Diaries, autobiographies and memoirs
Highlights here include the diaries of Alexander Cadogan who attended major inter-allied conferences and Cabinet meetings during the Second World War, and Jackie Broome’s autobiography (Captain in the Royal Navy)
Showing 51 - 65 of 65 Records
Egypt diary
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Reference Code : - HNKY 1/9
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Date : - 1939-01-11-1939-02-02 (creation)
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Description : - Diary during visit to Suez Canal. Covers every aspect of the Company's organisation and work. Also describes all the leading personalities he met during the trip.
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Collection : - The Papers of Maurice Hankey
Manuscript diary
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Reference Code : - JACB 1/11
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Date : - 1941-12 (creation)
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Description : - Operation "Arcadia", the Washington Conference
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Collection : - The Papers of Ian and Cecil Jacob
Diary of Operation "Bracelet", the Middle East & Moscow
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Reference Code : - JACB 1/15
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Date : - 1942-08 (creation)
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Description : - Manuscript diary.
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Collection : - The Papers of Ian and Cecil Jacob
Diary of Operation "Bracelet", the Middle East & Moscow
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Reference Code : - JACB 1/16
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Date : - 1942-08 (creation)
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Description : - Typescript and illustrated.
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Collection : - The Papers of Ian and Cecil Jacob
Diary of Operation "Bracelet", the Middle East & Moscow
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Reference Code : - JACB 1/17
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Date : - 1942-08 (creation)
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Description : - With annotations for publication by Charles Richardson.
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Collection : - The Papers of Ian and Cecil Jacob
Notebook about the preliminary reconnaissance of "Operation "Symbol"
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Reference Code : - JACB 1/18
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Date : - 1942-12 (creation)
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Description : - Typescript and manuscript contents.
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Collection : - The Papers of Ian and Cecil Jacob
Diary covering Operation "Symbol", Casablanca
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Reference Code : - JACB 1/19
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Date : - 1943-01-1943-02 (creation)
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Description : - Manuscript.
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Collection : - The Papers of Ian and Cecil Jacob
Diary covering Operation "Symbol", Casablanca
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Reference Code : - JACB 1/21
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Date : - 1943-01-1943-02 (creation)
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Description : - With annotations for publication by Charles Richardson.
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Collection : - The Papers of Ian and Cecil Jacob
Memoir
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Reference Code : - KBRM 2
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Date : - 2019-08 (creation)
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Description : - Memoir of Katharine Broome's work with the Churchills, including working at Chartwell [Kent] and various important dinners and events, particularly Churchill's 80th birthday, the presentation of Graham Sutherland's portrait of him as a gift from Parliament, his retirement as Prime Minister the following year and the 1955 General Election.
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Collection : - The Papers of Katharine Broome
Poland
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Reference Code : - KNNY 1/5
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Date : - 1918-12-20-1919-01-26 (creation)
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Description : - Comprising a diary of the Paris Peace Conference written in Paris, Berne and Warsaw and concerning negotiations over Poland written when Rowland Kenney was Assistant Commissioner in the British Mission to Poland.
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Collection : - The Papers of Rowland Kenney and Kit Kenney
Diary
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Reference Code : - PEAK 1/1
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Date : - 1941-01-14-1941-12-26 (creation)
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Description : - Diary covering Charles Peake’s time as Lord Halifax’s Personal Assistant from 14 January to 26 December 1941. Subjects covered for January include: travelling across America; attending church; Halifax’s love of corduroy trousers; drafting Halifax’s speeches; meeting US President [Franklin Roosevelt] on the destroyer; reflections on the use of oil and electricity in the ship’s kitchen; reviewing a delegation of American admirals; travelling to the US Embassy; Peake’s concern about Halifax’s deafness; Halifax’s frustrations over photographers choreographing him during photoshoots; the subjective nature of his diary-keeping; comparisons between British and American food; Halifax’s remarks on his wife’s [Dorothy Onslow Wood] happiness; Peake finding a new purpose in life; sharpening of Peake’s spiritual qualities; reflections on Dorothy; comments on keeping a diary. Subjects covered for February include: visiting zoo; American women’s party attire; exchanges between Lord and Lady Halifax; receiving Senator Byrnes [James F. Byrnes] and Speaker Rayburn [Samuel Rayburn]; Halifax’s memory of King George V approaching Ramsey MacDonald for wearing orders too far down coat; travelling to Baltimore; reflections on diary-keeping as a discipline inspired by Halifax; travelling to Charlottesville; observations on the architecture of the University of Virginia [United States]; Peake’s amusement at Halifax’s vocabulary; meeting the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway; Halifax’s unhappiness with Lend-Lease bill. Subjects covered for March include: flying to New York and Montreal [Canada]; meeting the Canadian press; discussions with Halifax over the use of Christian names in the family; dining with the mouth organist Larry Adler; arranging for Halifax to travel to Harvard to receive honorary degree; Halifax’s indiscretion with press correspondents in speech to the Pilgrims [Pilgrim’s Society]; travelling to Pennsylvania for Halifax to give a speech; attending meeting of Council of Foreign Relations at the Ritz; meeting film stars at Radio City [New York]; reflections on Halifax’s experiences at the Cheshire Hunt. Subjects covered for April include: Halifax’s difficult mood; Peake’s wife [Catherine] wanting him to return home; row between Halifax and his wife Dorothy over church attendance; reflections on keeping diary; Halifax’s advice to Peake to be more introspective; religion; travelling to New York; Halifax presenting medals to survivors of bomb damage; dining with Cornelius Vanderbilt; visiting housing settlement in Red Hook [New York]; celebrating Halifax’s birthday; writing Halifax’s speeches; visits to Georgia and Atlanta. Subjects covered for June include: inaugurating window in honour of the late Lord Halifax; arrival of Halifax’s family; Halifax dining with Republican senators; dining with Rhoda Clarke and Fanny Holtzman; fall of the British government and suggestion for Halifax to become Prime Minister which he declined; Halifax and Peakes’ low spirits; Halifax’s reading of ghost stories and memories of parents. Subjects covered for July include: preparing speech for Halifax on home defence; meeting Walter Lipmann; meeting journalists at The Telegraph; travelling to Chicago, LA and San Diego [United States]; Halifax briefly driving the train to LA; encountering female anti-war protesters during Halifax’s visit; visiting factories; Dorothy sending the 1000th bomber to Britain; travelling to San Francisco [United States]; visiting shipyards; visiting naval dockyard at Maine Island; travelling to Hollywood and Beverly Hills and meeting film stars; travelling to San Diego; joining Lady Halifax in reluctantly accompanying Lord Halifax on a fishing trip. Subjects covered for August include: Dorothy travelling to Montreal [Canada] in ‘The Liberator’; Halifax’s recollections on his great grand-father’s [Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey] marital affairs and illegitimate children. Subjects covered for September include: Halifax’s memories of Hugh Cecil [1st Baron Quickswood]; travelling to Lisbon and Azores [Portugal]; attending mass in a Portuguese Church; nightmares. Subjects covered for October include: heated argument between Peake and Halifax; travelling to Mirador [historic home in Greenwood, Virginia] and Virginia [United Sates], memories of fighting during the First World War; Halifax meeting with the Duke of Windsor [Edward VIII]; writing a speech on India; reflections on Russia. Subjects covered for November include: arriving into Montreal; staying at Ridean Hall [Ottawa, Canada]; Halifax’s speech to the Canadian Club; travelling to Norfolk county [Canada]; arriving at Old Parish Comfort; visiting Service Co-operative [US equivalent of NAAFI]; travelling onboard the aircraft carrier [HMS Illustrious] and colliding with the Formidable; meeting Arthur Talbot [Royal Naval Officer]; arriving back in Glasgow. Included in the back of this diary is a typescript review of ‘Roosevelt and Churchill 1939-41’ by Joseph P. Lash, ‘A Rendezvous with Destiny’ by Elliott Roosevelt and James Brough, and ‘Churchill in America 1895-1961’ by Robert H. Pilpel. Comprising a ring-bound diary, mainly handwritten with a few typed pages.
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Collection : - The Papers of Sir Charles Peake
Diary
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Reference Code : - PEAK 1/2
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Date : - 1956-12-02-1957-04-05 (creation)
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Description : - Diary covering Charles Peake’s time from 2nd December 1956 to 5th April 1957 when he worked as British Ambassador to Athens. Subjects covered include: work on departmental papers for the Colonial Policy Committee (CPC); discussions with colleagues on Cyprus constitutional affairs; Anthony Eden’s difficulties in re-establishing relationships with the White House [in the post-Suez era]; meeting of the CPC; addressing CPC at Downing Street; meeting colleagues at Brooks’s Club; dislike for self-righteousness of the Labour party; travelling to Hatfield for a meeting and touring grounds of Hatfield House; attending Cabinet meetings; meeting with the Minister of State at the Foreign Office; and discussions in the House of Commons and Cabinet about [Lord] Radcliffe’s proposals [concerning the Constitution for Cyprus]. Also includes a newspaper clipping reporting on Peake’s leave.
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Collection : - The Papers of Sir Charles Peake
Diary
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Reference Code : - PEAK 1/3
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Date : - 1955-08-16-1955-11-25 (creation)
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Description : - Loose sheets of a typescript diary covering part of Charles Peake’s time as British Ambassador to Athens [Greece], including the Cyprus Emergency. Subjects include: Greek project for an oil refinery; meeting with Princess Nicholas; meeting with journalists; attending a wedding; arrangements for a conference on Greece and Turkey; hosting party at Kavouri for Greek princesses; meeting King Paul [Paul of Greece] and senior Ministers; dining and meetings with Harold Macmillan [Foreign Secretary]; attending various social engagements and dinners; chastising David Lloyd for poor treatment of Greek delegation; Macmillan’s recollections of Winston Churchill’s farewell dinner to the Queen [Elizabeth II] ahead of his resignation; various engagements at the Turkish and Greek embassies and clubs; meetings with Princesses Marina and Alexandra; reflections on dictating his diary; weekend visit to Salisbury as guests of Lady Shaftsbury at Wimborne; discussing religious matters with the Shaftsbury’s chauffeur; attending Mass with Edward and Dorothy Halifax; political and diplomatic situation in Greece and Cyprus; meetings with Leslie Kemp; naval missions; attending the funeral of Field Marshal Papagos [Greek Prime Minister]; meeting new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spyros Theotokis; Greek banking; holiday with Catherine [Peake’s wife] in Vytina, Peloponnese [Greece]; meetings with Ambassadors, senior church and political figures; the British Council; and meeting with Princess Alice.
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Collection : - The Papers of Sir Charles Peake
Pocket diary
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Reference Code : - SMVL 1/28
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Date : - 1937 (creation)
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Description : - Including the Spanish Civil War.
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Collection : - The Papers of Admiral Sir James Somerville
The Memoirs of Admiral Sir Manley Power
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Reference Code : - MANP
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Date : - 1960-08 - 1980-08
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Description : - Annotated typescript covering Power's career, particularly on his work with Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Admiral Sir John Cunningham [Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, from 1943] on the invasion of Sicily and Italy, his work with Admiral Sir Philip Vian and with Admiral 1st Lord Mountbatten. Includes further notes on Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham.