Papers of Lt Gen Sir Launcelot Edward Kiggell, KCB, KCMG (1862-1954)

Reference code: GB99 KCLMA Kiggell

Title: KIGGELL, Lt Gen Sir Launcelot Edward (1862-1954)

Dates of creation of material: 1909-1921

Level of description: item level

Extent: 0.01m³ or 1 box of papers

Introduction

• Biographical history
• Provenance
• Scope and content
• Arrangement
• Conditions of access and use
• Related material

Brief List

• 1 Personal letters from FM Sir Douglas Haig to Kiggell, 1909-1918

• 2 Personal letters from temporary Gen Sir Henry Hughes Wilson to Kiggell, 1914-1918

• 3 Personal letters from FM Sir William (Robert) Robertson, 1st Bt, to Kiggell, 1915-1921

• 4 Demi-official correspondence written during Kiggell's service as Chief of General Staff, British Armies in France, 1915-1917

• 5 Documents relating to Kiggell's recollections of the preparations for the Nivelle Offensive on the Western Front in 1917, [1919]

INTRODUCTION

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Born in 1862; educated in Ireland and Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Surrey; Lt, Royal Warwickshire Regt, 1882; Adjutant, 2 Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt, 1886-1890; Capt, 1889; attended Staff College, 1893-1894; Instructor, Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1895-1897; Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, South Eastern District, 1897-1899; Maj, 1898; served in Second Boer War, South Africa, on Staff of Gen Sir Redvers Henry Buller, on Headquarters Staff at Pretoria, and as Assistant Adjutant General, Harrismith District and Natal, 1899-1902; Brevet Lt Col, 1900; Deputy Assistant Adjutant General and General Staff Officer, Grade 2, Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, 1904-1907; Brevet Col, 1905; Assistant Director and General Staff Officer, Grade 1, Army Headquarters, 1907-1909; Col, 1907; Brig Gen in charge of Administration, Scottish Command, 1909; temporary Brig Gen, 1909-1914; Director of Staff Duties, War Office, 1909-1913; Commandant, Staff College, Camberley, 1913-1914; Maj Gen, 1914; Director of Military Training, War Office, 1914; Director of Home Defence, War Office, 1914-1915; temporary Assistant to Chief of the Imperial General Staff, War Office, 1915; temporary Lt Gen, 1915-1916, and Chief of General Staff, British Armies in France, 1915-1918; Lt Gen, 1917; General Officer Commanding and Lt Governor, Guernsey and Alderney, 1918-1920; retired 1920; died 1954.

Publications:

PROVENANCE

Placed in the Centre by the family in 1966.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Kiggell (pronounced Kidgell) papers consist mainly of personal letters written to him during World War One by FM Sir Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, FM the Rt Hon Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, 1st Bt, and FM Sir William (Robert) Robertson, 1st Bt.
Correspondence from Haig, 1909-1918, begins in 1909 with his appointment as Chief of General Staff in India, 1909-1911, and gives details of his work there, notably opposition to the reduction in size of the Indian army and the dangers of German military build-up. In his role as General Officer Commanding, 1 Corps, BEF (British Expeditionary Force), 1914-1915, and Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, 1915-1918, Haig's letters become somewhat fewer and briefer, but still include interesting details of the planning for and events of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, Mar 1915, the Somme offensive, Jul 1916, the Nivelle offensive, Apr 1917, and the Third Battle of Ypres, Jun 1917, as well as meetings with the British War Cabinet and his opinions on the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Prime Minister. The letters of Wilson, 1914-1918, are mainly personal reflections on the war, but also incorporate copies of notes written by Wilson to Robertson in 1917, discussing the morale of the French troops and populace, and the effectiveness of their military leaders, and the consequent pressures with regard to British operations on the Western Front. Correspondence with Robertson, 1915-1921, includes his opinions on the most suitable tactics for defeating the German army in trench warfare, notably the setting of limited objectives, supported by concentrated artillery fire, 1916, advice on the wording of official communiqués, 1916, and figures showing the deficits of infantry and artillery on the Western Front, 1917. In addition to these more personal letters there is a file of demi-official correspondence written by and to Kiggell in his capacity as Chief of General Staff, British Armies in France, 1915-1917, mainly routine letters concerning staff appointments, supplies, training, movement of troops and artillery, and informal letters to politicians and army commanders on operations.
The final section of the collection comprises notes written by Kiggell giving his recollections of events surrounding the planning for the Nivelle offensive of 1917, prompted by conflicting reports of those discussions following the war, notably conclusions reached during the Chantilly Conference between Haig, French Gen Joseph Jacques Cesaire Joffre, Commander in Chief of the French army, and other Allies, 15 Nov 1916.

ARRANGEMENT

Arranged in sections as above. The Haig correspondence, originally listed in two files, has been amalgamated. The demi-official correspondence was weeded by Kiggell's son, Lt Col John Kiggell, before being placed in the Centre. An original index to the file indicates the type of material removed. John Kiggell also wrote some brief notes on the contents of some of the files, which have been left in place.

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE

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, with some items in French.

RELATED MATERIAL

Related units of description

The Centre also holds the papers of FM Sir William (Robert) Robertson (Ref: GB99 KCLMA Robertson W R).

• Go to Kiggell detailed list
• Search on-line catalogues
• Return to list of on line catalogues
• Return to home page