Showing 39 results

Article by Aston entitled 'The Committee of Imperial Defence, its evolution and prospects'. With list of recipients of article and letters in response including letters from Capt Wilfrid Bliss Spender, Arthur Wilson Fox, Capt Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey , Maj Gen Hon Sir Frederick William Stopford, D Hutchinson, R Adm Edward Fitzmaurice Inglefield, Capt Henry Maitland Wilson, Maj Raymond John Marker, Charles Edward Gifford, Col James Henry Bor. 1 file

Articles by Aston entitled 'The writing on the wall - Clauswitz and the Kaiser' relating to pre World War One German military theory; 'Brest-Litovzk Conference' and 'The Russian armistice' 2 versions of an article on the Russian peace treaty with Germany,1917; 'Winning the war by Amphibian' 2 versions of an article relating to the negative effects of pessimism in the armed forces; 'War saving in country districts'. 1 file

Photocopies of diaries, 1899-1926; newspaper cuttings relating to Army Training Reports, 1925-1932; articles including those on World War One, Marshal Ferdinand Foch and sea diplomacy and law, 1929-1930; correspondence, 1892-1933, including Dardanelles campaign, 1917.

Correspondence with various friends and colleagues including Lord Frederick Sleigh Roberts on plans for a German invasion of northern Europe, FM Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig on positioning of American attacks in World War One; Rt Hon Samuel John Gurney Hoare, Secretary of State for Air on air raid warnings; Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, MP criticising Aston's book on World War One; Adm Charles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford of Metemmeh and of Curraghmore on the foundation of the Naval Intelligence Department at the Admiralty with related memorandum; John William Fortescue on Naval strategy during the Napoleonic wars; R Adm Wilfrid Allan Egerton on torpedoes, fortification and military theory; George Clarke Sydenham 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe and others on a possible career for Aston in politics; Rt Hon Edward Grey on his hopes for avoiding war; Hankey to Harold Sidney Harmsworth 1st Viscount Rothermere of Hemsted recommending Aston for a chair in naval history at Cambridge University; Lt Gen Sir Launcelot Edward on Aston's chances of further employment; Sir Julian Corbett on naval security; Rt Hon Gen Jan Christian Smuts on Aston's work for the South African government; Adm Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman on Rt HonWinston Churchill; Frederick John Napier Thesiger Chelmsford, 1st Viscount of Chelmsford, First Lord of the Admiralty on the British fleet and the League of Nations; Sir Charles Hartington on Aldershot Command, the defence of Constantinople and the contents of his despatch on his three years as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Allied Forces of Occupation in Turkey; AF Sir Roger John Brownlow Keyes on his opposition to naval disarmament; AF Charles Edqward Madden on Aston's lecture on British sea diplomacy; Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson of Trent, Dorset, Commander-in-Chief of the Army in India on India; Gen Sir Frederick Spencer Robb on the change of British military base in World War One; Rt Hon Maj Gen John Edward Bernard Seely on the passage of the South African Defence Bill and other matters; Gen. Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, 1st Bt Wingate of Dunbar and Port Sudan on Col (Hon) Milo George Talbot; Sir Owen Seaman, Editor of _Punch _on Aston's work for the magazine. With list of correspondents and dates. 1 file

Correspondence between Aston and FM Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen relating to personal matters; the 'Tweebosch incident', Mar 7 1902 during which Methuen was wounded and forced to surrender with many losses and which he felt was due to one of his orders not being carried out, includes notes from conversation with Maj Gen Sir Stanley Brenton Vondonop; the defence of South Africa and structure of the Council of Defence; imperial policy in Basutoland. With correspondence between Aston and Methuen's family and friends relating to Methuen for a biography to be written by Aston; articles taken from The Times History of the War in South Africa, 1899-1900. ed. by Rt Hon Leopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery (Sampson Low, London, 1900-1909) relating to Methuen and the 1 Div South Africa Field Force; orders of service for memorial services for Methuen; tribute to Methuen by [L F] Arthur, Senior Col, Bde of Guards and by Aston printed and manuscript versions; correspondence with The Times regarding the publication of notices about arrangements for memorials to Methuen; newspaper cuttings of reports of Methuen's funeral and obituaries; birthday greeting telegram sent to Methuen from Commandant Staff College, Camberley, Maj Gen John Greer Dill on behalf of the college; two accounts by Methuen of time spent in Egypt, during Egyptian War,1882 and on a visit in 1918/1919. 1 file

Papers, including correspondence with AF John Rushworth Jellico, 1st Earl Jellicoe, FM Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby; and Col Archibald Percival Wavell relating to work for an article on the secret service by Aston and his article on the death of FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum. 1 file

Diary containing daily entries relating to Aston's completion of his posting as Brig Gen General Staff, South Africa and his command of the Officers of the South African Defence Forces Instruction School, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State including account of lunch with Rt Hon Sir Edward Grey and a discussion on Belgian and Portuguese interests in South Africa and the possible effects in South Africa of war between Britain and Germany; letter to Aston from Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey MP relating to his appointment as Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence and expressing his regret at having been given this position ahead of Aston; progress of the South Africa Defence Bill; copies of press reports of racial tension at the Bloemfontein officers instruction school. 1 file

Diary containing daily entries covering Aston's Special Service in South Africa as Staff Officer to the Assistant Inspector General Lines of Communication, South Africa, Maj Gen. Sir Charles (Sim Bremridge) Parsons and as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, 8 Div including details on the journey from England; the journey from Cape Town to the Modder River area; reconnaissance work in Orange Free State and Cape Colony; the progress of current operations, including an account of an on Aston's troops at Senekal, Orange Free State 25 May 1900 and list of arms taken there. With 'Notes for guidance in South African warfare' issued by FM Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts, Baron Roberts of Kandahar, Commanding-in-Chief, South Africa, Jan and Feb 1900. 1 file

Diary containing daily entries relating to Aston as Brig Gen, General Staff, South Africa including account of journeys between London and Pretoria; attendance at conference at Staff College, Camberley, an account of lunch with Rt Hon Richard Burdon Haldane, Rt Hon Edward Grey and Maj Gen Douglas Haig while working in London at the War Office; discussion on recruitment of Officers for South African forces, particularly among Rhodes scholars and other South Africans at Oxford or Cambridge Universities; account of discussion with FM Jan Christian Smuts and General James Barry Munnik Hertzog on the defence of South Africa, particularly naval provision and the potential use of submarines; attendance by Aston, Hertzog, Louis Botha and Smuts at a defence conference at the War Office including comments on discussions with Haig, Sir William Nicholson, Maj Gen Sir John Spencer Spencer Ewart, Lt Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey; Aston's views on the suitability of a mounted brigade for defending South Africa with regard to the difficulties of the terrain and Haig's agreement to modify cavalry training accordingly; debate over the organisation of the General Staff in South Africa; account of conversation with Hertzog and his possible opposition to continued British rule in South Africa; unpopularity of FM Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts, Baron Roberts of Kandahar with the Boers; view on the South Africa Act, Sep 1909; progress of work on Letters on Amphibious Wars (John Murray, London, 1911, 1920). 1 file

Diary containing daily entries relating to Aston as Brig Gen, General Staff, South Africa including account of visit to Bloemfontein, Orange Free State; progress of work on Letters on Amphibious Wars (John Murray, London, 1911, 1920); account of meeting with Japanese Gen Tamaka and his views on sea transport during the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905; plans for 'Basutoland Scheme' (incorporation of the British Protectorate of Basutoland into the Union of South Africa); account of time spent at Government House, Pietermaritzberg, Natal; the claims of Maj Gen Charles Arthur Hadfield to an administrative position in South Africa; account of a discussion with FM Jan Christian Smuts on the Union of South Africa and the position of Governor General; the possible resignation of Gen Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen and his replacement by FM Viscount Horatio Herbert Kitchener; newspaper cutting describing a pamphlet by Aston dealing with the defence of South Africa with an introduction by Methuen relating to his support for compulsory military service; account of Louis Botha's speech outlining the programme of the new South African National Party; account of brigade training at Erasmus drift; account of discussion with Smuts on the peninsula defence scheme and his party's commitment to compulsory military service; account of exercises during a training camp; account of discussion with the Assistant Secretary for the Interior relating to local defence; Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick's views on Smuts' defence scheme; Col du Toit of Orange Free State's proposals to organise boy scouts in Orange Free State schools; the traffic in arms and ammunition to Basutoland. 1 file

Diary containing daily entries relating to Aston as Brig Gen, General Staff, South Africa includes comments on increase in anti-British feeling amongst Dutch farmers; letters and notes from Gen Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen expressing doubts over FM Jan Christian Smuts' plans for the South Africa Defence Act; Aston's appointment as Aide de Camp to the King; account of meetings with Gen Sir Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton; Aston's views on a proposed scheme for mounted riflemen, primarily that they were unsuitable for use as a striking force unless a reserve was introduced to do their police duties; account of visit to Smuts and discussion on the South Africa Defence Bill; arrangements for Methuen to remain in South Africa after relinquishing his position as Commander in Chief until the Union Defence Bill had been passed. 1 file

Diary with daily entries relating to Aston's temporary appointment Special Service, Admiralty War Staff including account of a meeting with Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty; Aston's appointment as Colonel of the Second Royal Marine Artillery; letter from Churchill recommending Aston for a KBE; conflict between the War Office and the Admiralty; account of talk with Lt Gen Sir John Spencer Spencer Ewart on Staff Duties; account on discussion on the decline of the idea of an Imperial Navy with contributions from within the empire and move towards the treaty system of international diplomacy. 1 file

Diary with daily entries relating to Aston's work at Royal Marines Barracks, Eastney, Portsmouth as Colonel Commandant, Royal Marines then occasional entries mainly relating to wildlife and fishing around Aston's home. 1 file

Diary with daily entries relating to time spent by Aston with the Atlantic Fleet compiling articles relating to life and conditions on HMS REVENGE, HMS HOOD, and HMS FURIOUS; discussion on changing naval tactics and changes in naval life; comments on the Fleet Air Arm; account of a brief stay at Gibraltar. 1 file

Diary with daily entries relating to Aston's work at Royal Marines Barracks, Eastney as Second Commandant and his work with the Special Service, Admiralty War Staff including his work as a member of a Sub-Committee on Imperial Defence dealing with all questions of overseas attack outside of British waters; his comments on the outbreak of World War One on 4 Aug 1914; Aston's posting as Col Commandant of Royal Marines Brigade at Ostend, Belgium and the preparations there to receive troops and stores; reports of German advances towards Ostend; return of Aston to Portsmouth and his supervision of the re-organisation of a Brigade at Dover, the brigade's departure and arrival at Dunkirk; arrangements for troop movements and organisation of supplies and the system of command in place in Dover; the collapse of Aston's health and his return to London on sick leave. 1 file

Diary with daily entries relating to Aston's appointment Special Service, Admiralty War Staff including his work as Chairman of the Committee on Defence of Admiralty Oil Reserves; work on an article on coastal defences. With letters from Aston enquiring about a command at the Royal Marine Barracks, Eastney, Portsmouth and the possibility of retiring; Aston's impressions of his first year at the Admiralty including his summaries of Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty and Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe, Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty. 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