Guide to the Papers of Chester Wilmot

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MS 8436

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Chester Wilmot
Title
Papers of Chester Wilmot
Date Range
1872-1990
Collection Number
MS 8436
Extent
7.7 metres (55 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2701576).

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Chester Wilmot, National Library of Australia, MS 8436, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

This collection was presented to the National Library by Edith Wilmot in 1991 and arrived in Canberra in January 1992. It consists primarily of Chester Wilmot's papers, but also includes material added by Edith Wilmot in the years since Chester's death.

The Liddell Hart Archives in London also holds some Chester Wilmot papers, while the Australian War Memorial holds a collection of papers created by Wilmot in the course of his work on the official history of the Australian involvement in the Second World War.

Arrangement

When the collection was presented to the Library it was accompanied by a "catalogue" which served as a despatch list. Over half of the collection was itemised in detail on this list, with individual folders being listed in seven "files", each "file" corresponding to a drawer of a filing cabinet. This filing system probably reflects the system used by Wilmot at the time of his death, but has had some subsequent rearrangement and additions by Edith Wilmot. These seven "files" account for Series 1-6 of this collection. The folder numbering system used in the despatch list has been retained in these series. Series 4 includes all the folders from "files" 3-4, as the numbering sequence of file 4 was merely a continuation of the numbering of file 3. This explains why there were seven "files", but only six series. Not all the folders listed on the despatch list were received by the National Library. Those folders not received are listed in this guide with the annotation "not received". The despatch list includes detailed itemised lists of some parts of Series 1-6, particularly family correspondence, diary entries and individual broadcasts. Readers who wish to consult the despatch list should ask the Manuscript reading room supervisor. For most readers, however, the level of detail given in this Guide should be sufficient.

The papers in series 7-13 were not thoroughly itemised in the despatch list. Unlike the well-ordered "files", these papers had no discernible order. The order in which they have been arranged is therefore one that has been artificially devised by National Library staff.

Biographical Note

Reginald William Winchester ("Chester") Wilmot was born in Melbourne on 21 June 1911, the son of R.W.E. Wilmot (journalist for the Argus) and Jane Marian Wilmot (nee Tracey). He was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School from 1922 to 1930. He continued his education at Trinity College and Melbourne University where he was awarded a B.A. (History Honours) in 1935 and an LLB. in 1936. In 1936 he was President of the University's Students' Representative Council. From July 1937 to February 1939 he led the Melbourne University Debating Team on a tour of overseas universities, visiting East Asia, North America, Britain and Europe.

On his return to Australia in 1939 he became a member of the Council of Melbourne University and completed articles with the intention of joining the Bar. In 1940 he was appointed War Correspondent with the ABC Field Unit with the Australian Imperial Forces in the Middle East. During this time he reported from Palestine, Syria, Libya, Greece, Crete and the siege of Tobruk. He returned to Australia in March 1942 and married Edith Irwin, daughter of Rev. W.H. Irwin of Adelaide, in the following month. In July 1942 he accompanied the A.I.F. to New Guinea to report on the war with the Japanese. In November 1942 he was expelled from New Guinea and lost his accreditation as a war correspondent after he became involved in a dispute between General Blamey and General Rowell. He returned to Australia in time for the birth of his daughter Jane in January 1943. Throughout 1943 he worked on his book Tobruk, 1941: capture, relief (A&R, 1944).

In 1944 he was invited by the BBC to join its team of war correspondents covering the invasion of Normandy. After flying from Brisbane to London, he accompanied the 6the Airborne Division on its Normandy landing the night before D-Day. For the next twelve months he covered the campaign from Normandy to the Baltic. After the War he worked as BBC special correspondent at the Nuremberg trials. Thereafter he worked on various assignments for the BBC as a foreign correspondent and commentator for both radio and television. In 1952 he published his widely acclaimed book on the western front, The Struggle for Europe.

Chester Wilmot was killed in the crash of a Comet airliner over Italy in January 1954. At the time he was returning to Britain after touring Asia as Military Correspondent for The Observer and for the BBC, for whom he was examining the impact of the Communist takeover in China on the Asian region. At the time of his death he was also working as Australian Official War Historian, having been commissioned to write the volume dealing with the siege of Tobruk and the battle of Alamein. He was survived by his wife, who continued to live in their family home near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Family papers, 1877-1988 and papers re career as a broadcaster and war correspondent, 1937-42

The papers in this series fall into two main categories. Folders 1-3 include correspondence, clippings, research notes and other papers relating to Chester Wilmot's early years and to his parents and grandparents. Much of this material has been assembled by Edith Wilmot in the years since Chester's death. Folders 6-51 cover the period 1937-February 1942 and document Wilmot's early career as a broadcaster and war correspondent. The papers in this group include scripts of speeches, broadcasts and articles; diaries; newscuttings; correspondence; and working notes. The files are arranged in rough chronological order and cover Wilmot's participation in the World Debating Tour, 1937-38; his European travels, 1938; the University of Melbourne and the National Union of Australian University Students, 1935-39; and his work for the ABC Field Unit with the AIF in the Middle East, 1940-42.

Correspondence, photographs, certificates and research notes re Wilmot Family history, 1894-1988 (File 1) - Box 1

Correspondence, clippings and research notes on J.G.W. Wilmot (Chester's grandfather), 1952-83 (File 1a) - Box 1

Correspondence, photographs, clippings re Hannah Louisa Wilmot, 1902-66 (File 1b) - Box 1

Clippings, research notes, correspondence, pictures and other documents re R.W.E. Wilmot (Chester's father), 1877-1976 (File 1c) - Box 1

Photographs, correspondence, clippings and other papers re J.M. Wilmot (Chester's mother) (File 2) - Box 1

School reports, clippings, correspondence and other papers re Chester Wilmot's schooling and youth, 1911-73 (File 3) - Box 1

[Folder not received] - according to despatch list it relates to Chester's time at Melbourne University (File 4) - Box 1

[Folder not received] - re ABC radio 3AR broadcasts, 1937 (File 5) - Box 1

Scripts of ABC radio 3AR broadcasts, 1937 (File 6) - Box 1

Typescript diary of world debating tour, July 1937 - January 1938 (Philippines, Japan, USA, Canada) (File 7) - Box 1

Typescript diary of world debating tour, January - August 1938 (Britain and Europe) (File 8) - Box 1

Typescript diary of European travels, September - December 1938 (File 9) - Box 2

Press cuttings on world debating tour, 1937-38 (File 10) - Box 2

Typescripts of articles and broadcasts on the world debating tour (File 11) - Box 2

Correspondence, notes and memorabilia re world debating tour, 1937-38 (File 12) - Box 2

Typescripts of talks and articles written during European travels, 1938 - mostly relate to the European diplomatic crisis and German expansionism (File 13) - Box 2

Scripts of first BBC broadcasts, including scripts of interviews with Dr Hugh Dalton and Wing Commander Pope (interview vetoed by the Air Ministry) (File 14) - Box 2

Letters written to family during the debating tour, 1937 (File 15) - Box 2

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1938-40, 1944 (File 15a) - Box 2

Letters from family, 1937-38 (File 16) - Box 2

Speeches and notes, 1937-38 (File 17) - Box 2

Speeches and notes, 1939-January 1940 (File 18) - Box 2

Clippings and photographs re Philippines/Australia University debate, 1962 (File 19) - Box 3

Correspondence and other papers re Wilmot's involvement with the University of Melbourne, 1935-38 (includes letters to Vice-Chancellor, Dr R.E. Priestley) (File 20) - Box 3

Correspondence and papers re the National Union of Australian University Students, 1937-50 (includes Conference Report, 1939, edited by Wilmot) (File 21) - Box 3

3AR broadcasts, 1939 (File 22) - Box 3

Texts of Australian Dept of Information broadcasts, 1940 (File 23) - Box 3

Typescript diary, Middle East, August - December 1940 (File 24) - Box 3

Letters to family, July - December 1940 (File 25) - Box 3

Letters to family, January - July 1941 (File 26) - Box 3

Letters to family, July 1941 - February 1942 (File 27) - Box 3

Roneoed copies of "Daily news", September - October 1940 - compiled by the ABC's Field Unit with the AIF troopship (File 28) - Box 3

T/s descriptions of work with the ABC Field Unit with the AIF in the Middle East, 1940-42 (File 29) - Box 3

Scripts/Despatches from the ABC Field Unit with the AIF, August 1940 - February 1942 (File 30-43) - Box 4, 5

Working notes, Middle East, 1941-42 (File 44) - Box 5

Italian newspapers, Western Desert, 1940 (File 45) - Box 5

Newscuttings re Middle East broadcasts, 1940-41 (File 45a) - Box 5

Correspondence, 1940-41 (includes William Macmahon Ball) (File 46) - Box 5

Correspondence and clippings re broadcast swearing controversy, 1941 (File 47) - Box 5

Correspondence with ABC General Manager, T.W. Bearup, February 1941 - January 1942 War correspondents' instructions, 1940 (File 48) - Box 5

Correspondence with Lawrence Cecil, 1941 (File 49) - Box 5

Clippings and t/s of articles for ABC weekly, 1940-42 (File 50) - Box 5

List of BBC broadcasts, May - July 1941 (File 51) - Box 5

ABC Radio "Talking History" broadcast (Tim Bowden), Anzac Day 1988 - re Chester Wilmot and Damien Parer on the Kokoda Trail, 1942 (File 52) - Box 5

Series 2. War correspondent in Australia and New Guinea, March 1942 - April 1944

This series covers Wilmot's work for the ABC Field Unit during the New Guinea campaign and focuses in particular on the Blamey dispute which led to the withdrawal of Wilmot's accreditation at the behest of Blamey. Included in this series are family letters; Field Unit despatches; scripts of broadcasts; ABC notes, correspondence and memoranda; newscuttings; and typescripts of articles and speeches.

Letters to family, March - October 1942 (File 1) - Box 6

Letters to family, November 1942 - January 1943 (File 2) - Box 6

Letters to family, March - June 1943 (File 3) - Box 6

Personal letters, May 1942 - December 1943 (File 3a) - Box 6

Scripts of ABC broadcasts, March - July 1942 (File 4) - Box 6

ABC Field Unit despatches, New Guinea, July - October 1942 (File 5) - Box 6

Reports on New Guinea campaign, August - November 1942 (File 6) - Box 6

ABC notes and memoranda re Blamey row, 1942-43 (File 7) - Box 6

Papers re the withdrawal of Wilmot's accreditation at the behest of General Blamey, 1942 (File 7a) - Box 6

Alan Wood's notes re the Blamey row (File 8) - Box 6

Censored scripts and other papers re the Blamey row, 1942-45 (File 9) - Box 6

Clippings re Blamey row, including John Hetherington's serialisation of "The Blamey Papers" in the Sunday Telegraph, 1953 (File 10) - Box 6

T/s copies of Chester Wilmot's letters re Blamey row, 1942-43 - mostly letters to family (File 11) - Box 6

Correspondence, clippings and memoirs of Louise Cobham (Chester's sister) re Blamey row, 1955-58 (File 12) - Box 6

Press cuttings re New Guinea campaign, 1942 (File 13) - Box 7

Working notes for despatches, New Guinea, 1942 (File 14) - Box 7

T/s of ABC radio broadcasts, November 1942 - April 1944 (File 15-18) - Box 7

Clippings of articles by Wilmot from ABC weekly, 1942-43 (File 19) - Box 7

T/s of articles for ABC weekly, 1942 (File 20) - Box 7

T/s of ABC radio broadcasts, 1943 (File 21) - Box 7

T/s of ABC "Guest of Honour" broadcasts, 1943-44 (File 22) - Box 7

Correspondence with T.W. Bearup, General Manager of the ABC, February - October 1942 (File 23) - Box 8

T/s of BBC news despatches by Wilmot re Pacific War, 1942 (File 24) - Box 8

BBC news cables, 1941-43 (File 25) - Box 8

Clippings of reviews of Tobruk, 1941, 1944-45 (File 26) - Box 8

Clippings of reviews of film "Sons of the Anzacs", 1943 (File 27) - Box 8

T/s and ms notes for speeches in Australia, 1940-43 (File 28) - Box 8

[not received] - Wilmot's war poems (File 29) - Box 8

Biographical newscuttings, 1941-43 (File 29b) - Box 8

Letters to family, 1938-52 (File 29c) - Box 8

[not received] - Papers re Louise Cobham, work on biography (File 30) - Box 8

Correspondence with Louise Cobham, 1942-43 (File 31) - Box 8

Correspondence with Louise Cobham, 1950-59 (File 32) - Box 8

[not received] - Letters from family to Chester Wilmot, 1940-54 (File 33-42)

Series 3. BBC war correspondent in Europe, April 1944-1946

This series consists mostly of scripts of despatches and broadcasts from the western front and the Nuremberg war crimes trials. The series also includes Wilmot's letters to his family and some diary entries from this period, in addition to newscuttings and other papers associated with his work as a BBC war correspondent.

Letters to family, April 1944 - June 1945 (File 1) - Box 9

Letters to Edith and ms diary pages re journey to England via USA, April 1944 (File 1a) - Box 9

Letters to family, June 1945 - November 1946 (File 2-2a) - Box 9

Instructions to war correspondents, 1944. Letters of appreciation from Bill Downs, Richard Dimbleby, etc, 1944-45 (File 3) - Box 9

Correspondence with BBC and BBC Service Messages, 1944-45 (File 3a) - Box 9

Instructions re use of Migit Portable Disc Recorder, 1944 (File 4) - Box 9

Corrected t/s of BBC scripts and despatches, June 1944 - November 1945 (File 5-24) - Box 9, 10, 11, 12

Broadcast scripts and other papers re the Netherlands, 1945-46 - includes "The Dutch view on Java", November 1945 (File 25) - Box 12

T/s and clippings of article for War report: a record of dispatches broadcast by the BBC's war correspondents, 1944-45 (London, OUP) (File 26) - Box 12

Claims for expenses, 1945 (File 27) - Box 12

Clippings from The Listener re Wilmot's despatches, 1944-45 (File 28) - Box 12

Corrected scripts of broadcasts from Germany, 1945-46 (File 29) - Box 12

Script of broadcast "The German Surrender at Luneberg", 1945. Script of broadcast of biographical interview with Wilmot, n.d. T/s of article "What really happened at Arnhem?" for Sunday Express, 1950 (File 30) - Box 12

Newscuttings re BBC broadcasts, 1942-45 (File 31) - Box 12

Scripts of BBC broadcasts to Australia of the third and fourth test matches of the Victory Test cricket series, July - August 1945 (File 32) - Box 12

BBC "Information for Correspondents" at the Nuremberg trials and other papers re Nuremberg, 1945 (File 33) - Box 12

Broadcast scripts and background information re Nuremberg trials, 1945 (File 34) - Box 12

Broadcast scripts from Nuremberg, November - December 1945 (File 35) - Box 12

Broadcast scripts from Nuremberg, September - October 1946 (File 36) - Box 12

Instructions for Nuremberg correspondents (File 37) - Box 12

'Picture Post' magazine, June 17, 1944: article 'How the BBC covers the Invasion".

Series 4. Correspondence/research files re work as an author/war historian, 1946-53

This large series consists mostly of correspondence relating to Wilmot's work as an author/war historian. Much of the correspondence relates to research for, and the public reaction to, Wilmot's book The Struggle for Europe. Correspondents include a variety of senior Allied officers including Field Marshal Montgomery. Also included is correspondence with a variety of publishers and periodicals. See also Series 9-10 for related material.

Correspondence with Admiralty, London, 1947-53 (File 1) - Box 13

Ms and t/s of miscellaneous addresses and talks, 1951-53 (File 2) - Box 13

Correspondence re aircraft industry, 1953 (File 3) - Box 13

Correspondence with Air Ministry, London, 1953 (File 4) - Box 13

Research notes and correspondence re Alamein, 1952 (File 4a) - Box 13

Correspondence re U.S. Army and Navy, 1949-52 (File 5) - Box 13

Correspondence with Angus and Robertson, 1944-48 and 1967-69 (File 6) - Box 13

Roneoed papers and correspondence re Army League, 1952-53 (File 7) - Box 13

Correspondence with Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1946-53 (File 8) - Box 13

Correspondence with A.W. Bayley re Australian War Memorial Board, 1943-50 (File 8a) - Box 13

Correspondence with Australian newspapers, 1951-52 (File 9) - Box 13

Correspondence with Alec Chisholm re Who's who in Australia and Australian encyclopedia, 1946-49 (File 10) - Box 13

Correspondence with C.E.W. Bean, 1944-55 (File 10a) - Box 13

T/s of questions for General Omar Bradley re Western Front, 1944-45 (File 10b) - Box 13

Correspondence with Dinah Brook (research assistant), 1951-52 (File 11) - Box 13

Correspondence re Canadian Army, 1952-53 (File 12) - Box 13

Correspondence with Central Office of Information, 1947-50 (File 13) - Box 13

Correspondence with, and t/s talks for, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1952-53 (File 14) - Box 14

Publications and roneoed notices and minutes of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1953-54 (File 15) - Box 14

Correspondence re Chichele Professorship of the History of War, Oxford, 1953 (File 15a) - Box 14

Letters from Winston and Randolph Churchill and related material, 1952 (File 16) - Box 14

Notes and clipping re Wilmot's review of Churchill's Second World War Vol V, 1952 (File 17) - Box 14

T/s index of documents from Churchill's Second World War Vol III (File 17a) - Box 14

Correspondence with W.A.R. Collins, publisher, 1946-56 (File 18) - Box 14

Correspondence with Collins Publishers, 1952-54 (File 19) - Box 14

Correspondence with R. Politzer and F.T. Smith of Collins, 1946-54 (File 20) - Box 14

Correspondence with A. and F. Denny, booksellers, 1946-52 (File 21) - Box 14

Correspondence with Deutsch-Englische Gesellschaft, 1952 (File 22) - Box 14

Correspondence with Defence Dining Club, 1952-53 (File 23) - Box 14

Notes for and roneoed text of address at the Dorchester on The Struggle for Europe, 1951 (File 24) - Box 15

Correspondence with Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, 1948-49 (File 25) - Box 15

Correspondence with T. Dreimanis, Osnabruck Displaced Persons Camp, 1948-50 (File 26) - Box 15

Correspondence with The Economist, 1950-53 (File 27) - Box 15

Correspondence with Elsevier and t/s of articles for Elzeviers wekblad: "Post-War lessons of wartime diplomacy: meeting Russia with strength", 1952 and "Britain and European unity", 1953 (File 28) - Box 15

Correspondence with Evans Brothers Ltd re article "The Battle that beat Japan", 1950 (File 29) - Box 15

Papers re film proposal, 1952-53 (File 29a) - Box 15

Ms and t/s of talk to the Fifty-One Society: "Who won the war?", 1952 (File 29b) - Box 15

Correspondence with Hamilton Fish Armstrong of Foreign affairs, 1950-53 (includes corrected t/s of article "Strategy in the Cold War") (File 30) - Box 15

Correspondence with Foyles Lecture Agency, 1952-53 (File 31) - Box 15

Correspondence with Otto Giles, 1946-53 (File 32) - Box 15

Correspondence with, and research material re, General Gruenther, 1953 (includes letter from Field Marshal Montgomery) (File 33) - Box 15

Correspondence, research material and article re General Sir John Harding, 1952 (File 34) - Box 15

Correspondence with German-English Association and ms and t/s of speeches on The Struggle for Europe and European integration, 1952-53 (File 35) - Box 15

Research material on Anthony Head, Secretary of State for War, 1953 (File 36) - Box 15

Correspondence re home forces in 1940, 1948 (File 37) - Box 15

Correspondence with Graham Irwin, 1949-53 (File 38) - Box 15

Correspondence with L.A. Jackets, 1947-52 (File 39) - Box 15

Correspondence with Keesings Publications, 1949-52 (File 40) - Box 15

Correspondence with General J. Lawton Collins (USA), 1947-52 (File 41) - Box 15

Correspondence with Joe Landre, 1946-53 (File 42) - Box 16

Correspondencere lectures, dinners, etc, 1952-53 (arranged alphabetically) (File 43-46) - Box 16

T/s and clippings of articles by Basil Liddell Hart, 1945-50 (File 47) - Box 16

Correspondence with Basil Liddell Hart, 1946-50 (File 48) - Box 16

Correspondence with Basil Liddell Hart, 1951-53 (File 49) - Box 17

Correspondence with Kathleen Liddell Hart, 1973 (File 49a) - Box 17

Correspondence with R.G. Menzies, 1948-52 (File 49b) - Box 17

Clippings, t/s of articles and broadcasts, and correspondence re the Matteotti murder, 1941-47 (File 49c) - Box 17

World War II maps (File 49d) - Box 17

Correspondence and minutes re the Migration Council, 1952-53 (File 50) - Box 17

Correspondence with Brian Melland, Cabinet Office Historical Section, 1952-53 (File 51) - Box 17

Correspondence re miscellaneous articles, 1952-53 (File 52) - Box 17

Correspondence, clippings, research material and typescripts re Field Marshal Montgomery, including correspondence with Montgomery, 1942-55 (File 52a) - Box 17

Correspondence and papers re National Union of Journalists, 1949-52 (File 53) - Box 17

Clippings of reviews of The Struggle for Europe from New Statesman and Nation and t/s letters to the Editor by Wilmot in response, 1952 (File 54) - Box 17

Clippings from, and correspondence with, The New York Times re the Yalta debate, 1953 (File 55) - Box 17

[not on despatch list] (File 56-57)

Correspondence and itinerary re visit to USA and Canada, April-May 1952 (File 58-59) - Box 18

Papers re membership of P.E.N, 1952-53 (File 60) - Box 18

[not on despatch list] (File 61-62) - Box 18

Correspondence and other papers re The Observer, 1952-53 (File 63) - Box 18

[not on despatch list] (File 64) - Box 18

Correspondence re Australian Official war history of the North African campaigns, 1946-53 (File 65) - Box 18

Correspondence with Jim Brill, etc re official war history, 1948-53 (File 66) - Box 18

Correspondence with Gavin Long re official war history, 1946-53 (File 67-68a) - Box 18

Papers re Tobruk, 1941-53 (File 69-69a) - Box 18

Correspondence with General Sir Richard O'Connor, 1941-53 (File 70) - Box 19

T/s and cuttings of Sir Charles O'Brien's recollections of Field Marshal Montgomery, n.d (File 70a) - Box 19

Correspondence with Ons Vriji Nederland, 1946-47 and corrected t/s articles on the Arnhem battle (File 71) - Box 19

Correspondence with A.D. Peters, Literary Agent, 1952-54 (File 72) - Box 19

Contracts negotiated by A.D. Peters, 1952 (File 73) - Box 19

Correspondence with A.D. Peters, 1945-53 (File 74-75) - Box 19

Ms and t/s of "Tomorrow's struggle for Europe", article for Picture post, 1952 (File 76) - Box 19

Correspondence with Hal Gutteridge and menus of the Pilgrims Luncheon Club, 1952 (File 77) - Box 19

Correspondence with press clippings agencies, 1952 (File 78) - Box 19

Correspondence with various publishers, 1953 (File 79) - Box 19

Correspondence with the Reprint Society, 1950-53 (File 80) - Box 19

Correspondence re the British Army on the Rhine, 1947-53 (File 81) - Box 19

Roneoed documents re Rhine Army manoeuvres, September 1952 (File 82) - Box 19

Papers re BBC program on road safety, 1953 (File 83) - Box 19

Papers re Field Marshal Rommel (File 84) - Box 19

Correspondence with Air Marshal Sir James Robb, 1947-48 (File 85) - Box 19

Correspondence with Manfred Rommel, 1950-51 (File 86) - Box 19

Correspondence with General S.F. Rowell, 1947-53 (File 87) - Box 19

Corrected t/s of lecture to Royal Empire Society: "The Cold War and the colonial world", 1952 (File 87a) - Box 19

Correspondence with H.M. Scales, 1946-53 (File 88) - Box 20

Correspondence with Schweizermanatshefte, 1953 (File 89) - Box 20

Correspondence with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Paris, 1953 (File 90) - Box 20

Correspondence with, and notices of, the Society of Australian Writers, 1952-53 (File 91) - Box 20

Papers re Society of British Aircraft Constructors, 1952-53 (File 92) - Box 20

Clippings and t/s of reviews by Chester Wilmot, 1952 (File 93) - Box 20

Correspondence with the Spectator, 1952-53 (File 94) - Box 20

Correspondence with C.P. Stacey, Canadian Official War Historian, 1948-53 (File 95) - Box 20

Correspondence with Staff College, Camberley, 1949-53 (File 96) - Box 20

Subscriptions to periodicals, etc, 1949-53 (File 97) - Box 20

Times Book Club, 1947-53 (File 98) - Box 20

Correspondence re Scandinavian trip, November 1952 (File 99) - Box 20

Correspondence with Twentieth century, 1952 (File 100) - Box 20

Correspondence with Senior Officers Tactical School, 1949-52 (File 101) - Box 20

Ms and t/s drafts and clippings of articles by Wilmot for Time and tide with correspondence, 1952-53 (File 102) - Box 20

Correspondence with U.S. Information Service, London, 1947-52 (File 103) - Box 20

Correspondence with War Cabinet Historical Section, 1946-52 (File 104) - Box 20

Correspondence with War Office, 1952-53 (File 105) - Box 20

Roneoed and printed material from the War Office, 1953 (File 106) - Box 20

Correspondence with Air Marshal Sir Philip Wigglesworth, 1945-52 (File 107) - Box 20

Correspondence with Richard Wigglesworth, USA, 1949-54 (File 107a) - Box 20

Correspondence with E.T. Williams, Oxford, 1946-53 (File 108) - Box 21

Correspondence with David Woodward, 1948-53 (File 108a) - Box 21

Correspondence with World digest, 1952 (File 109) - Box 21

Correspondence with Brigadier Desmond Young, 1949-52 (File 110) - Box 21

Ms and t/s notes on the Yalta Conference (File 111) - Box 21

Clippings and notes on Yugoslavia, 1949 (File 112) - Box 21

Correspondence re travel arrangements, 1953 (File 113) - Box 21

General correspondence re The Struggle for Europe, 1951-53 8 (Arranged alphabetically) (File 114-11) - Box 21

Correspondence re Dutch edition of Struggle for Europe, 1952-53 (File 119) - Box 21

Correspondence re American edition of Struggle for Europe, 1952 (File 120) - Box 21

Correspondence re German edition of Struggle for Europe, 1952-54 (File 121) - Box 21

Correspondence re Italian edition of Struggle for Europe, 1952-53 (File 122) - Box 21

Correspondence re Norwegian edition of Struggle for Europe, 1952-53 (File 123) - Box 21

Correspondence re Swedish edition of Struggle for Europe, 1952-53 (File 124) - Box 21

Series 5. Broadcaster, 1946-54

This series consists chiefly of scripts of Wilmot's BBC and ABC broadcasts, 1946-53, in addition to some related material including correspondence, newscuttings and scripts of after dinner speeches. The subject matter of the broadcasts relate mainly to current affairs and to the history of World War II. Also included in this series are Wilmot's letters to his family, 1946-54.

Letters to family, April 1946-1947 (File 1) - Box 22

Letters to family, 1948-51 (File 2) - Box 22

[not received] - Letters to family, 1951-52 (File 3) - Box 22

Letters to family, 1953-54 (File 4) - Box 22

Scripts of BBC Pacific Special Radio News Reel broadcasts, May 1946 - January 1947 (File 5) - Box 22

Various BBC scripts, 1946-47 (File 5a) - Box 22

Scripts of BBC broadcasts, 1947 (File 6) - Box 22

Scripts of BBC Christmas broadcasts, 1947-48 (File 7) - Box 22

Scripts of two BBC broadcasts, February and June 1948 (File 8) - Box 22

Scripts of Forces Educational broadcasts, 1949 (File 9) - Box 22

Scripts of "Calling Australia" broadcasts on Journey in Europe, 1949 (File 10) - Box 22

Corrected script of "A Country Christmas" broadcast for BBC North American Service, December 1949 (File 11) - Box 22

Corrected scripts of BBC broadcasts, 1949 (File 12) - Box 23

Scripts of "News Commentary for Schools" broadcasts, 1949-50 (File 13) - Box 23

Scripts of "Topic for Tonight" broadcasts, 1949-50 (File 14) - Box 23

Scripts of Forces Educational broadcasts, 1950 (File 14a) - Box 23

Notes on broadcasting, 1949 (File 15) - Box 23

BBC listener research reports, 1947-50 (File 16) - Box 23

Two broadcast scripts, January and April 1950 (File 17) - Box 23

Scripts of "Current Review" broadcasts for BBC Pacific Service, 1950 (File 18) - Box 23

Correspondence, clippings and index cards re English Channel swims, 1950 (File 19) - Box 23

"Pacific Commentary" broadcast scripts, 1950-51 (File 20) - Box 23

Corrected script of ABC broadcast: "The Wartime meetings of the big three", December 1951 (File 21) - Box 23

Scripts of miscellaneous broadcasts for the CBC, 1952 (File 22) - Box 23

"The NATO meeting in Lisbon" - BBC broadcast script, 1952 (File 23) - Box 23

Scripts of "The Conduct of war", broadcast and article in The Listener, 1952 (File 24) - Box 23

Ms notes for BBC broadcast of "The Struggle for Europe", 1952 (File 25) - Box 24

Script of D-Day eighth anniversary broadcast, 1952 (File 26) - Box 24

Miscellaneous broadcast scripts, 1953 (File 27) - Box 24

Drafts and clippings of articles for The Observer, 1952-53 (File 27a-c) - Box 24

Clippings of book reviews and articles by Wilmot, 1952-53 (File 27d) - Box 24

[not received] - Letters and papers, 1953 (File 28) - Box 24

Australian correspondence, 1953 (File 29) - Box 24

T/s of speeches at Sir Bertram Stevens' dinner of appreciation for Wilmot, Sydney, December 1953 (File 29a) - Box 24

Script of "The Queen's Journey" broadcast, 1953 (File 30) - Box 24

Wilmot's last script, ABC Guest of Honour, December 1953 (File 31) - Box 24

Clippings re the ABC, 1957-82 (File 32) - Box 25

Ms notes and t/s drafts of "A Sunburnt Country", Chapter 1 of "Australia's expanding horizon", 1953 (File 33) - Box 25

Notes for and scripts of various speeches, 1950-53 (File 34) - Box 25

Correspondence with BBC, 1947-52 (File 35) - Box 25

List of BBC broadcasts, 1938-53 (File 35a) - Box 25

Miscellaneous correspondence with the BBC, 1948-53 (File 36) - Box 25

Script of D-Day commemorative broadcast, 1947 (File 37) - Box 25

Correspondence with BBC Talks Department, 1946-53 (File 38) - Box 25

Correspondence with BBC News Department, 1946-47 (File 39) - Box 25

Correspondence with BBC Publications Department, 1947-53 (File 40) - Box 25

Correspondence with BBC Regionals, 1947-53 (File 41) - Box 25

Correspondence with BBC Television Administration, 1949-53 (File 42) - Box 25

Miscellaneous correspondence re BBC Television, 1950-53 (File 43) - Box 25

Correspondence with BBC Schools Department, 1946-50 (File 44) - Box 25

BBC Television contracts, 1949-53 (File 45) - Box 25

Contracts for BBC features, 1947-52 (File 46) - Box 26

Contracts for BBC broadcasts (talks), 1950-53 (File 47) - Box 26

Miscellaneous BBC contracts, 1944-47 (File 48) - Box 26

Correspondence with Stephen Bonarjee, BBC, 1949-53 (File 49) - Box 26

Correspondence with Ronald Boswell, BBC, 1947-53 (File 50) - Box 26

Correspondence with Frank Gillard, BBC, 1951-53 (File 51) - Box 26

Correspondence with BBC re copyright, 1947-53 (File 52) - Box 26

Listeners' letters, 1948-52 (File 53) - Box 26

Correspondence with BBC Transcription Service, 1947-50 (File 54) - Box 26

General correspondence re BBC features, 1948-53 (File 55) - Box 26

Correspondence with BBC Features Administration, 1947-53 (File 56) - Box 26

Correspondence with BBC Overseas Department, 1950-53 (File 57) - Box 26

Series 6. BBC Radio and Television broadcasts, 1947-54

This series consists of scripts and associated material for Wilmot's BBC radio and television broadcasts, 1947-53. Wilmot commenced work as a television broadcaster on Grace Goldie's "Foreign Correspondent" program in 1949. The radio broadcasts in this series consist mainly of historical features on World War II. Also included in this series are newscuttings concerning Wilmot's death in the Comet air crash of January 1954.

Script of "The Story of D-Day" broadcast, 1947 (File 1) - Box 26

Script of "The Last days of Hitler", 1947 (File 1a) - Box 26

Script of "They fought at Alamein", 1947 (File 2) - Box 26

Research material re Alamein (File 3) - Box 26

Scripts and research material for "The Battle for Britain", 1947-49 (File 4-6) - Box 27

Script and research material for "The Battle that beat Japan", 1949 (File 7-8) - Box 27

Script and research material for "The Year alone" [1940/41], 1949 (File 9-10) - Box 27, 28

Script and research material for "The Rise and fall of Rommel", 1950 (File 11-12) - Box 28

Script and research material for "The Battle of the Atlantic", 1949 (File 13-14a) - Box 28

Script and research material for "The Half century", 1950 (File 15-16) - Box 28

Scripts and research material for "The Struggle for Europe", 1951-52 (File 17-21) - Box 28, 29

Script of "The Queen's journey", 1953 (File 22) - Box 29

Script of "Benelux" for BBC Television "Foreign Correspondent", 1949 (File 23) - Box 29

Script of "Portrait of Chester Wilmot", BBC broadcast, February 1954 (File 23a) - Box 29

Script and research material for "Germany" (BBC TV), 1949 (File 24) - Box 29

Script and research material for "Yugoslavia" (BBC TV), 1949 (File 25) - Box 29

Scripts and background material for BBC Television broadcast of the General Election, 1950 (File 26) - Box 29

Newscuttings re broadcast of the General Election, 1950 (File 27) - Box 29

Correspondence with Grace Goldie, BBC Television, 1950-53 (File 28) - Box 29

Script and research material for "Switzerland" (BBC TV), 1949 (File 29) - Box 29

Scripts of two radio interviews with Grace Goldie, n.d. and 1977 (File 29a) - Box 30

Script of "The Cold War", BBC Television, 1950 (File 30) - Box 30

Funeral of King George VI - BBC Television broadcast, 1952 (File 31) - Box 30

BBC Television feature on The Struggle for Europe, 1952 (File 32) - Box 30

Script, etc for BBC Television feature on Monte Bello and the Atomic Bomb, 1953 (File 33) - Box 30

"Formosa and the Far East", BBC Television, 1953 (File 34) - Box 30

"We Make 'em proud", BBC Television feature on the Worcestershire Regiment, 1953 (File 35) - Box 30

Scripts and background material for the BBC Television coverage of the Coronation, 1953 (File 36) - Box 30

Notebook re Coronation, 1953 and "Coronation Who's Who" (File 37) - Box 30

Selwyn Lloyd press conference re the United Nations and Korea, BBC Television, 1953 (File 38) - Box 30

Script of "The World since Stalin", BBC Television, 1953 (File 39) - Box 30

Obituaries of Chester Wilmot, 1954 (File 40-41) - Box 30

Papers re memorial service on Elba for Comet crash victims, 1954 (File 42) - Box 30

[not received] (File 43) - Box 30

Newscuttings re Comet crash, 1954 (File 44-45) - Box 30

Cuttings of reviews of books on World War II, 1960s-80s (File 46) - Box 30

Series 7. Notebooks and diaries, 1938-53

This series contains nine pocket diaries (1938, 1944-52); seven desk diaries (1948-53); an address book (1944-); and 87 notebooks (1940-53). 72 of these notebooks relate to World War II and were created by Wilmot either in his capacity as a war correspondent or after the War in his capacity as a war historian. These war notebooks cover the Mediterranean campaigns, 1941; the Pacific War and the New Guinea campaign, 1942; the western front, 1944-45; and the Nuremberg trials, 1945-46. The notebooks from the early 1950s relate primarily to NATO and military matters.

Pocket diaries (9), 1938, 1944-47, 1949-52. Address book, 1944+ (File 1) - Box 31

Notebooks (7) re AIF in the Middle East, 1941 (File 2) - Box 31

Notebooks (8) re early Western Desert campaign, SidiBarrani, Bardia, etc, December 1940 - January 1941 (File 3) - Box 31

Notebooks (4) re capture of Tobruk and first Libyan campaign, January - March 1941 (File 4) - Box 31

Notebooks (16) re siege of Tobruk, April - November 1941 (File 5-6) - Box 31

Notebooks (4) re second Libyan campaign, November - December 1941 (File 7) - Box 31

Notebooks (6) re Greece and Crete campaigns, April - May 1941 (File 8) - Box 31

Notebooks (4) re Syrian campaign, June - July 1941 (File 9) - Box 32

Notebooks (3) and a diary re Middle East campaigns, 1941 (File 10) - Box 32

Notebooks (13) re Pacific War and New Guinea campaign, 1942 (File 11-12) - Box 32

Notebooks (4) re Western Front, 1944-45 (File 13) - Box 32

Notebooks (2) re Nuremberg trials, 1945-46 (File 14) - Box 32

Desk diaries (4), 1948-50 (File 15) - Box 32

Desk diaries (3), 1951-53 (File 16) - Box 33

Notebooks (2) on Germany and Switzerland, 1949. Notebook on Matteotti case, n.d. Notebooks (3) on North American trip, 1952 (File 17) - Box 33

Notebook containing miscellaneous notes, n.d.

Notebooks (8), circa, 1952-53 (File 18-19) - Box 33

Series 8. Drafts and research material re Tobruk, 1941

Research notes, correspondence and manuscript and typescript drafts of Tobruk, 1941 (A&R, 1944). Most of the research and writing for this book was carried out in 1943.

Rough notes (File 1) - Box 33

Duplicates of notes and broadcast scripts Personal mail, 1943-44 (File 2) - Box 33

Correspondence, 1943 (File 3) - Box 33

Ms and t/s drafts of chapters (File 4-11) - Box 33, 34

Appendices and maps (File 12) - Box 34

Retypes (File 13) - Box 35

Final corrected t/s draft (File 14) - Box 35

Series 9. Research material, drafts and correspondence re The Struggle for Europe

This large series contains copies of the research sources and Wilmot's research notes used in the writing of The Struggle for Europe. The source material includes notes of interviews with military commanders; transcripts of the "Fuehrer Conferences"; classified Allied army reports and battle plans; and scripts of relevant BBC radio broadcasts. Also included in this series are five drafts of The Struggle for Europe, the earliest drafts being entitled "The Great crusade", and a folder of correspondence with publishers William Collins Ltd.

Notes re the planning of Overlord (File 1) - Box 35

Notes re D-Day and the second front (File 2) - Box 35

Notes re Arnhem/Operation Market Garden (File 3) - Box 35

Notes re Allied strategy, Ardennes to Luneberg (File 4) - Box 35

Notes re Allied strategy, ANVIL/Italy (File 5) - Box 35

Notes re grand strategy, 1942-43 (File 6) - Box 35

Notes and source material re General D. Eisenhower (File 7) - Box 35

Notes and source material re the battle of the Atlantic (File 8-10) - Box 36

Script of broadcast "The Battle of the Atlantic" documentary feature (File 11) - Box 36

Notes re Potsdam Conference, 1945. Notes re the Hopkins papers, published, 1949 (File 12) - Box 36

"The Great Crusade" - early drafts and documents (File 13-20) - Box 36, 37

Notes on Adolf Hitler (File 21) - Box 37

Notes re transcripts of the "Fuehrer Conferences", 1942-45 (File 22-25) - Box 37, 38

Bound roneoed volumes of the Fuehrer Conferences on Naval Affairs, 1939-45 (6 volumes) (File 26-31) - Box 38

Notes on German reactions, June 1944 (File 32) - Box 38

Notes on interrogations of German Generals (File 33-34) - Box 38, 39

Notes on German war production and air strategy (File 35) - Box 39

First U.S. Army. Report of operations, October 1943 - August 1944 (File 36) - Box 39

British Army of the Rhine. Battlefield tour, Caen, August 1944 (File 37) - Box 39

21 Army Group. Operation "Market Garden", September 1944 (File 38) - Box 39

21 Army Group. Operation "Veritable", February - March 1945 (File 39) - Box 39

British Army of the Rhine. Battlefield tour, Operation Veritable, 1945 (File 40) - Box 39

British Army of the Rhine. Battlefield tour, Operation Varsity, 1945 (File 41) - Box 40

79th Armoured Division. Final report, July 1945 (File 42) - Box 40

Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. Weekly intelligence summary, 11 March 1945 (File 43) - Box 40

21 Army Group. "Intelligence reviews" (roneoed), June 1944-May 1945 (File 44-45) - Box 40

Booklet of notes and corrections. Index cards on the Ardennes (File 46) - Box 40

Broadcast scripts: "The Harbour called Mulberry' (re D-Day), 1945 and "The Secret Correspondence of Hitler and Mussolini", 1947 (File 47) - Box 40

Broadcast scripts: "The Raid on St Nazaire", 1948 and "The Sinking of the Bismarck", 1948 (File 48) - Box 41

Scripts of broadcasts of "The Struggle for Europe", 1952 (File 49-52) - Box 41

Early rough drafts of "The Great Crusade" (File 53-56) - Box 41, 42

Early draft of "The Struggle for Europe" (incomplete) (File 57-63) - Box 42, 43

"The Struggle for Europe" (green copy), chapters 1-28 (File 64-68) - Box 43

Draft submitted to the Australian Jubilee Committee by "Wanganella" (File 69-78) - Box 44, 45

Final corrected draft (incomplete) (File 79-85) - Box 45, 46

Correspondence with Collins Publishers: Graham Irwin, Patsy Cohen and Therese Denny, 1951 (includes draft of index) (File 86) - Box 46

Series 10. Reviews, reactions and corrections to The Struggle for Europe, 1952-54

This series contains material generated at the time of, and subsequent to, the publication of The Struggle for Europe. It includes clippings and typescript copies of reviews and press comment; correspondence; letters of congratulation; publicity material; and typescripts of corrections to be incorporated into the second edition.

Reviews in English press, 1952 (File 1-2) - Box 46

American reviews, 1952 (File 3) - Box 47

Australian and Canadian reviews, 1952 (File 4) - Box 47

European press comment on translations, 1952-54 (File 5) - Box 47

Clippings of reviews from other countries Duplicates of reviews (File 6) - Box 47

Comments and corrections - correspondence and typescripts, 1952-53 (File 7) - Box 47

Corrections to be made for second edition - correspondence and typescripts, 1952-53 (File 8) - Box 47

Publicity material, 1952 (File 9) - Box 47

Series 11. Miscellaneous papers, 1936-86

This series includes a variety of BBC broadcast scripts by people other than Wilmot, in addition to a run of duplicates of Wilmot's broadcast scripts covering the years 1936, 1941-49 and 1952. The originals of these scripts can be found in Series 1,2,3,5 and 6. Also included in this series is some family correspondence, cables and copies of clippings and tributes relating to Wilmot's death in 1954.

T/s of "Retreat form Kokoda" by Raymond Paul, n.d (File 1) - Box 48

Publicity material for film "Sons of the Anzacs", 1943. Notes on the Owen Gun by V.A. Wardell, 1943 (File 2) - Box 48

Broadcast script of "Radar: the story of a secret weapon" by Cecil McGivern, 1945. Broadcast script of "Britain under fire" by Michael Barsley, 1950 (File 3) - Box 48

Wilmot's British passport, 1946-52. Wilmot's Japanese press card, 1953. Family correspondence, 1938-57, 1980-86 (File 4) - Box 48

Cables, 1938-50 (File 5) - Box 48

Roneoed report: "Economic survey of Asia and the Far East" by the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, 1953 (File 6) - Box 48

Tributes/obituaries for Chester Wilmot (clippings, t/s and correspondence), 1954-55 (File 7) - Box 48

Newscuttings re Comet crash and investigations, 1954 (File 8-9) - Box 49

T/s and interview transcripts re Hugh Greene and the history of the BBC (File 10) - Box 49

Duplicate scripts of Wilmot broadcasts, December 1936 (1 script) and 1941 (with the AIF in the Middle East) (File 11) - Box 49

Duplicate scripts, 1941 (with the AIF) (File 12-15) - Box 49, 50

Duplicate scripts, 1942 (File 16-17) - Box 50

Duplicate scripts, 1945-46 (File 18) - Box 50

Duplicate scripts, 1946 (File 19) - Box 50

Duplicate scripts, 1947-49 (File 20) - Box 50

Duplicate scripts, 1952 (File 21) - Box 50

Series 12. Family history research material, 1872-1990 collected by Edith Wilmot

This series consists primarily of research notes, photocopies of documents and sources and correspondence relating to Edith Wilmot's investigations into the history of various branches of the family. Also included are some original family letters and photographs from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Wilmot family letters, 1890-98 (File 1) - Box 51

Wilmot family letters and cuttings, 1882-1957 (File 2) - Box 51

Research notes on Wilmot family history (File 3) - Box 51

Research notes on Forster family history (File 4-6) - Box 51

Miscellaneous notes and correspondence re family history, 1973-78 (File 7-8) - Box 51

Research notes on the French family history (File 9) - Box 52

Family letters of, and correspondence re, the Tracey family, 1872-1981 (File 10) - Box 52

Photographs and research material re the Tracey family (File 11) - Box 52

Photocopy of "Tracey Family History", t/s by F.W. Tracey, 1922 (File 12) - Box 52

Correspondence re Tracey family history, 1983-86

Research material on Captain Edward Tyrrell Smith (File 13) - Box 52

Notes and correspondence re Irwin family history, 1957-86 (File 14) - Box 52

Miscellaneous correspondence re family history, 1983-90 (File 15) - Box 52

Series 13. Biographical research material and drafts assembled by Alan and Mary Wood, 1954-

In 1954 the authors Alan and Mary Wood commenced researching a biography of Chester Wilmot. Alan Wood died in 1957 before the project was completed. His wife Mary continued writing drafts but never completed the work. After the demise of the project the Woods' drafts and working notes remained in the possession of Edith Wilmot. This series contains notes of interviews conducted by the Woods with friends and acquaintances of Wilmot; correspondence connected with the proposed biography; and manuscript and typescript notes for, and drafts of, the unfinished work.

Notes of interviews with Army officers (Warhurst, C. Molony, Nerney, G. Jackson, B Horrocks, Montgomery); war correspondents (Moorehead D. Woodward, E. Ward, R. Dimbleby, N. Monks, J. Hodson, W. Forrest, E. Wilson); and historians (Liddell Hart, A. Bullock and K. Hancock), 1955-56 (File 1) - Box 53

Notes of interviews with Wilmot's contacts at Collins Publishers, 1956 (File 2) - Box 53

Notes of interviews with Wilmot's colleagues and contacts at the BBC. Notes of interviews with Sir Thomas White, Graham Irwin, Lesley Guymer, Helen Waldsax and Professor and Mrs A.W. Ewing, 1956 (File 3) - Box 53

Correspondence, 1954-56 (arranged alphabetically) (File 4-6) - Box 53

Alan Wood's early working notes (File 7) - Box 53

Mary Wood's early drafts and extracts from family letters (File 8) - Box 53

Mary Wood's drafts of biography: (File 9-22) - Box 54, 55

Family and childhood (File 9) - Box 54

University days (File 10) - Box 54

World tour, 1937-38 (File 11-12) - Box 54

Middle east, 1940-41 (File 13-14) - Box 54

Blamey row, 1942 (File 14) - Box 54

Western Front, 1944-45 (File 15-19) - Box 54, 55

Early years of peace, 1945-47 (File 20-21) - Box 55

Drafts and notes covering the years, 1949-51 (File 22) - Box 55


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