mss 27910-20;
2) Internal accounting and financial records, Mss 27921-39;
3) General correspondence, Mss 27940-5;
4) Papers concerning the operation of transport services and the development of transport generally, and the transport of particular commodities:
i) general-river, rail and road, Mss 27946-53;
ii) river transport, Mss 27954-66;
iii) rail transport, Mss 27967-72;
iv) road transport, Mss 27973-8;
v) passenger services, Mss 27979-82;
vi) tea, Mss 27983-90;
vii) coal, Mss 27991-5;
viii) jute, Mss 27996-9;
ix) miscellaneous (oil, sugar, mail), Mss. 28000-2;
5) Papers concerning post war operations and the reconstruction of the company, Mss 28003-13;
6) Fleet records, i.e. fleet lists, and records of shipbuilding, repair, losses and casualties. (NB see records of subsidiaries for Garden Reach Workshops, R.S.N.'s shipbuilding subsidiary), Mss 28014-37;
7) Records concerning co-operation and competition with Assam Railway and Trading Co, Mss 28038-43;
8) Competition with other companies, Mss 28044-54;
9) Records of terms and conditions of work, pension funds and trade unions, Mss 28055-67;
10) Investment in other companies, Mss 28068-72;
11) Maps, photographs, historical notes, Mss 28073-8;
12) Subsidiary companies:
i) Pakistan River Steamers Ltd, Mss 28079-91;
ii) Rivers Steam Navigation Co (Holdings) Ltd, Mss 28092-5;
iii) Garden Reach Workshops Ltd, Mss 28096-9;
iv) India Rivers Steam Navigation Co Ltd, Ms 28100;
v) Pakistan Rivers Steam Navigation Co Ltd, Ms 28101.

Papers of the Rope family of Blaxhall, Orford and Leiston, relating mainly to the activities of Mingay and Rope in the mid nineteenth century, although there are earlier papers for a Thomas Rope, and later ones when George Rope was trading on his own. They include bills of sale for vessels owned by the firm, receipts and bills incurred during trading, as well as letters from Rope to Mingay, reporting on vessel's movements. There are also letters from vessel's masters reporting on their progress.

The collection consists of diaries, correspondence and other papers from the period in which Ross was medical officer of the coolie ship Hong Bee, travelling between Penang and the China coast via Hong Kong. MS.6117 includes a temporary commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps, 1916.

Records of Rotax Limited including nominal and private ledgers covering holding company and subsidiaries, bound in one volume only. No other records are currently known to survive.

Copies of papers and photographs relating to his military career, 1915-[1921], dated 1915-[1921], [1970-1980] and 1983, principally comprising letters to his father, 1915-1916; his flying log book, 1915-1917, covering his service with 1 Reserve Aeroplane Sqn, Royal Flying Corps, UK and with 8 and 12 Sqns, BEF, France; notes and texts of lectures relating to aerial combat tactics, produced by instructors at the Royal Flying Corps School of Aerial Gunnery, 1916; his diary, 1918, including details of his work [as an experimental pilot with the Aircraft Directorate and the Air Board]; notebook containing notes on the performance of various aircraft, [1918-1921]; 'Memoir of service with the Royal Flying Corps, 1915 and 1916', written in [1970-1980].

Papers of Donald Whatley Roy, 1897-1948, and including correspondence, 1898-1948; medical certificates, including one a as a Foundation Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1897-1930; articles and speech, 1930-1938; card announcing results of the III MB Pt 1, 1903; testimonials, 1908-1929; passenger lists of ships on which he was surgeon, 1910; applications, 1916-1934.

Reports, diaries, memoirs, photographs and memorabilia given to the Royal Army Medical Corps Museum and Library by former officers and men of the Corps. Some date back to Marlborough's campaigns of the late 17th century; there is also material relating to the continuing European and Imperial conflicts of the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Crimean War (1854-1856), the Boer War and the Balkan conflicts of the early 20th century, the two World Wars, the Korean War and other smaller conflicts thereafter.

Papers of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. There are copies of the Royal Charter granted to the Company in 1839 and subsequent renewals: a continuous series of minute books of Directors' meetings, 1839 to 1934 (three volumes); of General Meetings, 1842 to 1933 and a less complete set of Directors' reports, 1850 to 1902. A minute book of the Stores Committee, 1842 to 1843, illustrates the deployment of the very large stocks of coal necessary to maintain the services. The Mail Contracts for the various services are well documented. In- and out-correspondence, 1842 to 1868, with 'Public Departments' (the Admiralty, the Post Office and Board of Trade) is contained in nineteen volumes. A very early letterbook, 1826 to 1828, contains letters from the Post Office to Lieutenant Edward Chappell R.N. (d.1856) who subsequently became Secretary of the Company. A Marine Superintendent's confidential letterbook, 1826 to 1899, casts light on staff selection. General correspondence, 1904 to 1943, both in and out, is largely about the carriage of mail, legal matters and inter-company communications. Four memorandum books (1860 to 1904, 1884 to 1902, 1905 to 1909 and 1915 to 1917) are Directors' 'vade mecum's', containing a valuable cross-section of information about the Company's operations. Route books and 'Details of Service' 1841 to 1920, locate the services geographically. Agency arrangements are dealt with in nine books, 1876 to 1954, containing details of agreements entered into by the Company, including mortgages, leases or purchases of properties, powers of attorney and commissions. The technical part of the collection includes builders' specifications for ships, 1876 to 1954; fleet regulations for officers and engineers, 1850 and 1950; instructions to pursers, 1876; a treatise by Captain Chappell on 'Smith's Patent Screw Propeller', 1840; a Fire and Boat Station Bill for the Avon, 1845; reports on the stranding of the Magdalena, 1949, and a number of early log books, 1842 to 1869. The only account books are two cash books, 1839 to 1849, and some day-to-day cash books from the West End passenger office, 1959 to 1969. There are no service records although there is an album of photographs of captains, 1870, and information about pensions, national health and unemployment insurance. Finally the collection contains a wealth of publicity material of various dates. (Section 3: RMS/: 100ft: 30m) Ships' Plans: consist mainly of linen tracings of general arrangements, profiles and deck plans of nine Royal Mail steamships, 1850 to 1880, and paper prints of cargo spaces on six early twentieth-century vessels.

See sub-fonds level descriptions for individual scope and contents.

Naval manuscripts collected by the Royal United Services Institution. The manuscripts almost all relate to the Royal Navy. There are in addition eight personal collections of naval officers which are described in Volume I: those of Altham (entry no.3), Beaver (14), Broughton (31), Burt (34), Henderson (132), Holburne (136), Oliver (217) and Riou (247).
List of ships and officers: In all there are twenty lists of the ships in the Navy, c 1685 to 1880, some giving dimensions, armament and other details; one of 1780 lists His Majesty's armed vessels on the Canadian lakes and the St Lawrence; another of 1880 includes ships in European navies. The lists of naval officers consist of accounts of Flag Officers, 1660 to c 1755; captains, 1660 to 1715, 1688; and a list of french naval officers, 1792. In addition there is a list of naval chaplains, 1626 to 1903.
Orders and Regulations: The earliest of the orders are General Instructions to be observed by commanders of His Majest's ships, 1683, and three volumes of orders and letters to the joint Admirals commanding the fleet, 1693, one of the volumes containing orders from the Admiralty and another those from the Queen. Related to these are the proceedings of the Councils of War held by the Admirals, 1693. There is also an index to the General Naval Instructions, 1803. relating to the management of the fleet are Vice-Admiral Byron's (1723-1786) sailing and fighting instructions, 1778 to 1782; St Vincent's orders and memoranda, 1800 to 1802; and orders received on board the VALIANT, 1807 to 1808. Regulations for the management of ships include Captain (later Admiral) Thomas Graves' (1747?-1814) standing orders for the MAGICIENNE, 1782, and the orders of Captain (later Admiral) Richard Goodwin Keats for the SUPERB, 1804. Also of note are the Port Orders issued in 1811 by the Commander-in-Chief of ships in the River Thames, Sir Charles Hamilton (1767-1849). Logs and Journals: The logs record the voyages of nineteen ships, 1755 to 1837. The earliest were kept on board the TERRIBLE, 1755 to 1756, and the MARLBOROUGH, 1756 to 1757; the others include the logs of the MELPOMENE, 1803 to 1805; the VALIANT, 1810 to 1814; and VOLAGE, 1833 to 1837. of the journals, the earliest was kept by Thomas Lawrie (fl.1757-1759) on board the AMAZON while in the West Indies, 1757 to 1759. There is a copy of the account of the mutiny on the BOUNTY, 1789, by John Fryer (1752-1817); an account of 'a voyage from Batavia in the island of Java' to England on board the BENGAL MERCHANT, 1815; and another of a voyage from Sydney to Pitcairn and Norfolk islands on the MORAYSHIRE, 1856, by Lieutenant George Gregorie of the Royal Marines. There are two journals by naval chaplains: the earliest was kept by Henry Sainsbury in the DEFENCE mainly in the Mediterranean, 1795 to 1797, and the later one by an unnamed chaplain in a ship on the South American station, 1897. More varied in content are the memoranda books of Lieutenant William Bryan Wake, 1782 to 1799.
Letterbooks and Letters: The collection includes a small number of letters and letterbooks, some personal and some official. There are six letters by Nelson, 1794 to 1805; two by Collingwood, 1805 and 1809; two by St Vincent 1789 and 1810; and some letters and papers relating to Sir Charles Douglas (d.1789), 1776 to 1830. Letterbooks include two kept by Captain (later Rear-Admiral) John Bythesea (fl.1846-1906), despatches and orders received, 1846 to 1862, and letters sent, 1856 to 1868; and one kept by Colonel and Chief Staff Officer of the Portsmouth Dockyard Volunteers, 1848. Naval
Administration and Law: Relating to various aspects of naval administration are a number of warrants.

Papers relating to his naval career, [1920-1959], dated [1920-1959], 1985, principally comprising photographs, [1919-1933], notably of the evacuation of [White] Russian refugees, Black Sea, 1919-1920, and of HMS NELSON, West Indies and Panama, 1929-1931, and HMS GANGES, 1931-1933.

Photocopies of 13 letters, 1882-1899, from Alexander Russell to his sister, Barbara Russell, recounting trips on missionary and other vessels in the South Pacific, including visits to Sydney (Australia) and Fiji.

Theatre and opera programmes from Ekaterinburg and St Petersburg, Russia, 1912-1913; Trans-Siberian Railway dining car menu, 1915; International Sleeping Car and Express-Train Company leaflet of Far Eastern services, with map and timetables, 1919.

Papers of the Sailing Barge Preservation Society. They consist of correspondence, 1955 to 1959; financial statements and accounts, 1955 to 1960; lists of subscribers and records of appeals for funds, 1955 to 1959; accounts and insurance documents relating to the MEMORY, 1958 to 1959.

Papers of the Sailing Boat Association, comprising minutes of the Council, 1888 to 1947; account books, 1888 to 1947; letterbooks, 1925 to 1939; correspondence, 1938 to 1939; rules and sailing regulations, 1932.

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, including a summary by Lt Col John Arthur Edward Heard.

Letter from P K Seaman of HMS Wolverine, docked at St Helena, to his father, 1 Jun 1851. '... I have already told you that we have caught 3 slavers ...'.

Autograph, with signature. 4 sketches of vessels captured by the Wolverine are pasted to the second leaf of the letter.

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, Russian convoys, 1942-1944, as Chief of Staff, Londonderry, 1944-1945, on HMS SAUMAREZ, Mediterranean, 1946-1947, and in South Africa, 1950-1952, and Greece, 1953-1955, written in 1989 for private circulation.

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

Papers of Shaw Savill and Albion Co Ltd. The bulk of the correspondence files belong to the period 1947 to 1965, although the earliest paper is dated 1924. They are concerned with the building and trials of new vessels, ships in service, standard freight rates and routine instructions to masters. There are summaries of passage money and numbers of passengers, 1900 to 1946; analyses of passage money, outward, 1946 to 1960, 1970 to 1972; passage money, homeward, 1965 to 1968. the records cover chartered vessels as well as the Company's own ships. (Although there is some information about individual passengers, this is not a complete record of passengers carried: more comprehensive lists can be found in the passenger lists in the Board of Trade records at the Public Record Office.). In 1969 a series of refrigerator and engine logs, 1956 to 1962, were deposited as well as deck logs, 1944 to 1965.

This class consists of sixteen documents relating to shipbuilding, eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. They include a description of the machine which steered the IPSWICH across the Atlantic after the rudder had been carried away, 1746; the agreement for the building of an East India Company ship, the PRESTON, 1798; a patent for improvement in side propellors for ocean and river vessels, 1865; and papers relating to Admiral Sir Percy Scott's (1853-1924) proposed battleship design, 1911.

Signals Collection comprising two East India Company signal books. The first is a printed signal book of 1783 entitle 'A Collection of Signals for the use of the ships in the Service of the United East India Company'; a sheet of coloured flags has been loosely inserted, but the book was not issued. There is also a manuscript volume of signals issued by Captain Alexander Montgomerie to the fleet under his command, St Helena to England, 1794.

153 volumes of sailing and fighting instructions include the majority of those listed in Sir Julian Corbett, Signals and instructions (Navy Records Society, 1908). In addition, there are many examples of those issued to smaller squadrons rather than fleets. The earliest is a printed copy of 1673 issued to James Duke of York (1633-1701). There is a copy of 1691 by Admiral Russel (1653-1727), issued in 1702. Subsequent sets show the development which took place up to the Seven Years War. From 1756 onwards additional and supplementary instructions became more numerous. The collection also contains several versions of instructions for ships in convoy, 1708 to 1815. In addition to these single items, there are sets in the personal collections. The most extensive, of thirty-four volumes, is that of Admiral Duncan (q.v.), 1760 to 1799, including signals and instructions issued during the American War, convoy instructions for 1782 and a number of sets from the 1790s. Other sets of significance include those of Vice-Admiral Duff, 1748 to 1762, including convoy instructions, 1756 and 1758, and printed instructions for disembarking and re-embarking troops, which were issued by Admiral Rodney (1719-1792) for the landings at marinique, 1762; of Rear-Admiral Clements, 1758 to 1770; and of Captain Lord Longford, 1779 to 1780.

120 printed and manuscript signal books and signal logs. 1711 to 1816. The earliest signal book is a manuscript volume compiled between 1710 and 1711. This contains additional signals made by Sir John Norris (c 1670-1749) in the RANELAGH. The format of this volume is very similar to the printed signal book of 1714 by Jonathan Greenwood. There are some manuscript examples produced privately by individual officers usually with a thumb index for quick reference, dating from the mid-eighteenth century. There are also printed signal books for 1790, 1793, 1795, 1798 and The General Signal Book of 1799, 1808 and 1816. During the 1790s the printing of signal books became general practice. There are various examples (which include day and fog signals), night signals, instructions and additional instructions, which were usually issued in sets. For example, the collection has a set issued in 1793 by Admiral Lord Hood to the Mediterranean fleet. There is a similar set issued by Sir John Jervis in 1794 while in the West Indies. Most of the printed books which were issued have additional signals inserted in manuscript. The manuscript signal books are copies kept by officers who were not issued with a printed signal book, and preferred their own copy for easy reference; they are therefore usually pocket size. This practice was forbidden because of the danger of the code falling into enemy hands. However, there are a number of these in the collection and they often contain additional information, such as orders of battle and sailing, keys to both the British and French systems of coastal signals, pendant lists, etc. Many are finely executed and some are illustrated. There is a manuscript signal book used at the battle of the Nile, based on the 1795 edition entitled 'Day and Night Signal Book, Horarry, Fog etc.' by Midshipman (later Commander) Charles Claridge (fl 1798-1823) in the DEFENCE. This has a short diary at the back of the volume describing the battle and an order of battle and an order of battle and sailing. A manuscript copy of Lord Howe's (q.v.) code of 1793 is also included; this contains a list of signals for identifying coasts and headlands, caricatures, a sea song and drawings of naval vessels. The collection contains a group of signal books issued for use in a particular area; they include volumes for Barbados, 1820, Plymouth, 1797 and St Helena, 1817. There are also three signal logs, one of which was kept in the VICTORY, 1804.

Over half the signal books in this category are French; the other nations represented are Spain, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Sweden and Turkey. There are eighteen volumes, 1754 to 1885, the majority of which are printed with manuscript annotations. Of the French volumes, the earliest is a signal book kept in 1754 by the pilot of LA ROSE, in the squadron of Le Comte de Gallissoniere (1693-1756). The volume has a thumb index of coloured flags and is illustrated with watercolours of fleet manoeuvres. There is also an English translation of the signal book issued by the Comte D'Ache (1700-1775) to his fleet while in the East Indies in the ZODIAQUE, 1757 to 1759; a signal book issued by the Comte D'Orvilliers (1708-1792) in 1779; and a printed signal book of 1787 issued by the Marquis de Nieul, in which the names of the vessels in the squadron have been scratched out, but the twenty flags and ten pendants have been coloured. The Revolutionary War period is represented by three signal books issued for the navy of the Republic in 1799 and 1801. Only one has actually been issued and gives a key to the flags. In addition, there is a handbook for a coastal semaphore between Bayonne and Flushing; published in 1807, the system was invented by an artillery officer named Depillon and built ca.1803. The category also includes two signal books for the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies; one was issued in c 1784 by John (later Sir John) Acton (1736-1811), the other in 1816; a Spanish book of signals and instructions printed in Cadiz in 1765 and issued by the Marques de la Victoria; another Spanish volume for 1781 for the fleet of Don Luis de Cordova; and two Swedish volumes, 1795 and 1796. The Turkish signal book is naval, 1885, and the format is similar to a French or an English volume. There is also a Dutch volume of flags rather than signals which was compiled c 1687; it is described on the title page as 'The Flagbook of Captain Paulus van der Dussen' (1658-1707).

Seven volumes concerned with naval signalling, telegraphic and merchant shipping codes, 1787 to 1822. The earliest volume is by Captain (later Admiral) Phillip Patton (1739-1815); in 1787 he published 'A system of signals combining the method commonly used in theBritish Navy...with a numerary method'. As far as is known this was never used, since preference was given to the code invented by Lord Howe. Patton employed two methods: one was the old idea of the meaning of the flag being governed by the position of the hoist and the other gave each flag a fixed numerical value. A new arrangement of Howe's day and night signals and instructions was made in 1792 by John McArthur (1755-1840), while secretary to Lord Hood, and printed in 1793. McArthur also published a comprehensive plan in c 1804, entitled 'Thoughts on several plans combining a system of Universal Signals by day and night', of which there is also a copy. There is a lithographed copy, made in 1822, of 'Practical Rules for making Telegraphic Signals with a description of the two-armed telegraph invented in 1804' by Lieutenant-Colonel Pasley (1780-1861); he put forward a system of sending messages by land using a pole with two moveable arms. A similar manuscript of ca.1820 is by Lieutenant (later Commander) Poynter Crane (1782-1879).

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, and in South Africa, 1942-1945; diary, 1943-1945. 'War time trawler', a transcript of a broadcast by James McClurg of the South African Broadcasting Corporation concerning his experiences on board an anti-submarine trawler during World War Two, written in [1940-1945].

Papers of the Sir John Cass Technical Institute and Sir John Cass College, comprising:

Publications, including syllabuses, 1902-1936; calendars, 1936-1940, prospectuses and course handbills, 1946-1970.

Administrative records, including Principal's reports, 1902-1932; annual reports, 1902-1967; Governors of Sir John Cass Foundation minute books, 1901-1964; College Council minute books, 1965-1969; Board of Studies/Academic Board/University Board minutes, 1917-1970; Consultative Committee on Petroleum Technology minutes, 1920-1953; Consultative Committee on Fuel Technology minutes, 1930-1945; Nautical School entry book, 1913-1950; Department of Navigation enrolment book, 1950-1969; staff records, 1916-1960s; Library Committee papers, 1953-1970; School of Art correspondence, 1936-1969; School of Navigation, Board of Studies papers, 1940-1970; Soirée minute book, 1902-1911; building work, plans and correspondence, 1941-1960s.

Papers of the Teaching Staff Association, Sir John Cass College Association and Students' Union, 1950s-1960s.

College journals, including Red Quill, 1921, 1959-1967; Cassowary, 1961-1967; The Bookcase, 1950-1956.

Papers relating to college history, 1880-1970, including charity schemes papers (including report of the Royal City Parochial Charities Commission, 1880, and papers relating to the Aldgate Freedom Foundation, City Parochial Foundation, Sir Thomas Gresham, Wyndham Deedes Memorial Fund, 1946-1972; opening pamphlet, 1902; visitors' book, 1903-1934; institute history, c1939.

Papers relating to conversion to polytechnic status, 1950s-1970, including proposals and college committee minutes.

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. A post mortem' [1945]. Photograph album with uncaptioned photographs of Slade's RAF service in Egypt and Iraq, 1933-1937. Fifteen photographic negatives and 185 photographs, 1933-1960, including aerial photographs of terrain, Iraq, 1934-1937, group photographs, 1942-1945, and Fairey Aviation Limited aircraft in flight [1960], notably the Gannet and the Rotodyne.

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 regarding the Battle of the Atlantic with Vice Admiral Sir Peter Gretton; Capt Stephen Roskill, historian; the Air Historical Branch; the Naval Historical Branch; and others, 1966-67, including statistical analysis of efficacy of RAF and information and statistics from Air History Branch regarding U-Boat destruction, 1955. Correspondence with Capt B H Liddell Hart, 1965; with Rear Admiral Samuel Morison, USNR, 1968; with Professor Arthur Marder, 1966. Articles by Slessor relating to the Defence Review on Naval Airpower, including: An Integral part of the Fleet', 1964;The Capital Ship Complex', 1965; Air Power - Seabourne or Shore-based', 1965;Naval Air Power - Is it Worth It?', 1965; The Story of Jutland: Some reflections on Vol. 3 of "From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow" - Arthur J Marder', 1966;Air Power and the Defence Review', 1966; Air Power East of Suez', 1966;The Purchase of the F111', 1966; Meeting Today's Defence Needs: Virtues of Shore-Based Planes', letter to The Times, 1968; andThe Air League's Memorandum on Defence - January 1967', 1967. Also articles by others including: The case for the Aircraft Carrier' by Fletcher Pratt, and responseThe Case for Land-Based Air Power' by Francis V Drake, The Reader's Digest, 1949; German, Italian and Japanese U-Boat Casualties during the War: Particulars of Destruction, (HMSO, 1946); A memorandum on Defence, The Air League, 1967; and `Merchant Aircraft Carriers' by Kenneth Poolman, Air Pictorial, Oct 1968.

Records of Smith, MacKenzie and Company Limited, general merchants and agents in East Africa, including: memorandum and articles of association, 1936-50 (Ms 28118); agreements, 1891-1945 (Ms 28119, Ms 36444-6); directors' meetings minutes and related papers, 1934-50 (Ms 28120-5); accounts, 1936-64 (Ms 28126-33); operational records, 1886-1950 (Ms 28134-7, Ms 36447-55); list of records, 1870-1945 (Ms 28138); property records, 1890-ca. 1950 (Ms 28139-42, Ms 36458-62); papers relating to staff, 1892-1937 (Ms 36456-7); photographs, c 1871-99 and c 1920 (Ms 28143, Ms 36463); records relating to subsidiaries, 1917-57 (Ms 28144-53, Ms 36464); and miscellaneous items, 1893-1965 (Ms 36465-71).

Memorandum book including copy letters to the Court of the East India Company; bye-laws and resolutions of the Society; and printed East India Company notices.

Papers relating to the South Africa Conference (1892-1971). The collection consists of a series of volumes dating from 1892 to 1971. SAC/1-4 relate to the various trade routes between Europe and Southern Africa, and consist of minutes of the various meetings held. SAC/6-9 consists of the South Africa Conference major meetings, including meetings with D.O.A.L, between shipowners, committee and joint minutes. SAC/10 is a volume containing various agreements between the conference and the countries it traded with.

Papers of the South Eastern Gas Board. They consist of a number of Portage Bills and disbursement accounts, 1959 to 1970; a file of the case histories of casualties; certificates issued by Lloyds for engines and boilers, freeboard, anchors and chain cables and classification: a series of Chief Officers' and Chief Engineers' log books, 1961 to 1970: and specification plans and technical data, 1925 to 1959. In addition there is an extensive photographic record of the fleet and a number of charts, surveys of wharves and ships' plans.

Records of South Metropolitan Electric Tramways, comprising minutes of Board meetings and minutes of General meetings.

Papers of South Western Steam Packet Company. They include Deeds of Settlement (later known as Articles of Association) of the Commercial Steam Packet Company, 1835 to 1837; the South Western Steam Packet Company, 1843; and the New South Western Steam Navigation Company, 1846. These documents give lists of shareholders and their occupations. There is a minute book covering shareholders' meetings of the South Western Company, 1842 to 1845; notices to shareholders and reports of the Commercial and South Western Steam Packet Companies, the New South Western and the London and South Western Railway, 1838 to 1847; mortgage deeds, Bills of Sale and Certificates of Sale. Of technical interest are two contracts of 1855 for a wrought iron steam vessel and a set of engines, and a 'Return of Rolling Stock owned by English, Welsh and Scotch Railway Companies', 1883.

101Precis of lecture – infantry assembly positions, A Div, Brig Gen Dill. 102 Notes on the strength of certain attacks in 1918, A Div, Br Gen Dill. 103 Demonstration of tank tactics, A & B Div, Lt Col Neame. 104 Precis – Q (8) administrative arrangements in small wars, A Div, Br Gen Anderson. 105 Notes on Somaliland, A Div, Br Gen Anderson. 106 Scheme for summer term. Sec. XI. Indoor ex no 8 “assembly for attack”, A Div, Col Anley. 107 Scheme for summer term, Sec. X, paper F, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 108 Indian frontier warfare calculations Ex 8, A Div, Br Gen Charles. 109 Indian frontier warfare scheme no 1 (indoor portion), A & B Div, Br Gen Charles. 110 Precis of lecture – campaign of Salamanca (1), B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 111 Precis of lecture – outposts, A & B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 112 Precis of lecture – the rear guard, A & B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 113 Paper on promotion examinations, B Div, Br Gen Kearsley. 114 Two special papers on war establishments, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 115 Extract from “the Times” – “distribution of the fleet”, A & B Div, The Commandant. 116 Offensive battle (set piece). Gen idea & continuation in outdoor ex no 10 (see no. 140), B Div, Lt Col Collins. 117 Outdoor ex no 7, selection of a defensive position, B Div, Lt Col Neame. 118 Scheme for summer term (sec. XI) – assembly for, and conduct of infantry assault, A Div, Col Anley. 119 Lecture notes – preparation for the offensive, A & B Div, Br Gen Farmar. 120 Lecture notes – Waterloo I précis, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 121 Special paper on war establishments for a D.A.C, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 122 Special paper on war establishments for Div. Engrs, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 123 Suggested index for instructions to be issued by the general staff of a division for a deliberate offensive, A & B Div, Lt Col Collins. 124 Lectures – Waterloo II & III and order of battle, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 125 Lectures – Waterloo IV, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 126 Lecture – Waterloo general map, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 126a Lectures – Waterloo V & 2 maps (Ligny & disposition 14 6/1815), A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 127 Lectures – artillery no 6, A Div, Lt Col Broad. 128 Table of weights carried on the soldier, A & B Div, Lt Col Collins & Grubb. 129 Notes – capture of Tsingtau, A&B Div, Br Gen Charles. 130 Salamanca campaign – map position forces end of May, B Div, Lt Col McHaskard. 131 Waterloo campaign – distribution of Wellington’s army, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 132 Distribution of duties divisional staffs, A&B Div, Lt Col Collins & Grubb. 133 Outdoor ex no 10 “reconnaissance for placing artillery to support an attack”, A Div, Lt Col Broad. 134 Paper “G” – strategy, A Div, Col Anley. 135 Waterloo lecture VI précis and map Quatre Bras, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 136 Rifle shooting – précis of lecture, A Div, Lt Col Croft. 137 Table of organisation pack transport, A Div, Lt Col Grubb. 138 Notes administrative preparations “set piece offensive”, A Div, Lt Col Grubb. 139 Precis. Notes & 2 maps Salamanca, B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 140 Outdoor exercise No 10 (in continuation indoor Ex. No 10 see No. 116), B Div, Lt Col Collins. 141 Waterloo campaign, lecture VII précis, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 142 Outdoor ex. No 11 “administrative arrangements for an offensive”, A Div, Lt Col Grubb. 143 Lecture – “Inf assembly positions précis, A &B Div, Lt Col Herbert. 144 Table characteristics of British aeroplanes, A&B Div, Col Anley. 145 Offensive battle (set piece) administration preparations, B Div, Lt Col Wingfield. 146 Paper G. Strategy, B Div, Col Anley. 147 Precis of lecture – administrative arrangements for offensive, B Div, Lt Col Wingfield. 148 Precis of Waterloo campaign – lecture VIII and maps 377 & 378, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 149 Precis of lecture IX Waterloo campaign & diagram situation 14th June, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 150 Precis of lecture Salamanca (3), B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 151 Appreciation of a situation, A Div, Lt Col Broad. 152 Hints on the writing of an appreciation of a situation, B Div, Br Gen Kearsley. 153 Tank lecture No 1 – précis, A&B Div, Lt Col Neame. 154 Cavalry lecture (3), B Div, Lt Col Osborne. 155 Staff duties No 7 lecture – précis staff duties in connection with an offensive, A Div, Lt Col Collins. 156 Precis of lecture on army education scheme, A Div, Lt Col Tanner. 157 Outdoor exercise no 12 (set piece offensive), B Div, Lt Col Collins. 158 Precis of 4th lecture; military history & strategy, A&B Div, Col Anley. 159 Precis & lecture – Russian situation & our Eastern Empire, A&B Div, Maj Waterhouse. 160 Precis & lecture; British cavalry 1914, A Div, Maj Balfour. 161 Staff tour, A Div, Commandant. 162 Staff tour, B Div, Commandant. 163 Precis of lecture – “Gunnery as affecting other arms”, B Div, Lt Col Crozier. 164Lecture administrative arrangements in small wars, B Div, Br Gen Farmar. 165 Precis of lecture – A.4 “organization of the British army”, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 166 Tables – establishment of strength British Army &c, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 167 Precis of lecture – Salamanca (4), B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 168 Precis of lecture – Waterloo campaign – Paper I, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 169 Precis of artillery lecture no 7 development of artillery tactics, A Div, Lt Col Broad.170 Outdoor exercise No 12 preparation of a tactical scheme, A Div, Br Gen Dill. 171 Outdoor exercise No 13 “offensive battle: conduct of the battle”, A Div, Col Anley. 172 Precis of lecture – “Imperial strategy” IV, A&B Div, Br Gen Charles. 173 Precis of lecture – “Indian frontier warfare” L of C & administration, A & B Div, Student’s lecture. 174 Paper H. Military history, B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 175 Precis of lecture – campaign in Palestine & Syria, B Div, Student lecture. 176 Precis of lecture – submarines & their method of attack, A & B Div, Comdr. Hall. 177 Special paper: organization Cav. Div, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 178 Special paper: organization div medical services, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 179 Indoor exercise No 9 army artillery instruction of an offensive, A Div, Lt Col Broad. 180 Indoor ex No 11: offensive & Outdoor ex No 13: battle, B Div, Lt Col Collins. 181 Precis of lecture 8 development of artillery tactics, A Div, Lt Col Broad. 182 Indoor exercise No 10 “clearing the battlefield”, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 183 Precis of lecture A.5 clearing the battlefield, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 184 Precis of lecture – final evacuation of Gallipoli, A Div, Maj Dawnay. 165 Precis of lecture – organization of the Indian army, B Div, Lt Col Crozier. 186 Precis of lecture – E African campaign, B Div, Lt Col Giffard. 187 Outdoor Ex no 14 cavalry, A Div, Lt Col Osborne. 188 Special paper on div medical services, B Div, Lt Col Venning. 189 Lecture notes on “Aeroplanes”, A Div, Lt Col Holt. 190 Special paper – organization infantry division, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 191 Agenda for general staff conference, B Div, Br Gen Kearsley. 192 Special paper – W.E. Cav Regt etc, B Div, Lt Col Venning. 193 Precis of lecture – pay staff duties, B Div, Lt Col Venning. 194 Precis of lecture – artillery (R.A.B) Bde & Bty tactics, B Div, Lt Col Crozier. 195 Precis of lecture – Cav (3) cavalry staff duties, B Div, Lt Col Osborne. 196 Precis of lecture – food supply in war, A&B Div, Br Gen Charles. 197 Exercise – reconnaissance, B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 198 Precis of lecture – Tanks (2) “Co-operation of tanks with other arms”, A&B Div, Lt Col Neame. 199 Indoor exercise No 12 message writing, B Div, Lt Col Venning. 200 Precis of lecture – “A & Q” (11) man power, B Div, Lt Col Liddell.

301 Indoor exercise No 15: administrative problems, A Div, Lt Col Venning. 302 Subject anti-tank defence, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 303 Precis of lecture: 2nd Afghan War 1st phase, A & B Div, Br Gen Charles. 304 Precis of lecture: transportation with special reference to railways and railheads, A & B Div, Lt Col Grubb. 305 Indoor exercise: Corps Cavalry, B Div, Lt Col Osborne. 306 Precis of lecture: staff duties (10), A Div, Lt Col Collins. 307 Precis of lecture: 2nd Afghan War 1st Phase (II), A & B Div, Br Gen Charles. 308 Precis of lecture: retreat 1914, A Div, Lt Col Perkins. 309 Agenda Conference 11/11/19, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 310 Precis of lecture: 2nd Afghan War 1st Phase (III), A & B Div, Br Gen Charles. 311 Indoor exercise No 15: Administrative Problems (solutions), A Div, Lt Col Venning. 312 Outdoor exercise No 19: Tactical exercise with troops, B Div, Lt Col Collins. 313 Precis of lecture: minor tactics and inf. Formations, A Div, Lt Col Freyberg. 314 Indoor exercise No 16: Staff duties (orders), A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 315 Precis of lecture: Ludendorff, A Div, Lt Col Cornwall. 316 Agenda conference 11/11/19, A Div, Col Anley. 317 Precis of lecture: freedom of the sea, A&B Div, Lt Col Pigott. 318 Notes on conference 30/10/19, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 319 Conference notes: outdoor exercise no 17: preparation of a scheme for a tactical exercise with troops, A Div, Br Gen Dill. 320 Syllabus of lecture: the seamanship of combined operations, A&B Div, Capt Egerton RN. 321 Precis of lecture: combined naval & military operations, A&B Div, Lt Col Festing. 322 Naval & military exercise Parts 1 & 2, A&B Div, Br Gen Charles. 323 Agenda for conference: anti tank defence, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 324 Conference notes: anti tank defence, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 325 Precis of lecture: history of M G [machine gun] development, A Div, Maj Cameron. 326 Precis of lecture: M G [machine gun] fire direction, A Div, Lt Col Charteris. 327 Precis of lecture: Provost duties in peace and war, B Div, Lt Col Venning. 328 Conference 11/11/19: inf. Formations in the attack, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 329 Precis of lecture: machine guns in the attack, A Div, Col Anley. 330 Precis of lecture: ordnance services, B Div, Lt Col Grubb. 331 Precis of lecture: night operations, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 332 Precis of lecture: east coast defences, A Div, Maj Rowan. 333 Precis of lecture: Japan, A Div, Lt Col Piggott. 334 Precis of lecture: the evolution of the tank and its influence on future tactics, A&B Div, Col J.F.C.Fuller. 335 Agenda Conference 25/11/19: night attacks, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 336 Precis lecture: intelligence, B Div, Lt Col Piggott. 337 Precis of lecture: administrative staff duties in peace, A Div, Br Gen Anderson. 338 Precis of lecture R.A.8: development of artillery tactics, B Div, Lt Col Crozier. 339 Agenda conference 25/11/19: night attacks, A Div, Br Gen Dill. 340 Outdoor exercise No 23: arrangements for Div training, A Div, Lt Col Grubb. 341 Indoor exercise No 16: preparation for the inspection of a division, B Div, Lt Col Wingfield. 342 Precis lecture R.A.9: Development of arty. Tactics 1914-1918, B Div, Lt Col Crozier. 343 Precis lecture: petroleum supply in war, A Div, Maj Hopwood. 344 War Game 1.12.19, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 344a War game 1.12.19, B Div, Br Gen Charles. 345 Precis of lecture: convening & checking courts martial, A Div, Lt Col Venning. 346 Indoor exercise No 17: checking courts martial, A Div, Lt Col Venning. 347 Precis of opening remarks on discussion of exploitation of success, B Div, Lt Col Collins. 348 Agenda. Conference 6/12/19: morale: on rising [sic] the soldiers moral in war, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 349 Conference notes: “night attack”, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 350 Signal lecture III. A & B Div, Lt Col C-Smith. 351 War Game 4.12.19, A Div, Lt Col Osborne. 352 Precis of lecture & maps: Sinai operations, B Div, Lt Col Farr. 353 Precis of signal lecture IV, A&B Div, Lt Col C-Smith. 354 Artillery lecture No 12: counter battery work and art. Intelligence, A Div, Lt Col Broad. 355 Precis of lecture on mines warfare, A&B Div, Lt Col Williams. 356 Precis of lecture: the Canadian forces, B Div, Lt Col Alexandra. 357 Conference Dec 6th: means of raising a soldiers morale in war, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 358 Precis of lecture: “interior economy”, B Div, Lt Col Venning. 359 Conference 9.12.19 on defence, B Div, Lt Col Collins. 360 Signals exercise, A&B Div, Lt Col C-Smith. 361 2 maps: campaign of Sir J Moore, B Div, Maj Fellows. 362 Maps of Australia: to illustrate lecture on organization of Australian forces, A Div, Lt Col Somerville. 363 Indoor exercise No 17: checking courts martial, B Div, Lt Col Venning. 364 War Game 15.12.19, B Div, Lt Col Haskard. 365 Precis of lecture: interior economy, A Div, Lt Col Venning. 366 Conference on intelligence duties, 13th Dec 1919, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 367 Indoor exercise No 19: staff duties, A Div, Lt Col Luckock. 368 Conference 17.12.19: counter attacks, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 369 Diagram “Ramps”: embarkation & disembarkation, A Div, Lt Col Grubb. 370 Precis of lecture: the New Zealand forces, B Div, Maj Bremner. 371 Precis of lecture: organization of Canadian forces, A Div, Lt Col Boak. 372 Precis of lecture: staff duties in defence, B Div, Lt Col Neame. 373 R.E Lecture No 5, A&B Div, Lt Col Neame. 374 Artillery in defence, B Div, Lt Col Wynter. 375 Precis of lecture: mobilization, A&B Div, Lt Col Liddell. 376 Conference notes: soldiers morale in modern war, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 377 Precis of lecture: South African defence force, B Div, Capt Prine. 378 Maps illustrating preparations for an offensive, B Div, Maj Priestman. 379 Notes on the conference on defence 9.12.19, B Div, Br Gen Kearley. 380 Precis of lecture: campaign in Mesopotamia, A Div, Lt Col Bond. 381 Precis “Royal Military College of Canada”m A Div, Lt Col Neame. 382 Precis of lecture: territorial forces, A Div, Lt Col Grubb. 383 Precis of lecture: campaign in the Balkans, A Div, Maj Lucy. 384 Precis: development of platoon organization & tactics in France, A Div, Lt Col Pearkes. 385 Agenda conference: counter attacks 18.12.18, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 386 Notes on games & sports in the Army, A Div, Lt Col Liddell. 387 Precis of lecture: Italian campaign 1915-18 (with maps), A Div, Maj Richardson. 388 Indoor exercise No 20: corps mounted troops, A Div, Lt Col Osborne. 389 Precis of lecture: tactical turning movement in a division, B Div, Maj Blewitt. 390 List of student lectures 1919, A Div, Br Gen Dill. 391 List of outdoor & indoor exercises: winter term, A Div, Br Gen Dill. 392 List of weekly conferences, A Div, Br Gen Dill. 393 List of outdoor lectures, A&B Div, Br Gen Dill. 394 List of exercises: winter term, B Div, Br Gen Kearsley. 395 List of students lectures 1919, B Div, Br Gen Kearsley. 396 Conference notes: infantry tactics in the attack, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 397 Conference notes: counter attacks, A Div, Lt Col Neame. 398 Precis of lecture: campaign in the Balkans, A Div, Lt Col Stevens. 399 List of outdoor & indoor exercises, May to July, A Div. 400 List of papers & lecture, May to July, A Div.

Collection of books, papers and photographs relating to the Stephens family of Fowley, [1887-1980], comprising unsorted papers, newspaper cuttings, photographs and postcards relating to the Stephens family and their ships. Including the following: Lloyd's Register certificate confirming classification of the LITTLE SECRET, 1887. Bill of lading and charter party documents for the RIPPLING WAVE, 1890-1892. Bill of lading and charter party documents for the ISABELLA, 1894-1908. Statement of general average for the LITTLE MYSTERY, Captain J.H. Greet, from Herring Neck, Newfoundland, to Figueira with a cargo of codfish, 1905. Statement of general average for the R.T.K., Captain Henry Purches, from Batteau, Labrador, to Seville with a cargo of codfish, 1905. Board of Trade Examination of Oath document for Robert Acford, master of the R.T.K., lost after a collision in 1910. Folder of typescript reports relating to damage and loss of cargo during the voyage of the ISABELLA from Newfoundland bound for Oporto, 1911-1912. Last log of the ISABELLA, 22 April to 11 October 1913. Original photographs of the vessels JANE BANKS, LITTLE GEM, LITTLE MYSTERY, MARIA JOSE, OCEAN SWELL, SPINAWAY and others.

Papers of Sir Henry Frederick Stephenson. There are letterbooks for 1868 and 1880 to 1883, and a printed account of the court martial following the loss of the RATTLER. Most of the collection relates to the Arctic expedition, 1875 to 1876. It includes Stephenson's diary in three volumes, a letter-book, a book of general proceedings of the DISCOVERY, a rough survey book and a scrapbook, with letters and orders from Nares and some other loose papers. There are also printed volumes of the official reports of the expedition and of earlier arctic expeditions.

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 reports and memoranda on design and construction of landships, 1915; plans, drawings and blueprints for landships and tanks, 1915-1916; 'Notes on the employment of tanks' by Col Ernest Dunlop Swinton, printed at the Foreign Office, 1916; 'Mechanical warfare, a summary of British tank development, 1914-1918', typescript text by Stern, [1925]; papers relating to the establishment of the Allied Tank Factory at Neuvy Pailloux, Chateauroux, France, dated 1917-1918; notes and reports by Lt J Rackham and George Watson relating to the use of tanks on the Western Front, 1917; 'The tactical employment of tanks in 1918', unofficial report by Col John Frederick Charles Fuller, 1917; correspondence and memoranda relating to Ministry of Supply Special Vehicle Development Committee and the Tank Board, 1939-1943, and the design and development of TOG heavy tanks, 1939-1944, including correspondence with Rt Hon Edward Leslie Burgin, Minister of Supply, 1939-1940, Rt Hon Herbert Stanley Morrison, Minister of Supply, 1940, Rt Hon Sir Andrew Rae Duncan, Minister of Supply, 1940-1941 and 1942, Rt Hon William Maxwell Aitken Beaverbrook, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Minister of Supply, 1941-1942, Sir James Lithgow, Chairman of the Tank Board, 1941, and Rt Hon Winston (Leonard Spencer) Churchill 1940-1942, Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister of Defence, Sir William Tritton of Tritton, Foster and Co, and Cdr R H Stokes-Rees, 1943-1944; official reports by Lt Col Gordon Hall on British and Italian use of tanks in the Middle East, 1940-1941, dated 1941; specifications and technical reports relating to tanks, 1939-1944; minutes of Special Vehicle Development Committee, 1939-1942; papers relating to investigation of Stern's position in the Ministry of Supply, 1942, dated 1939-1942, including transcriptions of interviews with Stern, 1942; correspondence and memoranda relating to Stern's evidence before the Sub-Committee on National Production and Supply of the House of Commons Select Committee on National Expenditure; publications and printed material relating to tanks, 1915-1919, 1939-1946, 1959; photographs, 1915-1918, 1939-1945, principally comprising British, French and Canadian photographs of tanks, 1915-1918; photographs of TOG tanks, 1939-1942; films concerning the development of the tank, 1918, 1941-1942, 1957. Other papers relating to his life and career, notably including photographs relating to his service with the Royal Naval Air Service, 1914-1915; copies of personal correspondence, 1918-1919.

Papers of William Stewart, consisting of letters to Sir William, 1879 to 1884, including those from the First Lord, William Henry Smith (1825-1891) and other private correspondents. His period in the Marlborough is represented by letters as well as a book of remarks on the discipline of the ship. There is a book entitled the 'Dimensions, cost etc. of H.M. Ships built under contract and in the Dockyards', 1860 to 1873. The collection also contains the proceedings of the Naval Brigade attached to the expeditionary force for the relief of Tokar in 1884 when Lieutenant Houston Stewart, Sir William's son, in command of the Right Half-Battery, was killed at the action of El Teb. A midshipman's log for the ARIADNE, Portsmouth, 1871, MINOTAUR, Channel Squadron, 1872, and NARCISSUS, West Indies, October 1872 to 1873, belonged to Lieutenant Houston Stewart. Finally there are a few letters written to Sir William's father, Sir Houston Stewart, between 1853 and 1854 when Sir Houston was Superintendent of Malta Dockyard.

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 Wakefield Street, foreword by Sir Fitzroy Hew Maclean, 1st Bt, with seven photographs, 1938-1945. Sixty one photographs relating to Street's career, 1938-1960, including rebellion in Palestine, 1938-1939, and Middle East, 1940-1943. Edition of Blackwood's Magazine, Mar 1947, with article by Street entitled 'Some men have nine lives', an account of the escape from the Italian submarine, 1943. Printed programme of official visit to Aden by Julian Amery MP, Under Secretary of State for War, and Gen Sir Geoffrey Kemp Bourne, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Land Forces, Sep-Oct 1957, with typescript itineraries of visit and four photographs. Newspaper cuttings and related papers on the award of the MC to Street, Palestine, 1938, the evacuation from Greece, 1941, and the escape from the Italian submarine, 1943.

Papers of Frank Clarke Strick comprising minutes of the Board of Directors' and General Meetings, profit and loss accounts and annual returns of the numerous companies which made up the Strick group, 1896 to 1974. These include Frank C. Strick and Company Limited, 1903 to 1965; Anglo-Algerian Steamship Company (1896) Limited, 1896 to 1922; London, Paris and Marseilles Steamship Company Limited (later London and Paris Steamship Company Limited -- later London and Paris Steamship and Investment Company Limited), 1920 to 1965; Strick Line Limited, 1915 to 1970; Strick Line (1923) Limited, 1924 to 1958; the Shahristan Steamship Company Limited, 1923 to 1971; the Dwina Limited, 1908 to 1965; Strick, Gorchs and Company Limited, 192] to 1965: the North Devon Steamship Company Limited (later Frank Strick and Company (South Wales) Limited), 1923 to 1965; United Ship Supplies Limited, 1930 to 1965; Strick, Scott and Company Limited, 1921; Frank Strick and Company (Glasgow) Limited, 1920 to 1971, (Newcastle) 1931 to 1976 and (Liverpool) 1954 to 1974. There are ships' voyage accounts and cargo documents for a number of ships from 1969 to 1971; six freight contracts of 1914 and the 1922 management agreement between Strick's and Gray Dawes; and two letterbooks with out-letters to Government Ministries and Departments, 1909 to 1918. Finally, there are some technical records and publicity and personal material relating to Strick; included here is a memorandum on 'Ormuz' Red Oxide ore which gives details of rates and shipments, 1906 to 1942.

Papers of Capt Lord William Stuart. They consist of order books, 1799 to 1810 and 1811 to 1814; logs, 1811 and 1813 to 1814; in and out-letterbooks, 1809 to 1814, and loose papers, which are mainly orders received from the Admiralty, Ordnance, Navy and Victualling Offices and various senior officers, 1811 to 1814. There are also requests for surveys, returns and other administrative ships' papers, 1811 to 1814.

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 the manuscript of Swinton's book Eyewitness. Being personal reminiscences of certain phases of the Great War, including the genesis of the tank (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1932). Two scrapbooks containing cuttings, photographs and memorabilia, 1915-1970, mostly relating to Swinton's military career. Edition of The supply of munitions. Part III. Tanks [1920], Royal Commission on awards to inventors. First Report (HMSO, London, 1921), The defence of Duffer's Drift by Swinton, (George Ronald, Oxford, 1949), and War commentary. Broadcasts delivered between October, 1939 and March, 1940 (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1940).

Records, 1869-1967, of John Swire & Sons Ltd, comprising the bulk of known surviving material stored in the London Office, covering the development of the firm from about 1870 to 1947, and including series of correspondence coming in and out of the London Office; legal material including original deeds and leases; accounts; organisation papers; and photographs. The importance of the collection lies in the comprehensiveness of the nineteenth and twentieth century correspondence in illustrating the development of the firm and its subsidiaries from the London side where policies were decided, and from the Eastern side where they were implemented. It also gives a good picture of leading figures and firms involved in the Far Eastern trade at that time such as Jardine, Matheson & Company, the China Merchants Company and Holt's, and reveals aspects of Chinese trade and British business philosophy at the end of the Victorian era.

Papers of Ralph Thrale, 1916-1984, mainly relating to the Royal Observer Corps, including: memoir 'Seaborne', co-authored by Thrale, detailing experiences of Thrale and a colleague while Royal Observer Corps 'Seaborne' volunteers posted to merchant shipping as aircraft identifiers, 1944; Thrale's Royal Navy certificate of service, 1944, and Royal Observer Corps certificate of war service, 1946.

The collection also includes publications collected by Thrale on related topics, including books: Aircraft of the fighting powers by H J Cooper and O G Thetford (Harborough Publishing Company, Leicester, 1941); Britain's wonderful Air Force edited by Air Cdre Peregrine Forbes Morant Fellowes (Odhams Press, London, 1942); Forewarned is forearmed: the authorized history of the Royal Observer Corps by T E Winslow (William Hodge & Co, London, 1948) and Observers' tale: the story of Group 17 of the ROC edited by H Ramsden Whitty, Commandant, 17 Group, Royal Observer Corps (London, 1950). Journals: The Journal of the Royal Observer Corps Club, Oct 1941-Nov 1942 and an incomplete run of Aircraft recognition Sep 1942-Sep 1984. Ministry of Information publications: The Battle of Britain, August-October 1940 (HMSO, 1941); Coastal Command (HMSO, 1943) and Combined Operations, 1940-1942 (HMSO, 1943). Also The Bystander's Fragments from France, volumes of cartoons by Bruce Bairnsfather detailing life in the trenches (numbers 1-6, c 1916-1918) and article, 'The reply to English propaganda' by Joseph Paul Goebbels, translated from German and reprinted from Völkischer Beobachter, 14 Jul 1939.

Papers of Sir Cecil Fiennes Thursby. The papers include a number of official orders and reports, some relating to Thursby's time as Captain of HMS SWIFTSURE in 1909. Many more concerned with the Dardenelles campaign, especially the Gallipoli landings and subsequent evacuation. Also present in the collection are British Adriatic Reports for 1916-17, reports on the 1917 Conference of Corfu, letters to Thursby during his time in the Eastern Mediterranean and reports on the use of submarine chasers.

Draft of a short late 18th century tract on the legal implications of the inspection of shipping at sea, with particular reference to an incident between Great Britain and Sweden concerning the ship 'Mary', and beginning 'I come at once to state in as plain & concise terms as I am m[aste]r of & with as much impartiality as possible ye questio]n now in dispute between this country & Sweden relative to ye ship Mary...'.

The records consist of issues of TOT magazines, 1930, and a souvenir programme of a rugby match between London Underground Railways and the Union Sportive du Metropolitain of Paris, 1930.

Papers relating to British railway history, especially that of the Great Western Railway (GWR) and railways in the London area, including books, maps, periodicals, timetables and several thousand photographs, c1920s-1980s. The books represent a strong collection on British railway history from earliest times to the early 1980s. The collection is less strong in periodicals but there are some substantial runs of major titles. There is a large collection of early railway maps including Airey and Railway Clearing House (RCH) maps; also Ordnance Survey maps and railway junction diagrams, and a substantial collection of Bradshaw guides, and working and passenger timetables, with the following archival material:

Clinker Collection comprising notes and correspondence relating to the publications of Charles Ralph Clinker on railway history, particularly his Register of closed passenger stations and goods depots in England, Scotland and Wales, 1830-1977 (1963, revised 1978) and papers relating to his 1982 revision of the History of the Great Western Railway (London, 1964) by E T MacDermot; timetables, including those for the Bristol area, 1880s-1970s; General Strike, 1926; timetables during other strikes, 1920s; Great Western and Midland, various notices; Midland and South Western Junction Railway timetables, 1885-1947; operation instructions, GWR, London Midland and Scottish (LMS), London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), Southern Railway (SR); GWR working of stations, 1939-1965; LMS Railway train marshalling, 1943-1944; LMS timetables, 1890s-1940s; train arrangements during World War One and World War Two, 1914-1918, 1939-1945; papers relating to Broadgauge conversion; papers relating to Golden Valley Railway and Leominster-Kington Railway; ephemera relating to the Hay Railway, 1811-1977; Southern Railway plans for stations west of Salisbury, 1905- (mainly 1920s-1930s); Severn Bridge, General Manager's file, 1936-1943; logging of train performances, 1918-1927; books and periodicals, including rare and 19th century printed material on the early railway system, particularly guidebooks and station instructions.

Garnett Collection, mainly comprising railway maps, particularly those produced from 1869 by John Airey, an employee of the RCH, and subsequently by the RCH itself, and also includes Ordnance Survey maps and railway maps produced by the various railway companies; catalogues and research notes by Garnett, including lists of maps prepared by Airey and the RCH, 1869-1960; Macaulay [Zachary] series for Great Britain, Ireland and London, 1851-1908; notes on tramways and railways in Port Talbot area; catalogues of station handbooks, 1851-1956, and railway junction diagrams (the Airey and RCH maps, station handbooks and junction diagrams were used to determine ownership of stations and junctions for commercial purposes).

Research notes and photographs relating to Railway structures by Stuart Kear (9 vols); typescript of Chronology of the construction of Britain's railways, 1856-1922 by Leslie James; research notes by John Palmer on 19th century railway periodicals and the Eastern Counties Railway in its formative years; research notebooks and papers of Harold Vernon Borley on the history of railways in London, used for his Chronology of London railways (Railway and Canal Historical Society, Oakham, 1982).

Locomotive and General Railway Collection, featuring several thousand photographs (photographer unknown) of British locomotives, particularly steam trains, 1920s-1970s.

Wookey Collection, comprising several thousand photographs of British railway stations and signal boxes.

Mowat Collection (of Professor Charles Loch Mowat, 1911-c1969), comprising 2500 photographs in albums of railway scenes, 1926-1969 (mostly 1942-1969, with a few before 1924). These are mostly of small and medium sized railway stations (trains are generally incidental), covering most of the United Kingdom, with particular emphasis on the GWR and Wales, with coverage of Somerset and Dorset, Midland and South Western Junction, Lincolnshire, Midland Railway in the West Country, Great Eastern, Glasgow and Edinburgh Suburban, Bristol Suburban, Ireland, and narrow gauge lines in the UK such as Ffestiniog, Penrhyn, Bishop's Castle and Ditton's Prior. He also covered south east of Manchester in 1962, including the Hayfield, Macclesfield, Buxton (London North Western and Midland) and North Staffordshire lines. The collection also includes Mowat's index to his photographs and 14 notebooks containing track diagrams and notes on the stations he photographed, c1920-1969.

Cross country (Hothersall and Travers, Sittinbourne, 1990), a biography of James Lindsay Travers, 1883-1924, Herbert Gardner Travers, 1891-1958, Charles Tindal Travers, 1898-1969, notably including details of James Lindsay Travers' experiments with seaplanes and flying boats, 1909-1914, and of the brothers' service in World War One with the Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps and RAF, written by E Travers, the daughter of Herbert Gardner Travers, and privately published in 1990. Includes extracts from the brothers' letters and from Herbert Gardner Travers' flying log-books.