FULLER 2 CDLS: Canal Defence Lights [tanks]; Correspondence between Fuller and M. Mitzakis, and 23 officers, about the use of CDL tanks during World War II, 1946 Apr-Jun
FULLER 2/1-77 Canal Defence Lights [tanks], 1946
[FULLER 2/1]
1946 Apr 30
List of letters sent by Maj-Gen J.F.C. Fuller, on 30 Apr 46. Typed. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/2]
[1946] Jun 24
Fuller to Mr M. Mitzakis. Forwarding the reply not in the collection of [Maj-Gen Sir Percy Hobart], also mentioning a letter from "Pickles". Manuscript. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/3]
[1948] Jun 27
Cutting from The People mentioning Command Defence Lights and Fuller's 'The second world war' [Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1948]. Printed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/4]
[1946]
Fuller to Lord Alanbrooke. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/5]
1946 May 2
[FM Lord Alanbrooke] Chief of the Imperial General Staff to [Fuller]. Refers Fuller to Gen Hobart. He himself encouraged the use of Command Defence Lights but they never seemed to take on. Manuscript. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/6]
1946 May 2
Copy of FULLER 2/5 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/7]
[1946]
Fuller to Lord Alexander. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/8]
1946 May 6
[FM Viscount] Alexander [of Tunis] Government House Ottawa to Fuller. Never was able to use Command Defence Lights but would like to see experiments carried out. Manuscript. 4 pp
[FULLER 2/9]
[1946]
[Fuller] to Lt-Gen Anderson. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/10]
1946 May 7
Lt-Gen Sir Kenneth Anderson, General Officer Commander-in-Chief East Africa Command, to Fuller. Lists some weaknesses of Command Defence Lights. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/11]
1946 May 7
Copy of FULLER 2/10 above. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/12]
[1946]
Fuller to Maj-Gen Briggs. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/13]
1946 May 7
Maj-Gen Raymond Briggs, Director Royal Armoured Corps War Office [1943-47], to Fuller. As the subject is one on which he is about to be approached officially he cannot disclose his opinion. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/14]
1946 May 7
Copy of FULLER 2/13 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/15]
1946 Mar 25
Maj-Gen J.S. Crawford, DDG Arm Production (1943-46), Ministry of Supply, to Mitzakis. Refers to projected book by latter on Command Defence Lights, and arranged appointment for meeting. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/16]
[1946]
Fuller to Lt-Gen Dempsey. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/17]
1946 May 22
[Lt-Gen Sir] Miles Dempsey [Second Army Commander for invasion of Normandy, and NW Europe] to Fuller. Will consult his notes about use of Command Defence Lights in Second Army crossing of Rhine and Elbe. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/18]
[1946]
Fuller to Maj-Gen Drew. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/19]
1946 May 6
[Maj-Gen Sir] J.S. Drew [Maj-Gen Training Combined Operations 1941-44] to Fuller, Command Defence Lights were found unsuitable for landing operations. Manuscript. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/20]
1946 May 6
Copy of FULLER 2/19 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/21]
1946 Apr 29
Mitzakis to Maj-Gen E.D. Fanshawe. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/22]
1946 Jun 1
Maj-Gen Evelyn D. Fanshawe [Maj-Gen Armoured Training and Commander RAC Training Establishment 1942-45], Acting Zone Director, 400 United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Headquarters, BAOR, to Mitzakis. His high opinion of Command Defence Lights is high. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/23]
[1946]
Fuller to Lt-Gen Godwin-Austen, Principal Administrative Officer, General Headquarters, India. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/24]
1946 May 24
Lt-Gen A.R. Godwin-Austen to Fuller. Hesitates to express an opinion himself, but believes Command Defence Lights were employed in Italy. Annotated by Fuller. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/25]
1946 May 24
Copy of FULLER 2/24 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/26]
[1946]
Fuller to Lt-Gen Horrocks. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/27]
1946 May 6
Lt-Gen Sir Brian Horrocks, Headquarters Western Command, Chester, to Fuller. Never used Command Defence Lights or saw them on training. Used them in static role for crossing of Rhine. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/28]
1946 May 6
Copy of FULLER 2/27 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/29]
1946 Apr 24
Mitzakis to Brig G.S. Knight, Royal Tank Regiment. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/30]
1946 May 27
Knight, adviser on use of armour to Turkish Government, Ankara, to Mitzakis. Giving an account of conditions there, and supporting Command Defence Lights specifying when they could have been profitably used, at Falaise and Arnhem. Manuscript. 4 pp
[FULLER 2/31]
[1946]
Fuller to Lt-Gen Leese. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/32]
Lt-Gen Sir Oliver Leese, Headquarters Eastern Command, to Fuller. Unable to help. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/33]
1946 May 5
Copy of FULLER 2/32 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/34]
1946 Jun 13
Lt-Gen Sir Gordon Macready, Regional Commissioner, Military Government Hannover Region BAOR, to Fuller. Command Defence Lights would have been of very great value had, they been used in large numbers for a night attack, especially the first time. Signed. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/35]
1946 Jun 13
Copy of above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/36]
[1946]
Fuller to Lt-Gen McCreery. On Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/37]
1946 May 14
Lt-Gen Richard McCreery, Headquarters Allied Commission for Austria, to Fuller. Command Defence Lights were a promising invention, and gives reasons why they were not used. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/38]
1946 Apr 30
Fuller to Maj-Gen MacMillan. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/39]
1946 May 7
Maj-Gen G.H.H. MacMillan, Director of Weapons and Development, War Office, to Fuller. Describes Command Defence Lights' part in Rhine crossing, which was a useful addition to that provided by other searchlights. Signed. Typed. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/40]
1946 May 7
Copy of FULLER 2/39 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/41]
1946 Apr 29
Mitzakis to Gen Sir James Marshall-Cornwall. On Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/42]
1946 May 5
Marshall-Cornwall to Mitzakis. Command Defence Lights would have been of outstanding value in offensive operations for instance in western desert 1941 or 1942. Manuscript. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/43]
1946 May 5
Copy of FULLER 2/42 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/44]
[1946]
[Fuller to Lt-Gen Martel]. On Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/45]
[1946] May 3
[Lt-Gen Sir Giffard Martel to Fuller]. Giving the reasons why Command Defence Lights would have been successful and why they were not. Manuscript. 3 pp
[FULLER 2/46]
[1946] May 3
Copy of FULLER 2/45 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/47]
[1946] May 15
Same to same. [Lt-Gen Sir Giffard Martel to Fuller]. Enclosing a statement. Manuscript. 1 p
[FULLER 2/48]
[1946] May 15
Martel. Memorandum on Command Defence Light tanks. Signed. Typed. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/49]
[1946]
Fuller to Lt-Gen Morgan. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/50]
1946 May 13
Lt-Gen Sir Frederick Morgan, Chief of Operations United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Central Headquarters for Germany to Fuller. Pays tribute to Fuller's writings. Command Defence Lights were not used since the decision was taken to assault Europe by night. Passing on Fuller's letter to Maj-Gen Evelyn Fanshawe [see No 2/22] who was inspector of the Armoured Corps during the later stages of the war. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/51]
1946 May 13
Copy of FULLER 2/50 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/52]
1946 Jun 16
Mitzakis to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten. Forwarding a copy of a letter on Command Defence Lights sent on 28 Apr. 46. Typed carbon. Attached Nos KCLMA FULLER 2/53 and KCLMA FULLER 2/54. 1 p
[FULLER 2/53]
1946 Apr 28
Mitzakis to Secretary The Admiralty. Asking him to forward letter to Lord Louis Mountbatten. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/54]
1946 Apr 28
Mitzakis to Mountbatten. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/55]
1946 Apr 29
The Secretary The Admiralty to Mitzakis. Post card of acknowledgement for above. Printed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/56]
1946 Jun 19
Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia, Headquarters South East Asia Command, 7 Richmond Terrace, S.W.1., to Mitzakis. Was impressed by Command Defence Light demonstration and had every intention of using it for the capture of Malaya, but the early termination of the war robbed us of the chance of trying it out. Typed. Signed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/57]
1946 Jun 20
Mitzakis to Mountbatten. Thanking for his support. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/58]
1946 Apr 30
Fuller to Lt-Gen Nye. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/59]
1946 May 13
Lt-Gen Sir Archibald Nye [Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff 1941-46], Madras, Governor's Camp PO, Guindy, to Fuller. Explaining why Command Defence Lights were not used in operations. Signed. Typed. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/60]
1946 May 13
Copy of FULLER 2/59 above. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/61]
1946 Apr 18
[Ollington] Ranalah Works, Morden Road, Merton, S. W. 19, to Mitzakis. Supporting Command Defence Lights and enclosing letter to that effect. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/62]
1946 Apr 18
[Col] R.S. Ollington [Commandant Command Defence Light School 1940-] to Mitzakis. Supporting Command Defence Lights. Typed. Signed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/63]
[1946]
[Fuller to] Gen Paget. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/64]
1946 May 27
[Gen Sir Bernard] Paget, General Headquarters Middle East Forces, to Fuller. Gen Hobart would best be able to answer. Advocated their use but nothing came of it. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/65]
1946 Apr 30
Mitzakis to Brig T.R. Price [Formerly commanding 31st and 1st Tank Brigades], British Military Mission Washington. About Command Defence Lights, Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/66]
1946 May 8
Price, Staff Duties and Training, British Army Staff, Washington, to Mitzakis. Gives Command Defence Light history and attributes non-employment to excessive secrecy. Annotated Rec 18 Jun 46 Ansd 19 Jun 46. Signed. Typed carbon. Price, Staff Duties and Training to Mitzakir. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/67]
1946 May 27
Price, Staff Duties and Training to Mitzakis. Has sent a reply to Mitzakis' letter via Director Royal Armoured Corps, Gen Briggs, in London. Signed. Typed. 1 p + envelope
[FULLER 2/68]
[1946]
Fuller to Maj-Gen A.W.C. Richardson [former Director Armoured Fighting Vehicles]. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/69]
1946 May 13
Richardson to Fuller. Regrets Command Defence Lights were not used. Some demonstrations were not convincing and the powers may not have been convinced. Manuscript. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/70]
1946 May 13
Copy of FULLER 2/59 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/71]
1946
Fuller to Gen Ritchie. About Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/72]
1946 May 1
Maj-Gen Neil McMicking [i/c Administration] Headquarters Scottish Command, to Fuller. Has opened Fuller's letter in Ritchie's absence. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/73]
1946 May 1
Copy of FULLER 2/72 above. Typed carbon, 1 p
[FULLER 2/74]
1946 Jun 1
Lt-Gen Sir Neil Ritchie [commanding 12 Corps BLA 1944-45], Headquarters Scottish Command, to Fuller. Described Command Defence Lights static use at Rhine crossing. Theoretically they would have been of value. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 2/75]
1946 Jun 1
Copy of FULLER 2/74 above. Typed carbon. 1 p
[FULLER 2/76]
1946 Apr 30
Fuller to Lord Wilson. On Command Defence Lights. Typed carbon. 2 pp
[FULLER 2/77]
1946 May 13
[FM Lord] Wilson [Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean Theatre 1944], British Joint Staff Mission, Offices of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, Washington, to Fuller. When he wanted to employ Command Defence Lights in Italy they had been transferred for employment in NW Europe. Regrets that there was no try out in battle. Signed. Typed. 1 p
[FULLER 3/3]
1966 Apr 29
St Margaret [parish church] Westminster. Memorial service for Maj-Gen J.F.C. Fuller, service sheet. Printed. Recorded by J. Sheppard as being missing from the collection on 12 March 1974. Readers wishing to consult the document will find another copy in the hidden [...] Hart - Fuller correspondence at KCLMA FULLER 1/302. 4 pp
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