Showing 913 results

Papers relating to schooldays at Tonbridge Castle, The Towers in Crowthorne and Wellington College, including school reports. 8pp

Letter from W J Maunsell, Adjutant of 2 Scottish Rifles, informing O'Connor that signallers of 2 Bn were not of the required standard in the recent classification test used to grade signallers, known as the Helio sending tests. 1p

Letter from Col C P H Carter, informing O'Connor that he must either prove irregularities in the classification by Capt Haldane, or withdraw his criticisms of the test unconditionally. With copies of O'Connor's letters to Lt Col J C Stormonth Darling (Scottish Rifles) and letter from Capt E F Barker (Instructor at the Signalling School, Aldershot) concerning the classification procedure. 6pp

Copy of covering letter to Maunsell, sent with O'Connor's report on the classification of signallers (not included). 1p

Part of a cablegram informing O'Connor of the planned Court of Inquiry, and requesting him to send a detailed report on the classification of signallers of 2 Bn. 1p

The Helio Sending Tests', account of the standard required and method of carrying out the test, and classification of various battalions; presumably presented at the Court of Inquiry. 4pp

Part of the transcript of questions and answers concerning the classification, presumably taken from the Court of Inquiry. 2pp

Letter from Maunsell, conveying the pleasure of the CO on results of recent classification test of signallers in 2 Bn, Scottish Rifles. 1p

Diary covering service as Bde Maj in 185 Bde, 62 Div in the Miraumont area on the Somme; plans for attack on Achiet le Petit, 7 Mar; contacts with 91 Div, especially Owen Morshead, Staff Captain; attack on Bucquoy, 14 Mar and criticism of the attack; attack by 91 Div at Croiselles on 28 Mar; advance on Hindenberg Line on 9 Apr; losses to 185 Bde and transfer of HQ to Ecoust on Apr 11; plans for attack on Bullecourt on 13 Apr, subsequent cancellation and return to Gommecourt; further attacks on Bullecourt, Apr-May; combined attack of 91 and 62 Div on Bullecourt, 11-12 May; replacement of Brig Gen R H Cumming of 91 Div on 12 May; leave taken in England, 19-30 May; awarded DSO, appointed temporary Lt Col and transferred as commander to 2 Infantry Bn, Honourable Artillery Company (part of 7 Div) in Jun; attendance at lectures and demonstrations during Jun; description of HQ at Ecoust and improvements achieved in 2 Infantry Bn, 1 Jul; wiring competition on 16 Jul; preparations for transfer to front on 18 Jul and reasons for abandonment of attack on 22 Jul; transfer to new camp at Hendrycourt-les-Ransarts and leave taken in Paris during Aug; reconnoitre of front line near Hooge and Polygon Wood in Ypres, 29 Sep in preparation for battles in Passchendaele area; attack begun on 4 Oct, with 2 Infantry Bn in reserve; preparations for attack on Reutel and account of battle on 9 Oct and relief on 10 Oct; march back to Meteren on 13 Oct; account of attack at Gheluvelt on 26 Oct (2 Infantry Bn initially in reserve); death of servant Pte Wyatt (referred to as the 'Faithful One') on 28 Oct; leave taken in England and recall for transfer to Italian front in Nov; arrival at Legnago on 25 Nov and march to Orgiano, 2 Nov; billet and training near Trevignano; arrival in Ramon, 11 Dec; reconnoitre of Possagno-Crespano area on 16 Dec. 1 vol

Newspaper cuttings from The Times, The Daily Mail and The Morning Post including lists of names of those mentioned in despatches, Feb 1915, Jan 1916 and Jan 1917; and New Year's Honours list, Jan 1917. 6pp

Correspondence including Gen Sir Leslie Rundle, referring to Rundle's command of a new army training centre in Wiltshire; and Lt Col W D Croft, referring to vacancy in 9 Bn, Scottish Rifles. With group photograph, including Sgt Deveney, temporarily O'Connor's signal sergeant. 6pp, 1 photograph

Newspaper cuttings from The Times relating to operations on Italian Front, comprising report by Lord Cavan, Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in Italy, on capture of Grave di Papadopoli, 24 Oct 1918; citation for award to O'Connor of a Bar to DSO, won at Grave di Papadopoli; and Lord Cavan's list of mentions for gallant service and devotion to duty by troops in Italy. 3pp

Diary, including reconnoitre of Piave area, 13 Jan; transfer to Giaveri, arriving 17 Jan and visit by Prince of Wales on 21 Jan; reconnaissance of Piave river for possible crossings, 23-24 Jan; bombardment of village at Sernaglia, 25 Jan; account of attendance with French officers at instruction course in Garda from 28 Jan to 16 Feb, covering tactics, weaponry and equipment; raid on 22 Apr (area not specified); leave taken in Rome and Naples during Apr and May; report by deserter of imminent Austrian attack and Italian advances in Montillo area, 15 Jun; capture by Italian forces of Val Bella, 29 Jun; daylight reconnaissance patrol sent out against Austrian lines and resulting casualties, 29 Jun; leave taken in England from 19 Jul to 11 Aug; detailed account of operations 24 Oct to 4 Nov, including capture of island of Grave di Papadopoli on River Piave on 26 Oct and in the Tagliomento area; armistice and appraisal of military abilities of various personnel, 4 Nov; transfer to Imst as British occupying force, 30 Nov. 1 vol

Letters relating to service as temp Lt Col, 2 Bn Honourable Artillery Company, including those from Corps Cdr Lt Gen Sir James Babington and operations to capture Grave di Papadopoli in Oct 1918. 12pp

Copy of remarks (sources unnamed) on improvement of signallers in the battalion. 1p

Diary, including dinner held for Italian and French officers on 8 Jan; demobilisation of various friends during Jan; journey to Montecchio, arriving at battalion depot on 15 Jan to discuss reinforcements and return to Imst on 21 Jan; arrival of relieving battalion, 22 Manchesters and departure of 2 Infantry Bn on 22 Feb; travel in Italy during Feb and Mar, including Mantova, Vicenza, Florence and Milan; arrival in England on 14 Mar; hunting with the North Warwickshire and Pytchley; investiture for DSO and Bar at Buckingham Palace on 5 Apr; lessons in French, German, Italian and dancing in London during Apr-May; offered post of adjutant to 2 Scottish Rifles in India on 19 May; dinner at Blackheath in honour of reserve battalion of Honourable Artillery Company, including tribute to O'Connor, 29 May; French and German exams on 17 and 18 Jun; return to 2 Bn Scottish Rifles based in Colchester, Essex on 27 Jun; account of Victory March through London (O'Connor as adjutant of the Bn) on 19 Jul; clashes between Scottish Rifles and Bedfordshire regiment in Colchester on 9 and 10 Aug; comments on railway strike in Sep and Oct; embarkation at Tilbury on the BHAMO for India on 7 Oct and departure on 9 Oct; account of journey via the Mediterranean and Suez Canal; arrival in Bombay harbour and disembarkation on 1 Nov; arrival in Rawalpindi by train on 5 Nov; description of barracks at Rawalpindi, 6 Nov; criticism of staff and organisation, 14 Nov; informed of selection for Staff College course, starting in Jan 1920 on Dec 11; sailed for England on 24 Dec. 1 vol

Copies of and extracts from confidential reports on military career, with remarks by commanding officers including Brig Gen James Steele, 22 Infantry Bde; Brig H C Jackson, Experimental Bde; Lt Col E B Ferrers, The Cameronians; and Lt Gen Philip Chetwode, Aldershot Command. 7pp

Papers relating to appointment as Bde Maj of the Experimental Brigade (also known as 5 Infantry Bde) in Aldershot. 3pp

Letters concerning O'Connor's (unsuccessful) application to return to regimental duty, correspondents including Brig Gen Henry Jackson; and G W Howard and Octavius Nicholson at the War Office. 7pp

Letters referring to offer of post of General Staff Officer 2, Aldershot Command to O'Connor, including official letter approving appointment, 16 Aug 1923. (Offer not taken up). 4pp