Papers of Brig Harold Charrington, DSO, MC (1886-1965)
Reference code: GB99 KCLMA Charrington
Title: CHARRINGTON, Brig Harold Vincent Spencer, DSO, MC (1886-1965)
Dates of creation of material: 1914-1965
Level of description: item level
Extent: 0.01m3 or 1 box of papers
Introduction
Brief List
1 Papers relating to Charrington's service with 12 (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers during World War One, 1914-1935
2 Papers relating to the writing and publication of Where Cavalry Stands Today (Hugh Rees, London, 1927), by Charrington, 1927-1928
3 Papers relating to a report written by Charrington, as Commander of Fighting Vehicles Section at General Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on operations by the British army in Eritrea and Abyssinia, 1941
4 Papers relating to Charrington's command of 1 Armoured Bde during operations in Greece during World War Two, 1941, 1941-1952
5 Later accessions to the collection, including a detailed letter written by Charrington to his daughter following the Greek campaign of 1941, 1915-1965
INTRODUCTION
Born in 1886; 2nd Lt 12 (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers, 1905; Lt, 1907; employed with Egyptian Army, 1913-1914; Capt, 1914; served World War One, France and Belgium, 1914-1918; acting Maj, 1916, 1917-1919; Brevet Maj, 1919; Maj, 1923; General Staff Officer, Grade 3, War Office, 1923; Commander, Company of Gentleman Cadets, Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and General Staff Officer, Grade 2, 1923-1925; General Staff Officer, Grade 2, Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, and temporary Lt Col, 1925-1926; Lt Col, 1927; Commander, 12 (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers, 1927-1931; [Commander 6 Midland Cavalry Bde (Territorial Army), 1931-1932]; retired 1932; director of Charringtons Brewery, 1932; member of His Majesty's Bodyguard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, 1935; recalled to service, and served in World War Two, 1939-1945; General Staff Officer, Grade 1, Aldershot Command, [1939-1940]; Commander 1 Armoured Bde, Middle East and Greece, 1940-1941; Commander Fighting Vehicles Section, General Headquarters, Cairo, Egypt, May-Jul 1941; invalided back to England, Jul 1941; Commander of an Armoured Div, 1941-1943; Honorary Brig, 1943; retired, 1943; Personal Assistant to FM Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, 1945[-1946]; died 1965.
Placed in the Centre by the family in 1968, with two further accessions in 1974 and 1981.
The collection mainly comprises material from Charrington's later career during World War Two, although there is narrative material concerning his service with 12 (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers in France during World War One, notably on the advance into Flanders, the first Battle of Ypres, and the advance to Amiens, and papers relating to his publication of Where Cavalry Stands Today (Hugh Rees, London, 1927).
The majority of the material, however, relates to his service as Commander of 1 Armoured Bde, notably the operations in Greece during 1941, in which the brigade played an important role, covering the withdrawal and evacuation of the British forces. There are copies of letters written by members of the unit giving personal narratives of events, correspondence after the war concerning recommendations for awards and mentions in despatches of men of the 4 (Queen's Own) Hussars recently repatriated from POW camps, and further correspondence with official historians regarding the part played by 1 Armoured Bde. Also included are maps and photographs of men of the unit, and a personal letter from Charrington to his daughter written on board ship after the withdrawal from Greece, which gives a personal view of the events of April 1941.
In addition, there are narratives, sketches and photographs relating to the invasion of Abyssinia and Eritrea by the British Army in 1941, mainly used for a report written by Charrington, although some personal letters emphasise the role of armour in the operations.
Arranged in sections as above. The later accessions have been grouped together.
Access
Open, subject to signature of reader's undertaking form.
Copyright
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, attention of the College Archivist.
Language
English.
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Last modified: Monday, 08-Aug-2005 13:19:51 BST