Papers of Victor Bonham-Carter, (1913-2007)
[BONHAMCARTER: 1.] Papers relating to
the writing of A Soldier True,
(Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1963) a biography of FM Sir William
(Robert) Robertson, 1st Bt, by Bonham-Carter, 1960-1963.
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/1]
1963
Bound final proof copy of A Soldier True: the life and times of Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson, Bart. GCB, GCMG, KCVO, DSO 1880-1933, (Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1963), with some handwritten corrections, and an enclosed postscript to the introduction. 1 vol.
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2]
[1960-1963]
Notes and documents created and collated during research for A Soldier True, (Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1963).
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2/1-9]
[1960-1963]
Various handwritten and typed research notes by Bonham-Carter for A Soldier True, (Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1963), mainly taken from secondary sources and including notes on the history of the British army and intelligence service; the early life of FM Sir William (Robert) Robertson, 1st Bt; the French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle and his relations with Britain and her army commanders.
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2/10-15]
[1960-1963]
Notes taken by Bonham-Carter during interviews conducted whilst researching A Soldier True, (Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1963), notably with Quentin Borcy, Professor Sir James Ramsay Montagu Butler, the Chief Historian for Official Military Histories of the World War Two, Lt Col William Rudolph Vernon Isaac (on FM Sir William (Robert) Robertson, 1st Bt, and the Intelligence service), and Brian Robertson, son of the subject.
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2/16]
[1960-1963]
Lists made by Bonham-Carter of published sources to be used for background reading for, and bibliography of, A Soldier True (Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1963).
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2/17-33]
[1960-1963]
Notes and extracts by Bonham-Carter from published sources, including Smith-Dorrien, by Brig Gen Colin Robert Ballard (Constable & Co, London 1931), The Fire of Life, by Gen Sir George de Symons Barrow (Hutchinson & Co, London 1942), The Development of the British Army 1899-1914, by Col John Dunlop (Methuen, London, 1938), The Big Push, by Robert Brian Gardner (Cassell, London, 1961), and The Military Staff: its history and development, by Lt Col James Donald Hittle (The Military Service Publishing Co, Harrisburg 1948).
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2/34]
[1960-1963]
Notes made by Bonham-Carter from the Robertson Papers (now held in the Centre, Ref: GB99 KCLMA Robertson W R).
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2/35-37]
[1960-1963]
Documents used by Bonham-Carter during research for A Soldier True (Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1963), namely a guide to Welbourn Church, where FM Sir William (Robert) Robertson, 1st Bt, was born and there is a memorial tablet, genealogical notes of the Robertson family with a transcript of the wording on the memorial stone, and a copy of Robertson's birth certificate.
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2/38]
[1960-1961]
Typescript copy of a reply by the late Bde Maj, 75 Infantry Bde to Leon Wolff, author of In Flanders Fields (Longmans, Green & Co, London, 1959), refuting his criticism of the conduct of military operations, and the mentality of the commanding officers. 6pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/2/39]
1960
Memorandum by D W King, War Office Librarian, on the establishment of the Prince Consort's Library, and its relationship to the structural reorganisation of the army at that period. 5pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 1/3]
[1960-1963]
Typed copy of A Soldier True (Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1963), a biography of FM Sir William (Robert) Robertson, 1st Bt, by Bonham-Carter, with a rough index, handwritten corrections, and instructions for the printer. 1 file.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2.] Papers relating
to the BBC series The Great War, for which Bonham-Carter
undertook research and wrote scripts, 1963-1964.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/1-10]
1963-1964
Preliminary material relating to Bonham-Carter's writing of scripts for the BBC series The Great War.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/1]
[1963]
Preliminary list of programmes in the series The Great War, the proposed writer of the script for each, and transmission dates. 2pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/2]
[1963]
List of preliminary programme contents for The Great War, giving basic dates and events for each episode. Episodes fourteen and fifteen, those for which Bonham-Carter wrote scripts, are missing. 23pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/3]
[1963-1964]
Synopsis for programme fourteen of The Great War, a review of 1916 and the peace moves on both sides, written by Corelli Barnett. 3pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 3/4]
[1963-1964]
Synopsis for programme fifteen of The Great War, an overview of 1916, including the Rt Hon David Lloyd George's domestic problems and the Nivelle offensive, written by Corelli Barnett. 5pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/5]
[1963-1964]
Synopsis for programme sixteen of The Great War, on the Nivelle attack, the French army mutiny, and the air war, 1916-1917, written by John Williams. 8pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/6]
[1963-1964]
Synopsis for programme twenty-five of The Great War, an overview of the victory in the Balkans and Italy, written by John Williams. 4pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/7]
1963 Nov 11
Memorandum from Gordon Watkins, co-producer, to all writers of the series The Great War, outlining the programmes which will contain sections on 'The war in the air'. 3pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/8]
1964 Feb 11
Notes on synopses by Capt Basil Henry Liddell Hart, proposing some alterations. 2pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/9]
1964 Mar 16
Memorandum from Gordon Watkins, co-producer, to all writers for the series The Great War, giving instructions on the lay-out and composition of scripts. 2pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/10]
1964 Mar 30
Letter to Bonham-Carter from Capt Philip Gibbs, concerning specific details of the Battle of Jutland in World War One. 2pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/11-21]
1963-1964
Notes and drafts written and collated by Bonham-Carter as research for his work on the BBC series The Great War.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/11]
[1963-1964]
Notes by Bonham-Carter entitled 'Basic narrative re Jutland', and giving a detailed description of the background to and events of, the battle. 6pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/12]
[1963-1964]
Extracts taken by Bonham-Carter from leaders in The Times of 1916, relating to the Battle of the Somme. 2pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/13]
[1963-1964]
Notes made by Bonham-Carter from published sources on conscientious objection in Great Britain and Germany during World War One. 4pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/14]
[1963-1964]
Notes made by Bonham-Carter from published sources on pacifists and war-resisters, and the wartime press. 5pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/15]
[1963-1964]
Notes made by Bonham-Carter from published sources on wartime propaganda in Germany and Great Britain. 3pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/16]
[1963-1964]
Notes made by Bonham-Carter from published sources on civilian life during World War One, the Allied blockade of Germany in 1914-1916, and the various peace overtures in 1917. 5pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/17]
[1963-1964]
Notes by Bonham-Carter entitled 'Analysis of L(loyd) G(eorge) III', concentrating on the shipping situation in 1916, and containing a draft page of script. 3pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/18]
[1964]
Draft script by Bonham-Carter, being part of an overview of the events of World War One in 1916, concentrating upon Russia and the eastern front. 2pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/19]
[1964]
Draft script by Bonham-Carter on the military problems caused by the lack of manpower in 1916. 2pp
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/20]
[1964]
Narrative notes for programme fifteen of The Great War, on the domestic and foreign policies of the Rt Hon David Lloyd George. 3pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/21]
[1963-1964]
Notes by Bonham-Carter entitled 'Revised headings for programmes 14 and 15'. 1p.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/22-25]
[1964]
Various revisions of the final scripts for programmes fourteen and fifteen of The Great War.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/22]
[1964]
First copy of completed script of programme fourteen of The Great War, written by Bonham-Carter, with an attached summary, and handwritten notes and corrections. 32pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/23]
[1964]
Revised version of script of programme fourteen of The Great War, written by Bonham-Carter, with handwritten notes and corrections. 22pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/24]
[1964]
Revised summary of the script for programme fourteen of The Great War, written by Bonham-Carter. 3pp.
[BONHAMCARTER: 2/25]
[1964]
[Final] script for programmes fourteen and fifteen of The Great War, written by Anthony Jay and Bonham-Carter, with handwritten notes and corrections. 23pp.