Collection DAVIDSON, FHN - DAVIDSON, Maj Gen Francis Henry Norman (1892-1973)

Key Information

Reference code

DAVIDSON, FHN

Title

DAVIDSON, Maj Gen Francis Henry Norman (1892-1973)

Date(s)

  • 1935-1972 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent

1 box or 0.01 cubic metres

Scope and content

The collection consists of pamphlets written by Davidson, papers relating to his part in the Allied Military Mission to Moscow, USSR, 1939 and papers relating to his career in World War Two as Commander in the Royal Artillery and as Director of Military Intelligence. The World War Two material includes maps used in the retreat of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) to Dunkirk, France, maps used as Director of Military Intelligence to illustrate the progress of the war to Queen Mary, mother of George VI and a personal diary kept while Director of Military Intelligence. There is also a file containing correspondence with E E Thomas of the Cabinet Office Historical Section relating to aspects of Military Intelligence during World War Two.

System of arrangement

The papers are arranged chronologically in sections.

General Information

Name of creator

(1892-1973)

Biographical history

Born 1892; educated at Marlborough and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; commisioned into the Royal Regt Artillery 1911; served World War One, 1914-1919 (wounded, despatches four times, MC and bar, DSO); Brevet Maj, 1929; Maj 1929; Brevet Lt Col, 1933; Col, 1938; Maj Gen 1941; General Staff Officer Grade 2, Army Headquarters India, 1925-1927; Bde Maj 12 Indian Infantry Bde, 1927-1929; General Staff Officer Grade 2, War Office, 1930-1934; Imperial Defence College Course, 1935-1936; General Staff Officer Grade 2 Staff College, Camberley, 1937-1938; General Staff Officer Grade 1, Division 2, Aldershot, 1938-1939; Commander Corps of Royal Artillery 1 Corps BEF (British Expeditionary Force) 1939-1940; Brig Gen Staff 10 Corps, 1940; Director of Military Intelligence, War Office, 1940-1944; Maj Gen, General Staff British Army Staff, Washington, USA, 1944-1946; retired pay, 1946. Col Commandent Intelligence Corps, 1952-1960; died 1973.

Custodial history

Presented to the Centre in two accessions, by Davidson in 1969 and by E E Thomas of the Cabinet Office Historical Section in 1988

Conditions governing access

Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only.

Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, via the Archives.

Language of material

  • English
  • French

Script of material

Finding aids

This collection level description and detailed catalogue.

Related materials

Davidson's medals are in the Intelligence Corps Museum, Templer Barracks, Ashford, Kent.

Related descriptions

Note

Decorations: CB, DSO, MC

Alternative identifier(s)

Genre access points

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000.

Script(s)

Accession area