Showing 449 results

John Hall: A Memoir by Alison Fenton (Oxfordshire: The Charlbury Press, 2005). Includes descriptions of Royal Air Force training in night flying and air gunnery, 1940; defending the British coastline from incoming bombers; providing air cover for the D-Day landings, 1944; and providing air support for the British Liberation Army, including for the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944. Includes text of 'Pilots Personal Combat Report', 21 January 1944, describing combat with a Dornier Do 217 and Junkers Ju 88 over English Channel; and text of BBC broadcast by John Hall about his experiences of night flying, 14 February 1944.

The Private War Journal of Generaloberst Franz Halder, Chief of the General Staff of the Supreme Command of the German Army, 1939- 1942 is a microfilmed copy of the desk journal of Generaloberst Franz Halder. In 1938, Generaloberst [Col Gen] Franz Halder took office as Chief of the General Staff of the German Army, Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), openly declaring himself opposed to the Nazi leadership of the German Armed Forces. By 1939, however, Hitler had begun to direct much of the operational decision making of the OKH. Although Halder would continue to voice opposition to the more impractical military directives, he nonetheless complied with the strategic demands proposed by Hitler and the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), the Supreme Command of the German Armed Forces. From 1938-1942, Halder's duties were confined to operational decision making and desk planning, analysing reports sent to him by his subordinates and conferring with officers of the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), the Supreme Command of the German Army, over administrative, operational, and logistical matters. Halder's short-hand notes and daily entries in his Kriegstagebücher summarised each day's work and acted as an aide mémoire to events, 1938-1942. The journal reflects the detail, routine, and bureaucracy encountered by Halder and his staff, as well as the decision making process between Halder, the General Staff, and Adolf Hitler. Kept by Halder personally, the journal should not be confused with the official War Diaries kept by the Supreme Command of the German Army. Intended to serve as a notebook, the diary does not furnish a complete record of all activities, 1939-1942; rather it reflects the German High Command decision making structure as well as the character of many German senior officers, including FM (Karl Rudolf) Gerd von Runstedt, FM Erich von Manstein, and Col Gen Heinz Guderian. After the war, the journal was introduced by the Prosecution as a documentary exhibit in the record of the case entitled the United States of America vs Wilhelm von Leeb et al, brought before Military Tribunal V (FM Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, Commander Army Group North, was tried for minor war crimes in 1948). The journal was subsequently translated and reduced to typewritten form from the original notes under the guidance of Phillip Willner, Chief of the Reporting Branch (German) of the Office of Chief of Counsel for War Crimes, Office of the Military Government for Germany. It was then reviewed with Halder for continuity and published soon thereafter.

Papers relating to Maj Gen Sir Edmund Hakewill-Smith's service as President of the Military Court for the War Crimes trial of German FM Albert von Kesselring, Venice, Italy, May 1947, including typescript official transcripts of days 3-28 and 40-43 of the trial, 1947; typescript texts of prosecuting counsel's closing address and the defence summing up, May 1947; file of papers entitled 'Abstract of evidence in the case of Albert Kesselring', containing affidavits, original charge sheets and notes, 1947; file of exhibits prepared for the trial, 1947; Kesselring's typescript deposition and statements with affidavits of witnesses and articles on legal issues, 1947; Hakewill-Smith's typescript transcripts of the interrogations of witnesses, 1947; seven of Hakewill-Smith's notebooks of manuscript transcripts and observations during the trial, 1947; manuscript notes taken by Hakewill-Smith during the trial, 1947; typescript administrative orders on arrangements before and after the trial, 1947; copies of Hakewill-Smith's letters of thanks to British personnel involved in trial, 1947; four letters from British personnel relating to Kesselring's trial, 1947; three typescript 'General Headquarters Civil Liaison Summary of Press and Public Opinion', Feb 1947; three letters from Italian civilians relating to the trial, with formal request to be included in the firing squad if Kesselring was found guilty, 1947; translated extract from Italian newspaper, Feb 1947, and edition of _Corriere d'Informazione _5-6 Mar 1947; Union Jack , Trieste edition, 8 Mar 1947; printed map, dated 1944, of the region around Florence, Italy, annotated with the stages of the German retreat, 1944-1945.

A time to remember (1920-1950)', typescript memoir of his career in the Federated Malayan States Police, 1920-1945, and Malayan Union Police, 1945-1950, dated [1980-1991], notably describing police operations against Malay and Siamese bandits in Kedah, 1921-1923, rubber smugglers in Port Dickson, 1923, and the Malayan Communist Party, 1931, 1948-1950, and his experiences during the Japanese invasion of Malaya, 1942.

Typescript text in German entitled 'Beziehungen zu Nichtariern' ('Relationships with non-Aryans'), dated Jul 1945, relating to the treatment of Otto Hahn's Jewish friends and colleagues in Germany, 1933-1945. Also a copy of his biography, Mein Leben (Bruckmann, Munich, Germany, 1968).

Papers, [1944]-1997, accumulated by Gen Sir John Winthrop Hackett. The bulk of the material (125 boxes) comprises Hackett's papers, 1958-1997, including official and personal correspondence, texts of lectures, press cuttings and published material. The papers range over Hackett's career and interests, the subjects including his official posts as Commandant, Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, 1958-1961, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, 1963-1964, and Commander in Chief, British Army of the Rhine, 1965-1966; King's College London and other academic institutions; his lecture 'The profession of arms' and other conferences, lectures and speeches, including Kermit Roosevelt lecture tour, 1967; publications including I was a stranger (1977) and Third World War (1978); UK and overseas military associations and institutions, including the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars and Queen's Royal Hussars, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal United Services Institution, Institute of Strategic Studies; annual memorial visits to Arnhem. A smaller accession (5 boxes) comprises papers and correspondence, largely typescripts and printed material, accumulated by Hackett on military matters, largely but not wholly pertaining to the 1980s and including, for example, news cuttings, correspondence and conference papers on nuclear proliferation and debate on the issues; some material relates to Hackett's Warfare in the ancient world , published in 1989. Another accession (1 box) comprises typescript essays with related papers, photographs and plans concerning the Battle of Arnhem collected by Lt Col Theodore A Boeree, including extracts from the diary of Miss Riek van der Vlist, [1944], kept at Hotel Schoonard, the temporary British hospital during the Battle of Arnhem; a file of press cuttings on various military matters, 1968-1970; press article by Gen Hackett on Arnhem, 1974; two letters between Hackett and Dr Hedwig Delekat of Mainz, Germany, Jul-Aug 1968, concerning the fact that Hackett had no connection with Gen Halket, who served under Wellington. The collection also includes various military periodicals (27 boxes).

Photocopy of typescript account of his work with Future Operations Planning Section of the Joint Planning Staff, War Office, 1940-1941, [1941].

Papers relating to his military service during World War Two, dated [1939-1945], 1948, 1965-1966, notably including account of the service of 1 Welch Regt in Crete, May 1941, written in 1966; silk map of North Africa and the southern Mediterranean, [1939-1945]; account of his imprisonment in Salonika in 1941 and his subsequent transportation to Germany, [1945]; typescript copy of 'Per anum ad astra', an account by Alexis Casdigli of the smuggling of maps from Oflag IX A-H to Oflag XII B in 1944 by a group of POWs, including Casdigli and Griffith, written in 1948, copied in 1965.

Copy of his account of Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, written on 4 Jun 1916. Copy of text of his despatch from HMS SCYLLA on the Normandy landings, 6-7 Jun 1944, broadcast on the [Forces Programme], 7 Jun 1944, with covering letter, 24 Jun 1944. Copies of extracts from his diary covering his discussion with Adm Hon Sir Alexander Robert Maule Ramsay about the planningof the Normandy landings, Dec [1944], and his visit to Germany, Jun 1945, including his observations on German scientific and technical developments and his interviews with British and German naval officers. Two letters to Grenfell's wife from Baron von Müllenheim-Rechberg, a survivor of the sinking of the Bismarck, May 1941, dated 1978, concerning Grenfell's book The Bismarck episode (Faber and Faber, London, 1948).

Notes on his war experiences, primarily concerning living conditions during his service in the trenches in France and Belgium, 1914-1918, but with occasional reference to his service in Burma, [1943-1945], written at the request of an American researcher in [1980-1981], with covering letter to the Centre, 1981.

Papers, 1935-1975, of Brig Henry James Lindsay Green, including photographs, among them the Coldstream Guards, 1935, aerial photographs of Cassino, Italy, before and after assault, 1943-1944, Coldstream Guards at Impruneta, Italy, 1944, King George VI, Rt Hon Winston (Leonard Spencer) Churchill and FM Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, 1943-1946 and undated, Alanbrooke's visit to Czechoslovakia, 1946, and Victory March, London, including Alanbrooke, 1946; Green's diaries, 1939, 1943-1945, relating to service in France, North Africa and Italy and containing brief narrative entries daily; War Diary, Anti-Tank Company, 7 Guards Bde, France, Apr-May 1940; notes on 21 Army Group, 1944; 24 Guards Bridge Operations, Italy, 1945; analysis of British Army of the Rhine morale in battle, 1946; flying log book, Malaya, 1958-1961, and brief account, 1973, of 1 Federal Infantry Bde, Malaya, 1959-1961; two photograph albums and loose photographs of Malaya, 1959-1960.

Papers relating to his RAF service, 1931-1961, principally comprising his flying log book, 1931-1954, including details of bombing missions, North West Europe, 1944-1945; unsigned typescript report recommending the rearming of No 232 Wing and No 252 Sqn with Mosquito XXVIs, [1945-1946]; photograph of portrait of MRAF Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, by Francis Beresford, signed by Beresford, 1955.

Seventy one manuscript and typescript letters from Capt Basil Henry Liddell Hart to Robert Graves, 1939-1961, with typescript articles, extracts and notes by Liddell Hart including 'A reflection on the sustenance of morale', 1942; 'Notes on the Dieppe "reconnaissance in force", from a Canadian soldier', 1942; 'Age-old truths of war', 1942; 'Reprisals on prisoners', 1942; 'Historical note on the defence plan that foiled Rommel's invasion of Egypt in 1942 - by the officer who designed it (E E Dorman Smith)' (Maj Gen Eric Edward Dorman Smith), 1943; 'Three civilisations', 1944; 'Inconsistencies of historical judgment', 1961; 'Notes on the BBC's centenary programme on Haig' (FM Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig), 1961.

Various military papers, mainly dating from the nineteenth century, including standing orders, despatches and a paper by Gen Sir Frederick Roberts on Russia, all probably collected by Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, 1805-1811, 1871-1885, 1918-1921. Correspondence and papers relating to Lt Gen Sir Robert Grant (see above), including material concerning his career, and correspondence from Gen Sir Henry Redvers Buller, 1900. Letters and papers of Charles John Cecil Grant, notably correspondence with Rosebery, mainly letters written whilst on active service on the Western Front, World War One, 1914-1927, French Gen Maxime Weygand, including comments on the Versailles Treaty and the death of French Marshal Ferdinand Foch, 1919-1948, and Lt Gen Sir Oliver William Hargreaves Leese, 3rd Bt, on military operations in Italy during World War Two, 1943-1944. Copies of diary entries and notes written by Charles John Cecil Grant whilst serving as a liaison officer to French Headquarters on the Western Front, World War One, Mar-Nov 1918.

Typescript account, 'The Second Battalion in the battle of the 100 days in 1918'; letters home, Western Front, 1917-1918; four manuscript signal messages relating to an attack by 1 Div, Western Front, 17-19 Oct 1918; photograph album, 1918-1922, including captioned photographs of individuals, Western Front and Germany, 1918-1919; letters home from British Army on the Rhine, 1919-1920; edition of The story of the Fourth Army in the Battles of the Hundred Days, August 8th to November 11th, 1918 (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1920) by Maj Gen Sir Archibald Armar Montgomery (known as Montgomery-Massingberd from 1926), General Staff, 4 Army, with volume of related published maps and panoramic photographs. Papers relating to Gracie's service in World War Two,1939-1945, including manuscript notes on postings and pay details, 1942-1945; letters relating to the award of the OBE, and promotion to the rank of honorary Lt Col, 1945.

Papers including appreciations, reports and battle instructions relating to operations of 20 Indian Division in Burma including the Kabaw Valley and Kyaukchaw, Apr 1942-Mar 1944; Shenam and Kalewa, Apr-Dec 1944; Monywa and the Irrawaddy, including the capture of Kyaukse, Jan-Aug 1945. Papers including reports and operational orders relating to operations of 20 Indian Division in French Indo-China, Aug 1945-May 1947. Typescripts of and related papers for unpublished history of 20 Indian Division, 1944-1958 including accounts of operations of particular units. Translations of Japanese documents on operations in Burma, 1941-1945, including summaries of operations by particular units and war diary of Japanese 15 Army, 1943-1945. Copies of South-East Asia Translation and Interrogation Center Historical Bulletin (Jul 1946-May 1947) including history of particular units of Japanese Army.

Papers relating to his service in the RN, 1939-1940, comprising typescript account of his service on HMS MALAYA, Indian Ocean, 1939, Atlantic, 1940, and Mediterranean, 1940-1941, written in [1941-1944]; 'Impressions of a dental officer serving in HMS MALAYA, September 1939-May 1941', text of talk given to Allied Forces Dental Society, Jan 1944.

Copy of personal account by Colonel Philip Roland Gold of his escape from Singapore, 13 Feb - 8 April 1942, including vivid descriptions of: street fighting; the chaos of evacuation and lack of boats; the commandeering of a Chinese fishing boat by Gold and subsequent difficulties steering the vessel, ensuring provisions lasted and keeping up morale; crossing the Sumatran jungle, Indonesia, in canoe and on foot; negotiations with villagers for assistance; evacuation to Padang, Indonesia; journey from Padang to India on Royal Navy Cruiser HOBART.

Papers relating to his service in Somaliland, 1940, notably including typescript copies of telegrams to Lt Gen Arthur Francis Smith, Deputy Chief of General Staff, [GHQ Middle East], giving a brief account of the attack by Italian troops on British forces at Tug Argan, 11 Aug 1940, dated 12 Aug 1940, and to [Gen Sir Archibald Percival Wavell] giving an appreciation of the current situation in Somaliland, 14 Aug 1940.

Epic violet', a draft memoir covering his service with the Air Ministry and the BEF, 1939-1940, notably pre-war air intelligence, the 'phoney war' and air reconnaissance in France, Sep 1939-Apr 1940, the German invasion of France, May 1940, and the evacuation of UK troops from Dunkirk, May-June 1940, written in [1957]. 'Skies to Dunkirk', a memoir based on the above draft,published in 1982.