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Text of speech by Aston entitled 'Memories of the Marines' broadcast by the BBC from Bournemouth on 23 April 1929 with related papers including correspondence. With a letter from Mrs Arnold Foster and reply from Aston relating to the position of Britain in Europe before World War One and the role that both the army and navy would play in the event of an invasion of France by Germany; correspondence relating to the Falkland Islands during World War One. 1 file

Newspaper cuttings of articles by Aston for The Times reporting on training exercises. With list of list of proposed articles and list of times and places of training exercises for Aldershot and Southern commands. 1 file

Notes, correspondence and newspaper cuttings from the Sunday Despatch collected by Aston for an article on the secret service, including letters to the editor of the _Sunday Despatch _relating to an article written by Aston in the paper on the death in 1916 of FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum. 1 file

Letter from Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, MP relating to the lecture by Aston 'The study of war'; notes by Aston on Austrian Gen Ludwig A von Benedik's operations from 25 Jun 1866 to the eve of the battle of Königgrätz during the Austro-Prussian (seven weeks) War, 1866 including guidelines for composing essays and instructors comments; articles entitled 'The evolution of the British Empire Defence' and 'England in the great strike - a study in national psychology' in 4 parts, a critique of the 1926 General Strike intended for Outlook. With letter from Aston relating to his work for _Outlook _15 May 1926. 1 file

Papers relating to the Dardanelles Campaign Feb 1915 including extract from Aston's diary 5 Jun 1914 entitled 'impressions at Admiralty during past year' which includes comments on Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty and the role of the Committee of Imperial Defence; extract from Hansard 20 Mar 1917 which includes the statement by Asquith on the Royal Commission Report on the Dardanelles Campaign annotated with comments by Aston; notes by Aston on evidence to the Dardanelles Commission, Oct 1916; notes by Aston on the lecture given by Maj Gen Guy Payan Dawnay on the plans for the Dardanelles Campaign; notes by Aston entitled 'Value of direct and indirect fire from ships against forts'; typescript entitled '"Experts" and the conduct of war'; typescript 'Appreciation made in February 1915' on the strategic importance of the western front; press cuttings of extracts from Churchill's war memoirs which relate to the Dardanelles and responses to the memoirs; correspondence between Aston and AF Sir William Henry May, Prince Louis Francis of Battenberg, George Sydenham Clarke, 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe, George Clement Tryon, MP relating to the Dardanelles campaign; letter requesting Aston to give evidence to the Dardanelles Commission, 1917 on direct and indirect fire from ships; typescript summary of The Dardanelles Commission: First Report (Part I - Origins and Inception), (HMSO, London, 1917). 1 file

General Orders issued 10 Apr 1912 noting the cessation of Aston's appointment as Brig Gen General Staff South Africa from 2 Apr 1912 and his entry into the service of the South African Government; report submitted by Aston to the Under Secretary for Defence, Government of South Africa on the special class of South African Staff Officers and others who had completed courses of instruction under Aston's superintendence; letter from Aston to FM Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen relating to Methuen's previous recommendation to the War Office that he be made substantive Colonel and requesting that Methuen repeat the recommendation; letter from Aston to the Under Secretary for Defence, Government of South Africa suggesting amendments in the system of command between the Union Government and both the Military School at Bloemfontein and the District Staff Officers. 1 file

Maps and diagrams, royalty statements, telegrams, press cuttings and correspondence relating to Aston's books, including account [by V Adm John Derwen Allen] of the Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 Dec 1914

Papers, including correspondence relating to Aston's career including papers relating to the award of a good service pension; résumés of career and achievements and list of referees; papers relating to the appointment of Aston as secretary of Naval Reserves Committee, 1902; letter appointing Aston member of Adm Sir Edmond John Warre Slade's committee on naval war staff, 1913; papers relating to the retention of Aston's services by the South African Government after the expiry of his military appointment; circular letter announcing Aston's promotion to Major; paper outlining Aston's experiences and qualifications in military strategy instruction; letters confirming and praising Aston's work on a number of different committees and military appointments; correspondence between Aston and Rt Hon Edward Grey MP relating to the Naval Reserves Committee and Aston's desire to work on the Committee of Imperial Defence. 1 file

Notes and correspondence with Col Charles John Cecil Grant, Lt Gen Sir Archibald Armar Montgomery Massingberd and Maj Gen Charles Parker Deedes relating to an article by Aston on French Marshal Ferdinand Foch. With press cutting relating to a review in The Times and Aston's response to it. 1 file

Papers relating to a film about the Battle of Jutland, May - Jun 1916 including correspondence with John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe and R Adm Wilfrid Allan Egerton; newspaper cuttings and transcripts for the film. With documentation regarding Aston's patent for 'improvements in or in connection with means for use in the study of naval, strategical and tactical problems'. 1 file

Correspondence relating to Aston as Brig Gen Commandant Royal Marine Artillery, Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth including letters from Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, MP, Maj Gen Sir Archibald Paris, Lt Col Edward Roden Cottingham, Adm Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Sea Lord, FM Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen, William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne, Adm Charles William de la Poer Beresford, MP; letters relating to Aston's appointment for special service, Admiralty War Staff; letters from Aston enquiring about further employment at the end of his current appointment at Eastney; correspondence with Hankey regarding congestion in ports; papers relating to Aston's appointment on a committee to consider questions relating to submarines; notes by Aston on the Battle of Jutland, May-Jun 1916 and Jellicoe's strategy at the battle. 1 file

Correspondence relating to Aston's appointment as Assistant Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence which was vetoed by the Treasury including letters from John Arbuthnot Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher, First Sea Lord; R Adm Sir Charles Langdale Ottley, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, Secretary to Committee of Imperial Defence. 1 file

Correspondence relating to Aston's appointment at as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Staff College Camberley to teach imperial strategy, fortification, artillery and coastal defence including letters about the post from Gen John Spencer Ewart; Col Henry Seymour Rawlinson; letter from Aston to Sir John Fisher requesting advice on whether he should take up the position at Camberley; telegram and letter from Fisher advising him to accept; letters of congratulation from [Capt William Wellington Godfrey] and Col Henry Dowrish Drake; letter from Gen William Purvis Wright, Deputy Adjutant General Royal Marines requesting a replacement for Aston to enable him to take up his post at Staff College, Camberley; letters on Aston's departure from the Staff College from Col Lonsdale Augustus Hale, Lt Col Walter Pipon Braithwaite, Maj Arnold Frederick Sillem, Col Hubert John Du Cane, Col Frederick William Stopford, Brig Gen Henry Wilson. 1 file

Correspondence relating to Aston's appointment as Intelligence Officer, Mediterranean Fleet and with the Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty includes letters from Hon Maurice Archibald Bourke and Adm Cyprian Arthur George Bridge; account and sketches by Aston of the visit of the Cdr-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Sqn, Sir Michael Culme- Seymour, 3rd Bt, to the Prince of Montenegro, Nicholas Petrovic Njegos at Cetinje, Montenegro. 1 file

Correspondence during Aston's period away from the front through illness in 1914 after Command of Independent Forces expeditions to Dunkirk, France and Ostend, Belgium including letters from Philip Charles Sarell, British Consulate, Dunkirk, Maj George Clement Tryon, Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, MP and Adm Charles William de la Poer Beresford, MP; letter from Col Archibald Paris, Aston's successor, describing an expedition to Antwerp, Belgium and losses during the expedition. 1 file

Letters from Leslie Roundle to Aston wishing him a speedy recovery and letter relating to Aston's work as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for Intelligence for 8 Div, Royal Marines and informing him that he intended to bring his name forward to the Commander in Chief in South Africa, 1900, Maj-Gen Hubert Ion Wetherall Hamilton; letters from Aston to his sister Isabel Aston relating to his work as Brig Gen, General Staff, South Africa in 1908-1912 including a copy of a speech he made at a public dinner given by the Mayor of Kimberley to Gen Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen relating to the changing attitudes towards the British soldier in South Africa and his work with the South Africa Defence Commission. 1 file

Aston's letters from South Africa during the Boer War to Isabel Aston, his sister relating to departure from England and arrival at De Aar, Cape Colony, progress of the war, the character of the Boers and his work as Staff Officer to the Assistant Inspector General Lines of Communication, South Africa, Maj Gen Sir Charles (Sim Bremridge) Parsons, Chief Staff Officer on expedition to Carnarvon, Western Cape Colony. 1 file

Aston's letters from South Africa during the Boer War to Mrs Holland and Miss Marjorie Holland, Admiralty House, Chatham (wife and daughter of R Adm Swinton Colthurst Holland, Superintendent of Chatham Dockyard, Kent) relating to his journey to South Africa and initial posting at De Aar, Cape Colony with descriptions of landscape, living conditions, progress of war and his work as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for Intelligence for 8 Div, Royal Marines Artillery. 1 file

Texts of lectures given by Aston at University College, University of London, Gower Street, London 12 Nov 1925 entitled 'The study of war' discussing the need for non military society to recognise the importance of the study of war to understand the origin, nature and causes of war; 'Mechanizing armies' largely relating to the development of tanks, aircraft and machine guns. 1 file

Texts of lectures to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich for the War Course entitled 'Sea - diplomacy and law' and 'Statesmen and sea power'. 1 file