Collection SPOONER - SPOONER, Megan (1898-1987)

Key Information

Reference code

SPOONER

Title

SPOONER, Megan (1898-1987)

Date(s)

  • 1941-[1959] (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent

0.5 box or 0.005 cubic metres

Scope and content

Papers relating to her life in Singapore, 1941-1942, dated 1941-[1959], principally comprising diaries and personal letters describing her voyage to Malaya, 1941, and life in Singapore, 1941-1942; press cuttings, 1942, 1945-1946, relating to R Adm Ernest John Spooner's appointment as R Adm Malaya, 1942, and to his death on the island of Chibia (Tjibia, Tjebia) following his escape from Singapore, 1942; photographs, 1940, 1946, notably of Capt Sir David Bone and his search party on Chibia during their search for R Adm Spooner, 1946; correspondence relating to Megan Spooner's claim for war damages, 1945-1947. Also an account, 'Fall of Singapore and the Dutch East Indies and defence of Ceylon' by Capt Andrew Nichol Grey, RN, detailing his experiences on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, ACM Sir (Henry) Robert (Moore) Brooke-Popham and subsequently Gen Sir Henry Royds Pownall, from early 1941 to Feb 1942, written [1946].

System of arrangement

The papers are arranged in the following sections: diaries and narrative accounts; correspondence; photographs; press cuttings; other papers.

General Information

Name of creator

(1898-1987)

Biographical history

Born Megan Foster in 1898; noted soprano; married Cdr Ernest John Spooner, 1926; accompanied him to his final posting in Singapore as R Adm, Malaya, 1941-1942; evacuated immediately prior to the fall of Singapore, 1942; died in 1987.

Custodial history

Placed in the Centre by the family in 1989, 1991 and 2001.

Conditions governing access

Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only.

Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, via the Archives.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Finding aids

This collection level description. Further finding aids may be available in the Reading Room.

Existence and location of originals

Off-campus collection

Please note: We require 7 days notice to retrieve this collection as part, or all of it, is held off-campus. Read more ›

Related materials

Royal Naval Museum, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, holds two journals kept by Midshipman Ernest John Spooner during his service on HMS GOLIATH and HMS HIBERNIA.

Related descriptions

Note

Compiled Apr 1997

Alternative identifier(s)

Genre access points

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000.

Script(s)

Accession area