Papers of Maj Gen Francis Henry Norman Davidson CB DSO MC (1892-1973)
Reference code: GB99 KCLMA Davidson F H N
Title: DAVIDSON, Maj Gen Francis Henry Norman (1892-1973)
Dates of creation of material: 1935-1972
Level of description: file level
Extent: 0.01m3 or 1 box of papers
Note: Some items in this collection have been renumbered. If you require a previous reference number for an item in this collection, please refer to the Concordance.
Introduction
- Biographical history
- Provenance
- Scope and content
- Arrangement
- Conditions of access and use
- Related material
Brief List
1 Pamphlets written by Davidson, 1935-1936
2 Papers relating to the Allied Military Mission to Moscow, USSR in 1939
3 Papers relating to Davidson's service as Commander of Royal Artillery, 1 Corps, BEF 1939-1940
4 Papers relating to Davidson's service as Director of Military Intelligence 1940-1944, and as Deputy head of the British Army Staff in Washington, 1946
Condordance
Born 1892; educated at Marlborough and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; commisioned into the Royal Regt Artillery 1911; served World War One, 1914–1919 (wounded, despatches four times, MC and bar, DSO); Brevet Maj, 1929; Maj 1929; Brevet Lt Col, 1933; Col, 1938; Maj Gen 1941; General Staff Officer Grade 2, Army Headquarters India, 1925–1927; Bde Maj 12 Indian Infantry Bde, 1927–1929; General Staff Officer Grade 2, War Office, 1930–1934; Imperial Defence College Course, 1935–1936; General Staff Officer Grade 2 Staff College, Camberley, 1937–1938; General Staff Officer Grade 1, Division 2, Aldershot, 1938–1939; Commander Corps of Royal Artillery 1 Corps BEF (British Expeditionary Force) 1939–1940; Brig Gen Staff 10 Corps, 1940; appointed Director of Military Intelligence, War Office, 1940–1944; key figure in the re-creation of the Intelligence Corps, and the building up of an effective military intelligence network; Maj Gen, General Staff British Army Staff, Washington, USA, 1944–1946; retired pay, 1946; Col Commandent Intelligence Corps, 1952–1960; died 1973.
Presented to the Centre by Maj Gen Francis Henry Norman Davidson in December 1969 with the exception of the diary kept by Davidson as Director of Military Intelligence and a file of correspondence between Davidson and E E Thomas of the Cabinet Office Historical Section which were presented by E E Thomas in January 1988 having been lent by Davidson to Thomas for research on British intelligence in the Second World War its influence on strategy and operations by F H Hinsley and E E Thomas, C F G Ransom, R C Knight (London, HMSO, 1981)
The collection consists of pamphlets written by Davidson, papers, including a diary, relating to the Allied Military Mission to Moscow, USSR, 1939 of which Davidson was a member and papers relating to his career in World War Two as Commander in the Royal Artillery and as Director of Military Intelligence. The World War Two material includes narrative accounts of events during Davidson's service with the Royal Artillery in France and Belgium in 1940, maps used in the retreat of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) to Dunkirk, France and, maps used as Director of Military Intelligence to illustrate the progress of the war to Queen Mary, mother of George VI and a personal diary kept while Director of Military Intelligence. There is also a file containing correspondence with E E Thomas of the Cabinet Office Historical Section relating to aspects of Military Intelligence during World War Two. Dates of compilation of the narrative accounts are not indicated in the text but in correspondence with LHCMA Davidson states that his narratives were compiled from notes made at the time of events described.
The original order of the collection was imposed by Davidson when the papers were transferred to the Centre and has been rearranged to follow a chronological arrangement and a concordance has been provided. The later accessions have been integrated in the new arrangement.
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, three letters in French
Associated material
Davidson's decorations and medals are held by the Intelligence Corps Museum, Templer Barracks, Ashford, Kent
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Last modified: Monday, 08-Aug-2005 13:19:51 BST