Guide to the Records of the Prime Minister's Office (as filmed by the AJCP)

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PREM

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: 2018

Collection Summary

Creator
Prime Minister's Office. Great Britain.
Title
Records of the Prime Minister's Office (as filmed by the AJCP)
Date Range
February 1942 - October 1942
Collection Number
PREM
Extent
3 items
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Australian Joint Copying Project
Sponsor
The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.

Introduction

Scope and Contents

Papers dealing with defence and operational subjects (1940-1945), reflecting the activities of Winston Churchill as Minister for Defence.

Conditions Governing Access

Available for Access.

Conditions Governing Use

Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.

Preferred Citation

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: TNA Series: CO 201/429, New South Wales. Original Correspondence. Despatches May-June 1850 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Further information on citation guidelines is available at The National Archives of the UK (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/citing-documents-national-archives/).

Archival History

Material selectively filmed as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project. AJCP Reel: 7073

Original microfilm digitised as part of the AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.

Existence and Location of Originals

The National Archives of the UK (TNA).

Collection Reference: PREM. For further information, see PREM at TNA. (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1228)

ADM 199/607(b) Fall and evacuation of Singapore, PRO 7091

Finding Aid Note

Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming by the AJCP rather than to the date range of the original Series or File.

This online finding aid, published by the National Library of Australia in 2018, is a revised version of the original paper handbooks:

Australian Joint Copying Project. Handbook. Part 6. Public Record Group: Air Ministry, Board of Trade, Exchequer and Audit Department, Treasury and other Record Groups, Second Edition, pp xvii, 66, National Library of Australia, 1995.

Subjects

Great Britain: Prime Minister's Office; Singapore

Bibliography

First published as:

Australian Joint Copying Project. Handbook. Part 6. Public Record Group: Air Ministry, Board of Trade, Exchequer and Audit Department, Treasury and other Record Groups, Second Edition, National Library of Australia, 1995.

Administrative History

Since 1735 the residence and office of the Prime Minister has been located at No.10 Downing Street. Until 1916 the Office consisted of only two or three private secretaries, but it greatly expanded under David Lloyd George. The Office comprises private secretaries seconded from departments, the Secretary for Appointments and a small permanent staff.

Item Descriptions

Series PREM 3. Prime Minister's Office: Operational Correspondence and Papers, February 1942 - October 1942

3 items

Select papers filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) relating to the defence and fall of Singapore, World War II (1942).

Existence and Location of Originals

The National Archives of the UK (TNA).

Series Reference: PREM 3. For further information, see PREM 3 at TNA. (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11896)

Subjects

World War II (1939-1945); Malay Peninsula; Singapore

Far East (Singapore): Circulation of despatches and report from escaped military personnel in Malaya, May 1942 - September 1942 (File 168/3. AJCP Reel No: 7073)

Report on the fall of Malaya and Singapore by GEneral Wavell, 1942 and memoranda by Churchill, Sir Edward Bridges and others.

Wavell's report report includes statements by officers, civil servants and private individuals. Comments on lack of air supports, propaganda, civil morale, Japanese tactics, state of defences; behaviour of Australian troops.

The memoranda discuss the repercussions of releasing the report and Churchill decides not to release them to Mr Bruce.

Far East (Singapore): Provision for defences for land attack, September 1942 - October 1942 (File 168/4. AJCP Reel No: 7073)

Copy of War diary by Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton and memoranda re fall of Singapore.

Comments on allied naval strategy; fleet operations; allied co operation; fall of Singapore; Japanese forces; civilian morale; ; causes of the disaster.

Far East (Singapore): Defence of Singapore: account written by son of Admiral Beamish, February 1942 - June 1942 (File 168/7B. AJCP Reel No: 7073)

Includes:

11 June 1942: W.S. Churchill to Rear Admiral T. Beamish re his son's account.

n.d. Extract from a letter by a staff officer of the 18th Division [Beamish] on fall of Singapore. Activities of 18th Division; attacks on them; equipment; Japanese tactics; defence policy; evacuation procedure; reasons or fall.

5 March 1942: Enclosure to captain on staff's letter number 1184/081, notes on battle of Malaya by Editor of Straits Times.

Comments on situation in Singapore; demoralisation; desertions; looting; Indian troops; British troops; fifth column among Malays; civil defence; labour problem.


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