Papers of Maj Gen Sir George (Grey) Aston, (1861-1938)
[ASTON: 1] Aston's
diaries, 1899-1926
[ASTON: 1/1]
1899-1900
Diary containing daily entries covering Aston's Special Service in South Africa as Staff Officer to the Assistant Inspector General Lines of Communication, South Africa, Maj Gen. Sir Charles (Sim Bremridge) Parsons and as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, 8 Div including details on the journey from England; the journey from Cape Town to the Modder River area; reconnaissance work in Orange Free State and Cape Colony; the progress of current operations, including an account of an on Aston's troops at Senekal, Orange Free State 25 May 1900 and list of arms taken there. With 'Notes for guidance in South African warfare' issued by FM Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts, Baron Roberts of Kandahar, Commanding-in-Chief, South Africa, Jan and Feb 1900. 1 file
[ASTON: 1/2]
1909, 1911 Jan - Feb
Diary containing daily entries relating to Aston as Brig Gen, General Staff, South Africa including account of journeys between London and Pretoria; attendance at conference at Staff College, Camberley, an account of lunch with Rt Hon Richard Burdon Haldane, Rt Hon Edward Grey and Maj Gen Douglas Haig while working in London at the War Office; discussion on recruitment of Officers for South African forces, particularly among Rhodes scholars and other South Africans at Oxford or Cambridge Universities; account of discussion with FM Jan Christian Smuts and General James Barry Munnik Hertzog on the defence of South Africa, particularly naval provision and the potential use of submarines; attendance by Aston, Hertzog, Louis Botha and Smuts at a defence conference at the War Office including comments on discussions with Haig, Sir William Nicholson, Maj Gen Sir John Spencer Spencer Ewart, Lt Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey; Aston's views on the suitability of a mounted brigade for defending South Africa with regard to the difficulties of the terrain and Haig's agreement to modify cavalry training accordingly; debate over the organisation of the General Staff in South Africa; account of conversation with Hertzog and his possible opposition to continued British rule in South Africa; unpopularity of FM Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts, Baron Roberts of Kandahar with the Boers; view on the South Africa Act, Sep 1909; progress of work on Letters on Amphibious Wars (John Murray, London, 1911, 1920). 1 file
[ASTON: 1/3]
1910 Jan 1 - 1911 Jan 27
Diary containing daily entries relating to Aston as Brig Gen, General Staff, South Africa including account of visit to Bloemfontein, Orange Free State; progress of work on Letters on Amphibious Wars (John Murray, London, 1911, 1920); account of meeting with Japanese Gen Tamaka and his views on sea transport during the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905; plans for 'Basutoland Scheme' (incorporation of the British Protectorate of Basutoland into the Union of South Africa); account of time spent at Government House, Pietermaritzberg, Natal; the claims of Maj Gen Charles Arthur Hadfield to an administrative position in South Africa; account of a discussion with FM Jan Christian Smuts on the Union of South Africa and the position of Governor General; the possible resignation of Gen Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen and his replacement by FM Viscount Horatio Herbert Kitchener; newspaper cutting describing a pamphlet by Aston dealing with the defence of South Africa with an introduction by Methuen relating to his support for compulsory military service; account of Louis Botha's speech outlining the programme of the new South African National Party; account of brigade training at Erasmus drift; account of discussion with Smuts on the peninsula defence scheme and his party's commitment to compulsory military service; account of exercises during a training camp; account of discussion with the Assistant Secretary for the Interior relating to local defence; Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick's views on Smuts' defence scheme; Col du Toit of Orange Free State's proposals to organise boy scouts in Orange Free State schools; the traffic in arms and ammunition to Basutoland. 1 file
[ASTON: 1/4]
1911 Feb - Dec
Diary containing daily entries relating to Aston as Brig Gen, General Staff, South Africa includes comments on increase in anti-British feeling amongst Dutch farmers; letters and notes from Gen Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen expressing doubts over FM Jan Christian Smuts' plans for the South Africa Defence Act; Aston's appointment as Aide de Camp to the King; account of meetings with Gen Sir Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton; Aston's views on a proposed scheme for mounted riflemen, primarily that they were unsuitable for use as a striking force unless a reserve was introduced to do their police duties; account of visit to Smuts and discussion on the South Africa Defence Bill; arrangements for Methuen to remain in South Africa after relinquishing his position as Commander in Chief until the Union Defence Bill had been passed. 1 file
[ASTON: 1/5]
1912 Jan 1- 1913 Feb 27
Diary containing daily entries relating to Aston's completion of his posting as Brig Gen General Staff, South Africa and his command of the Officers of the South African Defence Forces Instruction School, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State including account of lunch with Rt Hon Sir Edward Grey and a discussion on Belgian and Portuguese interests in South Africa and the possible effects in South Africa of war between Britain and Germany; letter to Aston from Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey MP relating to his appointment as Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence and expressing his regret at having been given this position ahead of Aston; progress of the South Africa Defence Bill; copies of press reports of racial tension at the Bloemfontein officers instruction school. 1 file
[ASTON: 1/6]
1913 Feb 28 - 1914
Diary with daily entries relating to Aston's temporary appointment Special Service, Admiralty War Staff including account of a meeting with Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty; Aston's appointment as Colonel of the Second Royal Marine Artillery; letter from Churchill recommending Aston for a KBE; conflict between the War Office and the Admiralty; account of talk with Lt Gen Sir John Spencer Spencer Ewart on Staff Duties; account on discussion on the decline of the idea of an Imperial Navy with contributions from within the empire and move towards the treaty system of international diplomacy. 1 file
[ASTON: 1/7]
1914 Jan 1- Aug 4
Diary with daily entries relating to Aston's appointment Special Service, Admiralty War Staff including his work as Chairman of the Committee on Defence of Admiralty Oil Reserves; work on an article on coastal defences. With letters from Aston enquiring about a command at the Royal Marine Barracks, Eastney, Portsmouth and the possibility of retiring; Aston's impressions of his first year at the Admiralty including his summaries of Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty and Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe, Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty. 1 file
[ASTON: 1/8]
1914 Aug 3- Nov 5
Diary with daily entries relating to Aston's work at Royal Marines Barracks, Eastney as Second Commandant and his work with the Special Service, Admiralty War Staff including his work as a member of a Sub-Committee on Imperial Defence dealing with all questions of overseas attack outside of British waters; his comments on the outbreak of World War One on 4 Aug 1914; Aston's posting as Col Commandant of Royal Marines Brigade at Ostend, Belgium and the preparations there to receive troops and stores; reports of German advances towards Ostend; return of Aston to Portsmouth and his supervision of the re-organisation of a Brigade at Dover, the brigade's departure and arrival at Dunkirk; arrangements for troop movements and organisation of supplies and the system of command in place in Dover; the collapse of Aston's health and his return to London on sick leave. 1 file
[ASTON: 1/9]
1915, 1922-1925
Diary with daily entries relating to Aston's work at Royal Marines Barracks, Eastney, Portsmouth as Colonel Commandant, Royal Marines then occasional entries mainly relating to wildlife and fishing around Aston's home. 1 file
[ASTON: 1/10]
1926 Jan 11- Feb 11
Diary with daily entries relating to time spent by Aston with the Atlantic Fleet compiling articles relating to life and conditions on HMS REVENGE, HMS HOOD, and HMS FURIOUS; discussion on changing naval tactics and changes in naval life; comments on the Fleet Air Arm; account of a brief stay at Gibraltar. 1 file
[ASTON: 2]
1933 Apr-Aug
Newspaper cuttings of articles by Aston for The Times reporting on training exercises. With list of list of proposed articles and list of times and places of training exercises for Aldershot and Southern commands. 1 file
[ASTON: 3 ] Papers related to
writings by Aston, 1905-1930
[ASTON: 3/1]
1905 Mar - Dec
Article by Aston entitled 'The Committee of Imperial Defence, its evolution and prospects'. With list of recipients of article and letters in response including letters from Capt Wilfrid Bliss Spender, Arthur Wilson Fox, Capt Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey , Maj Gen Hon Sir Frederick William Stopford, D Hutchinson, R Adm Edward Fitzmaurice Inglefield, Capt Henry Maitland Wilson, Maj Raymond John Marker, Charles Edward Gifford, Col James Henry Bor. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/2]
[1915]-1919
Articles by Aston entitled 'The writing on the wall - Clauswitz and the Kaiser' relating to pre World War One German military theory; 'Brest-Litovzk Conference' and 'The Russian armistice' 2 versions of an article on the Russian peace treaty with Germany,1917; 'Winning the war by Amphibian' 2 versions of an article relating to the negative effects of pessimism in the armed forces; 'War saving in country districts'. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/3]
1925 Nov 12
Texts of lectures given by Aston at University College, University of London, Gower Street, London 12 Nov 1925 entitled 'The study of war' discussing the need for non military society to recognise the importance of the study of war to understand the origin, nature and causes of war; 'Mechanizing armies' largely relating to the development of tanks, aircraft and machine guns. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/4]
1923 Oct 25 - 1924 May 12
Letter from Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, MP relating to the lecture by Aston 'The study of war'; notes by Aston on Austrian Gen Ludwig A von Benedik's operations from 25 Jun 1866 to the eve of the battle of Königgrätz during the Austro-Prussian (seven weeks) War, 1866 including guidelines for composing essays and instructors comments; articles entitled 'The evolution of the British Empire Defence' and 'England in the great strike - a study in national psychology' in 4 parts, a critique of the 1926 General Strike intended for Outlook. With letter from Aston relating to his work for Outlook 15 May 1926. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/5]
1928 May 7
Texts of lectures to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich for the War Course entitled 'Sea - diplomacy and law' and 'Statesmen and sea power'. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/6]
1929 May 10 - Jun 12
Notes and correspondence with Col Charles John Cecil Grant, Lt Gen Sir Archibald Armar Montgomery Massingberd and Maj Gen Charles Parker Deedes relating to an article by Aston on French Marshal Ferdinand Foch. With press cutting relating to a review in The Times and Aston's response to it. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/7 (5/8)]
1929 Apr 23
Text of speech by Aston entitled 'Memories of the Marines' broadcast by the BBC from Bournemouth on 23 April 1929 with related papers including correspondence. With a letter from Mrs Arnold Foster and reply from Aston relating to the position of Britain in Europe before World War One and the role that both the army and navy would play in the event of an invasion of France by Germany; correspondence relating to the Falkland Islands during World War One. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/8]
1929 Nov - 1930 Feb 15
Notes, correspondence and newspaper cuttings from the Sunday Despatch collected by Aston for an article on the secret service, including letters to the editor of the Sunday Despatch relating to an article written by Aston in the paper on the death in 1916 of FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/9]
1930 Oct 23 - Nov 30
Papers, including correspondence with AF John Rushworth Jellico, 1st Earl Jellicoe, FM Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby; and Col Archibald Percival Wavell relating to work for an article on the secret service by Aston and his article on the death of FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum. 1 file
[ASTON: 3/10]
1914 Dec- 1941 Jul 15
Maps and diagrams, royalty statements, telegrams, press cuttings and correspondence relating to Aston's books, including account [by V Adm John Derwen Allen] of the Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 Dec 1914
[ASTON: 4/1] Aston's correspondence relating to South Africa, 1899-1912
[ASTON: 4/1/1]
1899 Oct 10 - 1900 Jun 27
Aston's letters from South Africa during the Boer War to Mrs Holland and Miss Marjorie Holland, Admiralty House, Chatham (wife and daughter of R Adm Swinton Colthurst Holland, Superintendent of Chatham Dockyard, Kent) relating to his journey to South Africa and initial posting at De Aar, Cape Colony with descriptions of landscape, living conditions, progress of war and his work as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for Intelligence for 8 Div, Royal Marines Artillery. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/1/2]
1900 Jan 10- 1900 Sep 7
Aston's letters from South Africa during the Boer War to Isabel Aston, his sister relating to departure from England and arrival at De Aar, Cape Colony, progress of the war, the character of the Boers and his work as Staff Officer to the Assistant Inspector General Lines of Communication, South Africa, Maj Gen Sir Charles (Sim Bremridge) Parsons, Chief Staff Officer on expedition to Carnarvon, Western Cape Colony. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/1/3]
1900 Aug 12, 1908 Apr 3- Dec 7
Letters from Leslie Roundle to Aston wishing him a speedy recovery and letter relating to Aston's work as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for Intelligence for 8 Div, Royal Marines and informing him that he intended to bring his name forward to the Commander in Chief in South Africa, 1900, Maj-Gen Hubert Ion Wetherall Hamilton; letters from Aston to his sister Isabel Aston relating to his work as Brig Gen, General Staff, South Africa in 1908-1912 including a copy of a speech he made at a public dinner given by the Mayor of Kimberley to Gen Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen relating to the changing attitudes towards the British soldier in South Africa and his work with the South Africa Defence Commission. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/1/4]
1912 Apr 10 - Dec 23
General Orders issued 10 Apr 1912 noting the cessation of Aston's appointment as Brig Gen General Staff South Africa from 2 Apr 1912 and his entry into the service of the South African Government; report submitted by Aston to the Under Secretary for Defence, Government of South Africa on the special class of South African Staff Officers and others who had completed courses of instruction under Aston's superintendence; letter from Aston to FM Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen relating to Methuen's previous recommendation to the War Office that he be made substantive Colonel and requesting that Methuen repeat the recommendation; letter from Aston to the Under Secretary for Defence, Government of South Africa suggesting amendments in the system of command between the Union Government and both the Military School at Bloemfontein and the District Staff Officers. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/2]
1893 May 29 - 1895 Feb 26
Correspondence relating to Aston's appointment as Intelligence Officer, Mediterranean Fleet and with the Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty includes letters from Hon Maurice Archibald Bourke and Adm Cyprian Arthur George Bridge; account and sketches by Aston of the visit of the Cdr-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Sqn, Sir Michael Culme- Seymour, 3rd Bt, to the Prince of Montenegro, Nicholas Petrovic Njegos at Cetinje, Montenegro. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/3]
1904 Feb 5 - Aug 30
Correspondence relating to Aston's appointment as Assistant Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence which was vetoed by the Treasury including letters from John Arbuthnot Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher, First Sea Lord; R Adm Sir Charles Langdale Ottley, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, Secretary to Committee of Imperial Defence. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/4]
1904 May - 1907
Correspondence relating to Aston's appointment at as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Staff College Camberley to teach imperial strategy, fortification, artillery and coastal defence including letters about the post from Gen John Spencer Ewart; Col Henry Seymour Rawlinson; letter from Aston to Sir John Fisher requesting advice on whether he should take up the position at Camberley; telegram and letter from Fisher advising him to accept; letters of congratulation from [Capt William Wellington Godfrey] and Col Henry Dowrish Drake; letter from Gen William Purvis Wright, Deputy Adjutant General Royal Marines requesting a replacement for Aston to enable him to take up his post at Staff College, Camberley; letters on Aston's departure from the Staff College from Col Lonsdale Augustus Hale, Lt Col Walter Pipon Braithwaite, Maj Arnold Frederick Sillem, Col Hubert John Du Cane, Col Frederick William Stopford, Brig Gen Henry Wilson. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/5]
1914 Jul 20 - 1916 Mar 13
Correspondence relating to Aston as Brig Gen Commandant Royal Marine Artillery, Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth including letters from Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, MP, Maj Gen Sir Archibald Paris, Lt Col Edward Roden Cottingham, Adm Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Sea Lord, FM Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen, William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne, Adm Charles William de la Poer Beresford, MP; letters relating to Aston's appointment for special service, Admiralty War Staff; letters from Aston enquiring about further employment at the end of his current appointment at Eastney; correspondence with Hankey regarding congestion in ports; papers relating to Aston's appointment on a committee to consider questions relating to submarines; notes by Aston on the Battle of Jutland, May-Jun 1916 and Jellicoe's strategy at the battle. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/6]
1914 Sep 29 - Nov 17
Correspondence during Aston's period away from the front through illness in 1914 after Command of Independent Forces expeditions to Dunkirk, France and Ostend, Belgium including letters from Philip Charles Sarell, British Consulate, Dunkirk, Maj George Clement Tryon, Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, MP and Adm Charles William de la Poer Beresford, MP; letter from Col Archibald Paris, Aston's successor, describing an expedition to Antwerp, Belgium and losses during the expedition. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/7]
1914-1917
Papers relating to the Dardanelles Campaign Feb 1915 including extract from Aston's diary 5 Jun 1914 entitled 'impressions at Admiralty during past year' which includes comments on Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty and the role of the Committee of Imperial Defence; extract from Hansard 20 Mar 1917 which includes the statement by Asquith on the Royal Commission Report on the Dardanelles Campaign annotated with comments by Aston; notes by Aston on evidence to the Dardanelles Commission, Oct 1916; notes by Aston on the lecture given by Maj Gen Guy Payan Dawnay on the plans for the Dardanelles Campaign; notes by Aston entitled 'Value of direct and indirect fire from ships against forts'; typescript entitled '"Experts" and the conduct of war'; typescript 'Appreciation made in February 1915' on the strategic importance of the western front; press cuttings of extracts from Churchill's war memoirs which relate to the Dardanelles and responses to the memoirs; correspondence between Aston and AF Sir William Henry May, Prince Louis Francis of Battenberg, George Sydenham Clarke, 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe, George Clement Tryon, MP relating to the Dardanelles campaign; letter requesting Aston to give evidence to the Dardanelles Commission, 1917 on direct and indirect fire from ships; typescript summary of The Dardanelles Commission: First Report (Part I - Origins and Inception), (HMSO, London, 1917). 1 file
[ASTON: 4/8]
1921 Feb
Papers relating to a film about the Battle of Jutland, May - Jun 1916 including correspondence with John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe and R Adm Wilfrid Allan Egerton; newspaper cuttings and transcripts for the film. With documentation regarding Aston's patent for 'improvements in or in connection with means for use in the study of naval, strategical and tactical problems'. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/9]
1898 Apr 21 - 1925 Jul 21
Papers, including correspondence relating to Aston's career including papers relating to the award of a good service pension; résumés of career and achievements and list of referees; papers relating to the appointment of Aston as secretary of Naval Reserves Committee, 1902; letter appointing Aston member of Adm Sir Edmond John Warre Slade's committee on naval war staff, 1913; papers relating to the retention of Aston's services by the South African Government after the expiry of his military appointment; circular letter announcing Aston's promotion to Major; paper outlining Aston's experiences and qualifications in military strategy instruction; letters confirming and praising Aston's work on a number of different committees and military appointments; correspondence between Aston and Rt Hon Edward Grey MP relating to the Naval Reserves Committee and Aston's desire to work on the Committee of Imperial Defence. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/10]
1904 Jan 2 - 1929 Apr 11
Correspondence with various friends and colleagues including Lord Frederick Sleigh Roberts on plans for a German invasion of northern Europe, FM Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig on positioning of American attacks in World War One; Rt Hon Samuel John Gurney Hoare, Secretary of State for Air on air raid warnings; Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, MP criticising Aston's book on World War One; Adm Charles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford of Metemmeh and of Curraghmore on the foundation of the Naval Intelligence Department at the Admiralty with related memorandum; John William Fortescue on Naval strategy during the Napoleonic wars; R Adm Wilfrid Allan Egerton on torpedoes, fortification and military theory; George Clarke Sydenham 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe and others on a possible career for Aston in politics; Rt Hon Edward Grey on his hopes for avoiding war; Hankey to Harold Sidney Harmsworth 1st Viscount Rothermere of Hemsted recommending Aston for a chair in naval history at Cambridge University; Lt Gen Sir Launcelot Edward on Aston's chances of further employment; Sir Julian Corbett on naval security; Rt Hon Gen Jan Christian Smuts on Aston's work for the South African government; Adm Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman on Rt HonWinston Churchill; Frederick John Napier Thesiger Chelmsford, 1st Viscount of Chelmsford, First Lord of the Admiralty on the British fleet and the League of Nations; Sir Charles Hartington on Aldershot Command, the defence of Constantinople and the contents of his despatch on his three years as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Allied Forces of Occupation in Turkey; AF Sir Roger John Brownlow Keyes on his opposition to naval disarmament; AF Charles Edqward Madden on Aston's lecture on British sea diplomacy; Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson of Trent, Dorset, Commander-in-Chief of the Army in India on India; Gen Sir Frederick Spencer Robb on the change of British military base in World War One; Rt Hon Maj Gen John Edward Bernard Seely on the passage of the South African Defence Bill and other matters; Gen. Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, 1st Bt Wingate of Dunbar and Port Sudan on Col (Hon) Milo George Talbot; Sir Owen Seaman, Editor of Punch on Aston's work for the magazine. With list of correspondents and dates. 1 file
[ASTON: 4/11]
1913-1933
Correspondence between Aston and FM Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen relating to personal matters; the 'Tweebosch incident', Mar 7 1902 during which Methuen was wounded and forced to surrender with many losses and which he felt was due to one of his orders not being carried out, includes notes from conversation with Maj Gen Sir Stanley Brenton Vondonop; the defence of South Africa and structure of the Council of Defence; imperial policy in Basutoland. With correspondence between Aston and Methuen's family and friends relating to Methuen for a biography to be written by Aston; articles taken from The Times History of the War in South Africa, 1899-1900. ed. by Rt Hon Leopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery (Sampson Low, London, 1900-1909) relating to Methuen and the 1 Div South Africa Field Force; orders of service for memorial services for Methuen; tribute to Methuen by [L F] Arthur, Senior Col, Bde of Guards and by Aston printed and manuscript versions; correspondence with The Times regarding the publication of notices about arrangements for memorials to Methuen; newspaper cuttings of reports of Methuen's funeral and obituaries; birthday greeting telegram sent to Methuen from Commandant Staff College, Camberley, Maj Gen John Greer Dill on behalf of the college; two accounts by Methuen of time spent in Egypt, during Egyptian War,1882 and on a visit in 1918/1919. 1 file
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