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Reports, telegrams and memoranda chiefly relating to a visit by Taylor (code name ‘AD’) to Turkey as Director of Overseas Groups and Missions, SOE, December 1942, and preparations for a visit to South Africa, January 1943. File includes: a directive summarising the purpose and organisation of SOE activities in East Africa; a report on SOE organisations in South and East Africa by ‘DZ 4’ [Lt Col R L Broad] two memoranda by ‘AD/U’ [William Johnston ‘Tony’ Keswick] on SOE personnel in the Durban Mission; letters from ‘WS’ [Lt Col A W Smith], relating to the command of the Durban Mission and the development of special operations in Portuguese East Africa, including possible SOE anti-submarine activities; reports by Taylor, with related correspondence, concerning his visit to the SOE office, Turkey, including SOE operations in Turkey, the morale of SOE personnel, relations with the SOE Cairo office, negotiations with the Turkish government over the sale of chromite (used in the production of chrome) to Germany, the Goeland Company (a fictitious company created by the British government to reduce German access to Danube shipping), potential demolition targets in Turkey in the event of Axis occupation, and possible future actions of the Turkish government; letters by Taylor relating to SOE operations in Hungary, the Hungary Section in London, the deployment of an operative with expert knowledge of Hungary, named ‘Hindle’, and negotiations with OSS (Office of Strategic Services, the US counterpart to SOE) over possible co-operation in the Middle East.

File relating to the role of Rt Hon David Anthony Llewellyn Owen, Baron Owen of the City of Plymouth (Lord Owen), European Community (EC) mediator and co-chairman of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia 1992-1995, during conflict in Yugoslavia, including photocopies of: three public lectures at the London School of Economics given by Dr Cedric Thornberry, celebrating of the UN's Fiftieth Anniversary, entitled 'The development of international peacekeeping', 17 Jan 1995, ' Only the odd-numbered World Wars start in Sarajevo', 19 Jan 1994 and 'Peacekeeping in the nineties and beyond', 23 Jan 1994, 54pp; Photocopy of article 'Conflict in former Yugoslavia: quest for solutions', Susan L Woodward, Great Decisions 1994, 14pp; 1994 Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Lecture delivered by Rt Hon Lord Owen, 11 Mar 1994 at the Fondation Pescatore, Luxemburg, entitled 'Yugoslavia: the lessons for the European Union', 21pp; 1993 Churchill Lecture deliverd by Rt Hon Lord Owen, 'Yugoslavia', Guildhall, London, 25 Nov 1993, 22pp; XIX International Conference organised by the Pio Manzu Research Centre, the Gorbachev Foundation and Bologna University, Keynote address by Lord Owen titled 'The third round: the global enterprise in a world torn between neo-tribalism and the challenge of trans-national solidarity', Rimini, 17 Oct 1993, 24pp; note on on 'pre-Owen' meeting, 29 Mar 1994 and copy of topics for discussion with Lord Owen; Summary of Activity, Sep 1992-Feb 1994, from the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia; four newpaper articles by Lord Owen, Jul 1992-Aug 1993; 'A framework for survival' Lord Owen, Journal of the Irish Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, Vol 23, No 1, Jan 1994. Also contains United Nations Security Council material including Reports of the Secretary-General on the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia, 11 Nov 1992; Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, 12 Mar 1993 and the copies of Resolutions 847 (1993), 30 Jun 1993, and Resolution 877 (1993), 21 Oct 1993.

Correspondence and memoranda chiefly to and from ‘BB100’ [Colin Mackenzie], at SOE London Headquarters during Taylor’s tour of USA and Australia, on subjects including: resistance groups in French Indochina (FIC), Burma, Malay and Siam (Thailand); Allied relations with Chinese Communists; the future of SOA (Special Operations Australia); the possibly deployment of Dutch troops with Force 136 in South East Asia (SEA); the post-war future of SOE personnel and Taylor’s own demobilisation; the Korean National Revolutionary Party; the proposed release of Axis prisoners of war captured after the 1943 Operation Longshanks (also known as Operation Creek, for the sabotage of Axis shipping off the coast of Goa, India), suggesting that the true nature of the covert operation should not be revealed to the Foreign Office; Anglo-French co-operation in FIC, 1943-1945.

Captioned photographs of the construction of Bush House West Wing, created by Bush House (Extensions) Ltd. Images include: preliminary excavations; views of surrounding buildings, streets and rooftops; a visit by the commissioning property developer, Irving Tar Bush; the digging of foundation trenches and pier holes; the erection of the steel frame; excavated fragments of old water pipes; stone masons, riveters, asphalt layers, welders and other workmen on site.

Photographs (some captioned), of the construction of Bush House South East Wing. Images include the Clerk of Works’ temporary office, nearby Australia House, and the view eastwards towards the City of London.

Captioned photographs of Bush House centre block and West Wing, including views from the central portico northwards towards Kingsway (with the tramway station entrance visible), and the loggia linking the central block and West Wing.

Captioned photographs of the completed East Wing of Bush House seen from the north and south. Also one photograph of stone masons working on blocks of stone for East Wing.

Captioned photographs of Bush House interior views, showing corridors, doors and staircases.

Photographs, mostly uncaptioned, chiefly of Graham, fellow senior officers and visiting personnel during World War Two, including Maj Gen Sir Francis de Guingand, Gen Sir Bernard Montgomery, King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Printed messages issued by Gen Sir Bernard Montgomery as General Officer Commanding in Chief 8 Army in North Africa, Oct 1942 – May 1943, Sicily, Jul-Sep 1943, and Italy Oct 1943 – Jan 1944. Two printed messages issued by Montgomery as Commander-in-Chief, 21 Army Group, Jun and Aug 1944. Also two printed messages issued by Gen Dwight D Eisenhower as Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, Jun and Aug 1944.

Briefing notes on SOE operations in Yugoslavia, Greece and Albania, including locations, code names, personnel, leadership, and signals equipment.

Telegrams between SOE personnel in Durban and Cape Town, South Africa, on topics including the possibility of deploying personnel from French Indochina (FIC, now Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) presently serving in South Africa and Madagascar on future SOE operations in French Indochina.

Telegrams between Taylor (‘AD’), South Africa, and SOE personnel in Cairo, Egypt, on topics including: the deployment of an operative with expert knowledge of Hungary, named ‘Hindle’; the appointment of a new head, ‘WS’ [Lt Col A W Smith] taking over South Africa Mission from ‘DZ 4’ [Lt Col R L Broad]; air resources for the South Africa Mission; staff transfers and personnel recruitment.

Telegrams between Taylor (‘AD’) and personnel of the SOE West Africa Mission, Lagos, Nigeria, on topics including: the transfer of administrative personnel and wireless equipment from the West Africa Mission to the South Africa Mission; possible involvement of the West Africa Mission in the internal affairs of French West Africa; relations between SOE and SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) in western Africa; intelligence agents in Angola working with both the West Africa Mission and the South Africa mission.

Telegrams to Taylor (‘AD’) from SOE Headquarters, London, on topics including: the situation in southern Africa; surveillance of Axis activities in Portuguese East Africa (PEA); a meeting between the British Ambassador to Lisbon and the Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio de Oliveira Salazar concerning recent attacks on Allied shipping off the coast of Portuguese East Africa; a meeting with FM Jan Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa, concerning SOE activities in the region; relations between SOE and SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) in southern Africa; Taylor’s proposals for future operations in southern Africa. See also 1/3/2 for Taylor’s replies.

Telegrams between Taylor, ‘CD’ [Maj Gen Colin McVean Gubbins], ‘AD 4’ [Col Bickham Aldred Cowan Sweet-Escott] and ‘DU’ [Col Chapman Walker, Head of Special Operations Australia, SOA], on topics including: changes to the boundaries of South East Asia Command (SEAC) and SWPA; the future role and organisation of SOA; clandestine operations in the Dutch East Indies (DEI); intelligence sharing; a meeting in London between ‘BB100’ [Colin Mackenzie] and Prince Bernhard, Supreme Commander of the Netherlands Armed Forces, to discuss the possible deployment of Dutch forces in SEAC.

Telegrams from Taylor (‘AD’) to SOE Headquarters, London, on topics including: the situation in southern Africa; the morale of individual SOE agents; reports on meetings with FM Jan Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa; the potential for expansion of SOE activity in southern Africa; difficult relations between SOE and SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) in southern Africa; the transfer of responsibility for SOE work in Angola to the South African Mission. See also 1/3/1 for telegrams from SOE Headquarters, London.