Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1903-1933] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
3 vols, 1 box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Tait entered the Navy in 1902 and served in the Pacific from 1903 to February, 1905, in the GRAFTON, and then in the Mediterranean, in the DRAKE. He went to the FLORA, China, in 1908 and became a lieutenant in 1909. In 1910 he joined the Home Fleet, serving in a number of ships, including the HINDUSTAN and the COLLINGWOOD until 1912. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1917, commander in 1921 and captain in 1926. After a course at Greenwich, Tait returned to sea in 1928 and took command of four cruisers; these included the CAPETOWN in 1929 and the DELHI in 1930, on the America and West Indies Station. He was appointed Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence in 1932 and in 1933 went out to the Far East to report on the possibility of an outbreak of hostilities with Japan. In 1938 he became a rear-admiral and in 1941 was appointed vice-admiral and Commander-in-Chief, African Station. On his appointment as Governor of Southern Rhodesia in 1944, he retired and was promoted to admiral in 1945.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0064 TAI [1903-1933] Collection 3 vols, 1 box Tait , Sir , William Eric Campbell , 1886-1946 , Knight , Admiral
Tait entered the Navy in 1902 and served in the Pacific from 1903 to February, 1905, in the GRAFTON, and then in the Mediterranean, in the DRAKE. He went to the FLORA, China, in 1908 and became a lieutenant in 1909. In 1910 he joined the Home Fleet, serving in a number of ships, including the HINDUSTAN and the COLLINGWOOD until 1912. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1917, commander in 1921 and captain in 1926. After a course at Greenwich, Tait returned to sea in 1928 and took command of four cruisers; these included the CAPETOWN in 1929 and the DELHI in 1930, on the America and West Indies Station. He was appointed Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence in 1932 and in 1933 went out to the Far East to report on the possibility of an outbreak of hostilities with Japan. In 1938 he became a rear-admiral and in 1941 was appointed vice-admiral and Commander-in-Chief, African Station. On his appointment as Governor of Southern Rhodesia in 1944, he retired and was promoted to admiral in 1945.
The papers were deposited on loan by Tait's daughter, Mrs S. L. Ashton, in 1962.
Papers of Sir William Eric Campbell Tait containing two logs, 1903 to 1905, a photograph album, 1908 to 1914, and loose papers; these include letters of proceedings, 1929 to 1930, remarks on the officers and men of the Argentine Navy, on Brazilian and American naval personnel, and intelligence reports, 1932 to 1933.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
English
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
Edited by Sarah Drewery, Oct 2011.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
2010-08-26 Naval affairs Ships logs Tait , Sir , William Eric Campbell , 1886-1946 , Knight , Admiral Military affairs Primary documents Military science Documents Information sources Social sciences
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers were deposited on loan by Tait's daughter, Mrs S. L. Ashton, in 1962.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Sir William Eric Campbell Tait containing two logs, 1903 to 1905, a photograph album, 1908 to 1914, and loose papers; these include letters of proceedings, 1929 to 1930, remarks on the officers and men of the Argentine Navy, on Brazilian and American naval personnel, and intelligence reports, 1932 to 1933.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
The location of the originals is unknown.
Existence and location of copies
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Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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Description control area
Description identifier
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Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English