[ROBERTSON: 8.] Correspondence and
papers of Robertson collected by
Brig Gen Cecil Courtenay Lucas, his former Aide de Camp,
1915-1918
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/1-84] Private correspondence with temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, and Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, relating to events in India, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Palestine, 10 Feb 1916 - 2 Feb 1918
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/1]
1916 Feb 10
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, notably on the need to transfer divisions from Egypt to Mesopotamia; French and Russian plans for Salonika, Greece; possible problems in Egypt due to the dual command of Murray and temporary Gen Sir John Grenfell Maxwell in Egypt. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/2]
1916 Feb 15
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, giving a brief report on progress in Egypt as regards defences and reequipping of troops; relations with temporary Gen Sir John Grenfell Maxwell, General Officer Commanding, Egypt. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/3]
1916 Feb 18
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, on the large number of Line of Communication Staff in Egypt; the removal of troops from Egypt to Mesopotamia, and relations between the Allies. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/4]
1916 Feb 16
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief, India, mainly on operations in Mesopotamia, notably Robertson's agreement to the proposal that the War Office should take over the control of operations in Mesopotamia from the Indian government; the need for more river craft to provide supplies to the troops there; the abilities of Lt Gen Sir Percy Henry Noel Lake, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/5]
1916 Feb 21
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, on the preparation of 31 and 29 Divs for transfer to Mesopotamia and the skills and composition of the two divisions; the number of troops required for the defence of the Suez frontier, Egypt. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/6-7]
1916 Feb 24
Two copies of a letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and temporary Gen Sir John Grenfell Maxwell, General Officer Commanding, Egypt, asking for their opinion on whether the dual command system in Egypt is practicable. 2p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/8]
1916 Feb 24
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, on the request of Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood, General Officer Commanding, 1 ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), that the Australian divisions be kept together when transferred to the Western Front; the probability of a Turkish attack on Egypt; relations between the Allies; personnel at the War Office, London, and the Conscription Bill; operations in Mesopotamia. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/9]
1916 Feb 29
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, notably on the number of staff on the Line of Communication in Egypt; details of the command structure in Egypt, and agreement that the dual command should be abolished; the relationship between Brig Gen Philip Howell, Chief Staff Officer to Lt Gen Sir Bryan Thomas Mahon, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, and French Gen Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail, Commander in Chief, Allied Army of the Orient, and his Staff. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/10]
1916 Mar 6
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, on the refusal of French Gen Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre, Commander in Chief French Armies on the Western Front, to withdraw troops from Salonika, Greece, and the reasons for this refusal; comments on the French reaction to the Battle of Verdun on the Western Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/11]
1916 Mar 9
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, on the transfer of troops from Egypt to Mesopotamia; intelligence received from Syria of Turkish troops amassing near Beersheba, Palestine; relations between himself and temporary Gen Sir John Grenfell Maxwell, General Officer Commanding, Egypt. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/12]
1916 Mar 15
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, mainly on operations in Mesopotamia, including complaints by Lt Gen Sir Percy Henry Noel Lake, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, as to deficiencies of men and materials for attempts to relieve Kut el Amara; the need for every available unit to be sent to the Western Front, and for India to be prepared in case of failure at Kut el Amara, Mesopotamia. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/13]
1916 Mar 15
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, notably on negotiations with French Gen Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front, concerning the transfer of troops from Egypt and Salonika, Greece, to the Western Front; Robertson's view of Egypt as a general reserve, and the desperate need for manpower; advice on defensive requirements at Suez and on the Egyptian frontiers. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/14]
1916 Mar 18
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, giving his opinion of the Australian divisions as a fighting force, commenting on their lack of discipline. Includes copy letters from temporary Lt Gen Sir Alexander John Godley, General Officer Commanding, 2 ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), and Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood, Commander 1 ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), giving their opinions on the subject. 16pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/15]
1916 Mar 21
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on his takeover from temporary Gen Sir John Grenfell Maxwell on 19 Mar. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/16]
1916 Mar 23
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, assessing the personality and capabilities of Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood, Commander 1 ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) and members of his staff on the eve of their departure for the Western Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/17]
1916 Mar 26
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, regarding preparations for the transfer of troops from Egypt to other theatres of war; the organisation of mobile columns to deal with the Senussi, and arrangements for the defence of the Suez Canal and the Egyptian frontiers; the desire of Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood, General Officer Commanding, 1 ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), to retain his Australian Charter. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/18]
1916 Mar 28
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, mainly on operations in Mesopotamia, including his pleasure at the War Office taking over control of those operations from the Indian Government; his desire to travel to Mesopotamia and see the ground for himself, which is thwarted by the need for him to remain in India; the desperate need for more river steamers for transportation in Mesopotamia; his belief that the next Allied attempt to relieve Kut el Amara will be successful, and the possibility of events being shaped by the forthcoming floods in Mesopotamia; the abilities of Maj Gen Charles (Vere Ferrers) Townshend, General Officer Commanding, 6 Indian Div, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force; his anxiety concerning the stability of the North-West Frontier of India. 6pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/19]
1916 Apr 5
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, on the difficulties of controlling military operations in India through the India Office, and emphasising that Duff, as Commander in Chief and the man on the spot, should make informed decisions with only general instructions from the War Office; the desperate need for troops on the Western Front and the hope that the two divisions currently in Egypt earmarked for India will not be needed there. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/20]
1916 Apr 5
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the insistence of Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood, General Officer Commanding, 1 ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), on remaining Head Administrator of the Australian Forces in addition to his other duties; his unease concerning the attempts to relieve Kut el Amara, Mesopotamia; discussions at the Paris Conference with French Gen Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front, on the removal of British divisions from Salonika, Greece. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/21]
1916 Apr 15
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the possible consequences of operations in the Balkans; the gradual reorganisation of personnel in Egypt, and reconnaissance and patrols on the eastern and western frontiers of Egypt. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/22]
1916 Apr 18
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, notably on his preparations for internal unrest in India and a possible attack by Afghanistan on the North-West Frontier; a commission of inquiry into medical arrangements in Mesopotamia, and the reasons for their lack earlier in the year. 6pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/23]
1916 Apr 25
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, giving a description of operations on the eastern and western frontiers of Egypt, and stating his anxiety concerning the strength of the infantry in the Territorial Force divisions; querying whether he should respond to the request of R Adm Sir John Michael de Robeck to send troops to Mudros, Greece. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/24]
1916 Apr 28
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, notably expressing his wish that all military operations in India were under the control of the War Office; reporting a lessening of the danger on the North-West Frontier of India; recommending that Lt Gen Sir Percy Henry Noel Lake, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, not be provided with an extra division for operations in Mesopotamia, and reflecting on the possible consequences of the surrender of Kut el Amara; commenting on the unfavourable reaction in England to mistakes made in Mesopotamia, especially regarding medical arrangements in Jan. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/25]
1916 May 3
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egypt, notably on the action at Katia, Egypt, 23 Apr, and Robertson's belief that a victory in Egypt is needed to offset the Fall of Kut el Amara, 29 Apr; an assessment of the military risks to Egypt and the conclusion that Allied troops will continue to be transferred to more active theatres; the desire of the French to undertake military operations in the Balkans when the Serbs are prepared, and an assessment of the possible courses of action by the British Salonika Force. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/26]
1916 May 10
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, reporting the clearance of the Katia region of Egypt; a request for instructions regarding the disposal of 42 and 11 Divs; the possible employment of Lt Gen Sir Bryan Thomas Mahon in Egypt; the need for fighting aeroplanes at Port Said and the Suez Canal, Egypt. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/27]
1916 May 14
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the situation in Egypt, that the interior and borders of Egypt are fairly secure and could be protected with a small defensive force; the difficulties of dealing with small enemy forces in desert conditions; a description of operations in the Katia region from 23 Apr onwards. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/28]
1916 May 18
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, notably on the Conscription Bill; events in Mesopotamia; advising Duff to be instructed by Robertson on all operational matters. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/29]
1916 May 18
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on French attempts to commence offensive operations in the Balkans; the Conscription Bill. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/30]
1916 May 26
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the transfer of 4 and 5 Australian Divs to the Western Front; progress in the Katia district and the situation in Egypt generally, especially rumours that the Turks plan to attack Sollum; Murray's plans to remove German and Austrian nationals from Egypt to prevent internal unrest; the difficulties of preventing the leakage of information by the Egyptian Government. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/31]
1916 Jun 2
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the transfer of troops from Egypt to the Western Front; operations by the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Mounted Troops against Turkish posts in Egypt, notably at Bir Salmana; the arrest of Austrian and German spies, who are to be shipped to England. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/32]
1916 Jun 6
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the abilities of temporary Maj Gen Alister Grant Dallas, General Officer Commanding 53 Div, Egyptian Expeditionary Force; the Conscription Bill; progress of railway building in Katia, Egypt; an assessment of the divisions and officers under his command. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/33]
1916 Jun 6
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, giving reasons why British forces in Egypt should not suffer a reduction in the number or status of Staff Officers. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/34]
1916 Jun 7
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the relative military stability of Egypt, and discussions with the French regarding Salonika, Greece. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/35]
1916 Jun 17
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, giving information on his preparations for offensive and defensive operations in Egypt throughout the summer months. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/36]
1916 Jun 20
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the possibility of diplomatic relations with Greece being broken off, and the consequences for Egypt, which has a Greek population of 70,000; a recommendation that the garrison battalions of the Egyptian Delta be strengthened. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/37]
1916 Jun 20
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, reassuring him that the British Headquarters in Egypt will not be reduced or altered; the need for more aeroplanes in Egypt. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/38]
1916 Jul 1
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on attempts to reorganise the Territorial Force divisions for offensive and defensive operations in Egypt, and his progress in clearing Egypt of disaffected foreign nationals. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/39]
1916 Jul 10
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the decision of the War Committee to undertake offensive action in the Balkans, and to maintain the garrison there, thus depriving Egypt of men and equipment. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/40]
1916 Jul 11
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, on his agreement to deal directly with Robertson concerning military operations in India, as opposed to through the India Office; comments on the replacement of Lt Gen Sir George Frederick Gorringe by temporary Lt Gen Frederick Stanley Maude as commander of the Tigris Army Corps; the need to improve communications along the Tigris river, Mesopotamia; Allied military progress on the Western Front; discussion at home concerning the presentation of all papers relating to Mesopotamia to Parliament; advising Duff to visit the troops on the North-West Frontier of India to keep in contact with events there. 6pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/41]
1916 Jul 22
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on operations in Egypt, notably the advance of Turkish divisions on his Romani flank; the need for improvement in the troops and officers of the Territorial Force divisions; continued military control over the Egypt Delta. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/42]
1916 Jul 25
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, on the decision to make the War Office responsible for the administration of the military campaign in Mesopotamia; the creation of a Royal Commission of Enquiry into operations in Mesopotamia; the need for adequate arrangements regarding river transport in Mesopotamia; plans for an advance from Egypt into the hinterland of Aden; recommendation of Maj Vernon Edward Gwyer for a position on the Indian General Staff. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/43]
1916 Aug 2
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, describing operations near Romani in the Katia district of Egypt, where Turkish troops have gathered across Murray's line of advance on El Arish; comments on the size of the Western Field Force, the discipline of the troops in Egypt, the location of British General Headquarters in Ismalia, and the removal of ineffective officers from 53 and 54 Divs; reports of the advance of the Turkish troops on Romani, with a rough diagram of the direction of attack. 7pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/44]
1916 Aug 15
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, congratulating him on the British success in the Battle of Romani, 4 Aug, and speculating on the next Turkish move; commenting upon communication problems during the Mesopotamian campaign. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/45]
1916 Aug 18
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, on Duff's planned return to England to give evidence before the Mesopotamia Commission; his replacement as Commander in Chief by temporary Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, and the problems faced by the command in India since 1914. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/46]
1916 Aug 18
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, reporting on the military situation in Egypt, especially the reduction of the Turkish force by half, the future move of the British General Headquarters to Cairo, and the creation of a General Officer Commanding, Eastern Force. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/47]
1916 Aug 25
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, voicing his conviction that control of all military operations should be vested in the War Office; explaining that the papers relating to the Mesopotamian campaign could not be published due to their military value to the enemy. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/48]
1916 Sep 1
Letter to Robertson from temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, giving his views that British troops should not be sent to aid the Arab Revolt led by Sherif Hussein Ibn Ali in the Hedjaz; reporting attempts by Allied diplomatic agents to maintain the Egyptian Capitulations; the destination of Turkish prisoners held in Egypt.5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/49]
1916 Oct 16
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on operations in the Hedjaz; further negotiations with the French Government and the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Secretary of State for War, concerning the sending of troops to Salonika, Greece. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/50]
1916 Dec 1
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the lack of success of the Romanian Army; Robertson's refusal to send troops to Rabegh, in the Hedjaz, to aid the Arab Revolt. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/51]
1916 Dec 1
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, on operations in Mesopotamia, and the possibility of removing a division from there in the spring; army recruitment in Britain. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/52]
1916 Dec 28
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, giving his observations and impressions upon aspects of the Indian Army, notably the lack of experienced senior officers, the need to reorganise and speed up the system of command by creating an Indian Army Council, an investigation into the systems of rationing and recruitment, and the poor state of the hospitals; outlining the needs of the Indian Army, especially for rifles and artillery. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/53]
1917 Jan 12
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, mainly giving an overview of operations on the Eastern and Western Fronts, and changes in the Higher Command of the French Army. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/54]
1917 Jan 31
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, briefly outlining progress and future plans in each of the main theatres of war; informing Monro of his desire to build up the forces in Egypt with the object of a large offensive there in the autumn and winter. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/55]
1917 Jan 31
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, notably on unconfirmed plans to build up the forces in Egypt for a large offensive in the autumn and winter, subject to events on the Western Front. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/56]
1917 Feb 13
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, mainly on the refusal of the War Cabinet to place one officer in command of all troops in southern Persia. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/57]
1917 Feb 13
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, mainly on the possible removal of further troops from Egypt, and praise for Murray's work there. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/58]
1917 Apr 19
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, on operations on the Western Front, especially the failure of the Nivelle Offensive; the entry of the US into the war; the desperate shortages of Allied shipping; the military consequences of the Russian Revolution; the internal discontent of the Central Powers; the success of Lt Gen Sir Frederick Stanley Maude, and the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/59]
1917 May 12
Letter from Robertson to temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the transfer of two cavalry brigades from Salonika, Greece, to Egypt; the Russian Army failure to take offensive action in Caucasia, leading to possible changes of military policy in Egypt; the appointment of Brig Gen Ernest Moncrieff Paul Stewart as Chief Engineer in Egypt, to assess the railway system. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/60]
1917 May 31
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, on unrest in Waziristan, India; the danger to Palestine and Mesopotamia caused by the Russian Revolution, which freed Turkish troops from the Eastern Front; the importance of India raising more battalions to augment manpower in other theatres. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/61]
1917 Jun 15
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, notably on operations in Waziristan, India; the introduction of various measures in India, including compulsory service for all British subjects there, the gazetting of Indians, the creation of a Munitions Board, and the creation of a mixed Board of Government officials and soldiers to cope with the question of recruitment; concern over the cost in men and money of the Inland Water Transport Directorate, and Monro's desire to increase railway development; the desperate need in India for competent General Officers, and experienced officers to command battalions; attempts to meet the needs of Lt Gen Sir Frederick Stanley Maude, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. 8pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/62]
1917 Jul 4
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the appointment of Brevet Lt Col Archibald Percival Wavell as Liaison Officer between Robertson and Allenby. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/63]
1917 Jul 11
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, giving details of his plans for an offensive on the Palestine Front, namely an attack east of Gaza at Beersheba followed by an infantry advance towards Gaza and a cavalry sweep to cut off the Turkish retreat to Jerusalem; outlining his military needs, especially new aeroplanes; recommending the doubling of the railway and water pipe lines as far as Rafa. 10pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/64]
1917 Jul 19
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, notably requesting Capt Richard Granville Hylton Howard-Vyse as Brig Gen, General Staff, of the Mounted Corps; asking Robertson to reconsider his refusal to allow the formation of an Australian Light Horse Bde; questioning the practicality of Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood, General Officer Commanding, 1 ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), British Armies in France, retaining control over the Australian Expeditionary Forces; the move of two garrison battalions from the Egypt Delta onto the Palestine Line of Communications; the need for Capt Thomas Edward Lawrence, Official British Advisor to Faisal Ibn Hussein, and the Northern Arab Army to be prepared to advance by Sep; a request for the sanctioning of the doubling of the railway line as far as Rafa. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/65]
1917 Jul 26
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, notably on the arrival of Brevet Lt Col Archibald Percival Wavell, Liaison Officer between Robertson and Allenby; his ongoing policy to make the Turks believe the main Allied attack in Palestine will be upon Gaza; his desire to appoint temporary Brig Gen Guy Payan Dawnay as sub-Chief of General Staff to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force; the appointment of a Commission to work out labour and manpower problems in Egypt. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/66]
1917 Aug 1
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, giving a general overview and opinion of the progress of the war on all fronts; speculating as to the number of Turkish troops that will be freed if Russia leaves the war, and the effect on the Mesopotamian and Palestine fronts; comments on the desirability of keeping British troops at Salonika, Greece, and attempts to transfer them elsewhere; a promising plan by Allenby for an offensive in Palestine, and Robertson's opposition to the Allies pushing on out of southern Palestine towards Jerusalem or Damascus. 8pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/67]
1917 Aug 1
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, mainly on attempts to transfer the requested troops from Salonika, Greece, to Palestine in time for the Sep offensive near Gaza, and Robertson's personal doubts concerning the desirability of an extensive advance northwards in Palestine. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/68]
1917 Aug 8
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on operations in Palestine, notably emphasising the need for the requested reinforcements of men, aeroplanes and heavy artillery; a report by Capt Thomas Edward Lawrence, Official British Advisor to Faisal Ibn Hussein, on the harassment, by the Northern Arab Army, of Turkish communications; intelligence reports of Turko-German activity in the Italian zone of Tripoli. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/69]
1917 Aug 10
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on War Cabinet instructions to Allenby concerning operations in Palestine. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/70]
1917 Aug 21
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, notably outlining his plans for an attack on the Turkish defences at Gaza, Palestine, in Sep, giving details of an extension of the railway lines to provide ammunition and supplies, methods of ensuring water supply to the troops, and the organisation by Capt Thomas Edward Lawrence, Official British Advisor to Feisal Ibn Hussein, of a large scale Northern Arab Army attack towards the Dead Sea. 6pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/71]
1917 Aug 26
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the clarity of the War Cabinet's instructions [concerning operations in Palestine]. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/72]
1917 Sep 12
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the situation in Palestine, notably on preparations for the Gaza offensive, which will not be completed until mid-Oct; liaison with the Naval authorities regarding an attack on the Turkish right; the need for 12 Bristol F-2 Fighter aeroplanes; the visit of French Gen Maurice Camille Bailloud, Inspector of French Troops in Eastern Theatres, and the possibility of sending French divisions to the Palestine front; the removal of Maj Gen Wilfrid Edward Bownas Smith and Maj Gen Sir Arthur Lynden Lynden-Bell from command. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/73-74]
1917 Oct 17
Two copies of a letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the death of Egyptian Sultan Hussein Kamel and the accession of Ahmad Fuad; the progress of Allenby's preparations for an attack on the Turkish defences at Gaza, Palestine; the insistence of the French Attaché that a French officer should accompany Capt Thomas Edward Lawrence in his dealing with the Arabs of the Hedjaz, and Allenby's refusal. 10pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/75-76]
1917 Oct 19
Two copies of a letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, mainly regarding the visit to Constantinople of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and the possible motives for it, including a boost to the morale of the Turkish troops, and an attempt to undermine the liaison between the British and Arabs. 7pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/77]
1917 Nov 2
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, on the situation in India, notably on a framework for the creation of future units of infantry, cavalry and sappers for use in 1918; the units reserved for the preservation of internal peace in India and the protection of the North-West Frontier; the extension of the Dalbandin railway to the Persian border; his relations with the Directorate of Inland Water Transport; the reorganisation of senior officers in the Indian Army; the continuation of a scheme to allow Indian candidates for King's Commissions, with Monro's proviso that they attend the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Surrey. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/78-79]
1917 Nov 3
Two copies of a letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the progress of the offensive in Palestine (Third Battle of Gaza), notably the attack on, and capture of, Beersheba, 31 Oct, and a successful attack by 54 Div and part of 52 Div, on the outer defences of Gaza. 10pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/80]
1917 Nov 23
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, on the need to bolster Italian troops with French and British following the Austro-German Caporetto offensive on the Italian Front; the creation of the Allied Supreme War Council, and Robertson's doubts as to its efficacy; the death of Lt Gen Sir Frederick Stanley Maude and the appointment of temporary Lt Gen Sir William Raine Marshall as General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/81]
1917 Nov 23
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the need to bolster Italian troops with French and British following the Austro-German Caporetto offensive on the Italian Front; the creation of the Allied Supreme War Council, and Robertson's doubts as to its efficacy; congratulations on Allenby's successes in Palestine. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/82]
1917 Dec 4
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on operations in Palestine, notably describing the pursuit of Turko-German troops towards Jerusalem, especially fighting near the Jerusalem-Nablus road; outlining his plans, once reinforcements have been brought up, for an attack to the north of Jerusalem to gain the Jerusalem-Nablus road and Bire; details of supplies, weather, health and manpower needs. 8pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/83]
1917 Dec 10
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, Commander in Chief in India, defending the creation and progress of the Directorate of Inland Water Transport; details of morale and conditions on the Western Front; the possibility of postponing a major offensive on the Western Front until 1919. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/1/84]
1918 Feb 2
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, regarding future operations in Palestine and Egypt, and advising against pushing too far forward in Palestine, as most available resources will be focused on the Western Front in 1918. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/1-82]
1916 Jan 3-1917 Dec 8
Private correspondence, mainly on military matters, with the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, Lt Col the Rt Hon Arthur John Bigge, Baron Stamfordham, Col Clive Wigram, and Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington. 1 file.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/1]
1916 Jan 3
Letter to Robertson from the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, on the manufacture of mild steel helmets, and the repair of 6 inch howitzers sent from the Western Front. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/2]
1916 Jan 4
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, on the preference of Gen Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, for hardened steel helmets, and the transfer from France of damaged 6 inch howitzers for repair in time for the Spring offensive. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/3]
1916 Jan 5
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, informing the latter that he has sent a memorandum to the War Committee outlining the reasons why the Allies on the Western Front didn't break through the German line in the autumn of 1915. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/4]
1916 Jan 17
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, on a possible meeting with the French Munition authorities; giving details of French guns and ammunition. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/5]
1916 Mar 16
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, objecting to sending machine guns to Romania until the Allied armies are properly equipped. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/6]
1916 May 2
Letter from John Thomas Davies, Private Secretary to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, to Brevet Maj Cecil Courtenay Lucas, Aide de Camp to Robertson, requesting information on British artillery and ammunition production, and the stocks of both held on the Western Front and in Britain, as requested by French Gen Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/7]
1916 May 2
Letter to John Thomas Davies, Private Secretary to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, from Brevet Maj Cecil Courtenay Lucas, Aide de Camp to Robertson, stating that figures as to stocks of munitions in France should be obtained from Gen Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, and that Robertson will not divulge figures relating to stocks in Britain. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/8]
1916 May 24
Letter from Robertson to Maj Gen Sir Francis John Davies, on his appointment as Military Secretary to the War Office. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/9]
1916 Jun 23
Letter from John Thomas Davies, Private Secretary to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Secretary of State for War, to Maj Cecil Courtenay Lucas, Aide de Camp to Robertson, passing on information from Lloyd George concerning the military exhaustion of Austria. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/10]
1916 Aug 10
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Secretary of State for War, notably on the choice of temporary Lt Gen Sir Richard Cyril Byrne Haking as a successor to Lt Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro as General Officer Commanding, 1 Army, British Armies in France; notes on Allied successes on the Eastern Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/11]
1916 Aug 18
Letter from William Sutherland, Private Secretary to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Secretary of State for War, to Maj Cecil Courtenay Lucas, enclosing information from Herbert B Gregson, Rotterdam Manager of Flannery, Baggallay and Johnson, Ltd, passed via the Rt Hon Sir James Fortescue-Flannery, 1st Bt, concerning the manufacture of explosives at Mannhein and Ludwigshaven, Germany. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/12]
1916 Dec 12
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Prime Minister, on negotiations with the French concerning the situation in Salonika, Greece, and Robertson's desire to transfer two divisions from there to Egypt; the sending of artillery to the Italian Army. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/13]
1917 Sep 9
Note from Brevet Lt Col Cecil Courtenay Lucas, Aide de Camp to Robertson, to William Sutherland, Private Secretary to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Prime Minister, enclosing a telegram from Robertson on a conference between FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, French Gen Ferdinand Foch, French Army Chief of Staff, and French Gen Henri-Philippe Benoni Omer Pétain, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front, resulting in the despatch of French guns to Italy. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/14]
1917 Sep 15
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Prime Minister, on the use of pill-boxes as part of the German defences on the Western Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/15-44]
1916 Jan 16-1917 Dec 8
Correspondence between Robertson and Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee/Cabinet.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/15]
1916 Jan 16
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, enclosing a draft of a section of a report on War Office manpower requirements, with relation to the Treasury and the Board of Trade. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/16]
1916 Jan 27
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, on the presence of outsiders at War Committee meetings. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/17]
1916 Feb 5
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, on the aerial defence of London and the remainder of Britain. 1p
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/18]
1916 Feb 12
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, on the requisitioning of German ships in Portuguese ports. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/19]
1916 Mar 16
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, on a public statement regarding the supercession of Lt Gen Sir Fenton John Aylmer. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/20]
1916 May 23
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, on a War Office memorandum on Light Railways and Canals on the Western Front; the exchange of howitzers for French heavy guns. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/21]
1916 May 23
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, suggesting that he and the Admiralty make regular statements on the current military situation to the War Committee, in order to ensure that they are in possession of all available information. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/22]
1916 Jul 11
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, on the supply of artillery to Belgium, to which Robertson is opposed until the requirements of the Western Front are met. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/23]
1916 Jul 13
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, on the need for the War Committee to discuss the question of military administration in Mesopotamia. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/24]
1916 Sep 13
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, forwarding his views on post-war negotiations (not included), and the need for a statement on the formation and functions of the Manpower Board. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/25]
1916 Sep 13
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, mainly on Hankey's creation of an Atlas of Europe, showing the distribution of the population by religion, races, language etc, as an aid to post-war territorial negotiations. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/26]
1916 Sep 29
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Committee, regarding the number of men employed by Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on the Western Frontier of Egypt. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/27]
1916 Dec 27
Letter to [Edward Geoffrey de Capell-] Brooke, Private Secretary to Robertson, from Cyril Longhurst, Assistant Secretary, Committee of Imperial Defence, enclosing a letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, dated 12 Dec 1916, on the circulation of secret telegrams to the War Committee. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/28]
1916 Dec 24
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the passing on of information when Robertson is absent from meetings of the War Cabinet; the need for a decision on Salonika, Greece. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/29]
1917 Jan 7
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the sending of War Office appreciations to temporary Gen Sir Henry Hughes Wilson at Versailles. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/30]
1917 Jan 11
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, asking for information on the recently defined professional relationship between Lt Gen George Francis Milne, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, and French Gen Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail, Commander in Chief, Allied Army of the Orient,, notably a comparison of the relations between Gen Sir Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton and French Gen Henri Joseph Étienne Gouraud during the Gallipoli campaign, 1915; the sending of Robertson's paper on General Policy to the War Cabinet. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/31]
1917 Apr 5
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the timing of discussions regarding Salonika, Greece. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/32]
1917 Apr 9
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, enclosing copies of a letter from Gen Sir Bryan Thomas Mahon, Commander in Chief, Ireland (not included). 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/33]
1917 May 17
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on information gathered by Lord Milner on the creation of a road from Santa Quaranta to Monastir, Macedonia, which may be used in discussion regarding the Allies' Balkan campaign (see 7/3/10). 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/34]
1917 May 18
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the Santa Quaranta road, Serbia; a paper by Robertson and Adm Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Sea Lord, on the Balkan campaign; a reply to a French Note regarding the recent Paris Conference sent by the Foreign Office without consultation with Robertson and Jellicoe. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/35]
1917 Jun 11
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the timing of a Committee of the Cabinet. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/36]
1917 Jun 19
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the despatch of Maj Gen John Emerson Wharton Headlam to the US. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/37]
1917 Jun 20
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the selection of an officer to send to the US. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/38]
1917 Jun 30
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on responsibility for military operations in Persia; his desire to present the War Cabinet with information on the Balkans and France. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/39]
1917 Jul 19
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on his request for a copy of the Draft Conclusions of the Policy Committee, and sending Hankey papers on the Western Front, Palestine and the Balkans to distribute to the War Cabinet. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/40]
1917 Jul 21
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on corrections to the Draft Conclusions of the Policy Committee, and requesting a copy of the approved Draft. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/41]
1917 Oct 6
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the question of the provision of heavy guns for the Greek divisions [raised at Bologne]. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/42]
1917 Oct 12
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the reports of FM John Denton Pinkstone French, Viscount French of Ypres and High Lake, Commander in Chief, Home Forces, and Lt Gen Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, General Officer Commanding, Eastern Command, on current military policy. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/43]
1917 Nov 14
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, on the omission from the minutes of the War Cabinet of discussion on the possibilities of exploiting the success of Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, in Palestine in a diplomatic direction. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/44]
1917 Dec 8
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the War Cabinet, requesting information on the number of divisions which FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, had in reserve at the time of the German counterattack during the Battle of Cambrai, Western Front, Nov 1917. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/45-51]
1917 Apr 12-1917 Sep 6
Private correspondence between Robertson and Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, South African Representative on the British War Cabinet.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/45]
1917 Apr 12
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, South African Representative on the British War Cabinet, requesting his support in ensuring that Britain take a more active role in deciding Allied military policy, and giving examples of the instability of French views, notably regarding Salonika, Greece. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/46]
1917 Apr 23
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, South African Representative on the British War Cabinet, on the appointment of South African Lt Gen Sir Louis Jacob Van Deventer as Commander in Chief, East Africa. 2p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/47]
1917 May 1
Cable to Robertson from Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, South African Representative on the British War Cabinet, enclosing three copy telegrams between himself and honorary Gen Louis Botha, South African Premier, concerning the appointment of South African Lt Gen Louis Jacob Van Deventer as Commander in Chief, East Africa. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/48]
1917 May 2
Letter to Robertson from Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, South African Representative on the British War Cabinet, requesting that South African Lt Gen Louis Jacob Van Deventer be allowed to take with him to East Africa some senior Liaison Officers and personal Aide de Camps. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/49]
1917 May 2
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, South African Representative on the British War Cabinet, agreeing that South African Lt Gen Louis Jacob Van Deventer, Commander in Chief, East Africa, may take any officers he requires when he takes up his post of Commander in Chief, East Africa. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/50]
1917 May 26
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, South African Representative on the British War Cabinet, on the need for a discussion regarding the command in Palestine. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/51]
1917 Sep 6
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen the Rt Hon Jan Christian Smuts, South African Representative on the British War Cabinet, on experiments in defence against Zepplins or aeroplanes. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/52-62]
1916 Jun 15-1917 Nov 29
Correspondence between Robertson and Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/52]
1916 Jun 15
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, Governor General of the Sudan, asking for regular information on affairs in the Sudan. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/53]
1917 Feb 21
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, notably giving a brief outline of the situation in the Hedjaz, and the possibility of raising the northern Hedjaz Arab tribes against the Turks; the status of Col Cyril Edward Wilson as British Military and Political Representative in the Hedjaz; the promotion of temporary Lt Col Philip James Vandeleur Kelly, Commander of the Darfur Expedition. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/54]
1917 Mar 7
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, on the success of the operations in the Hedjaz; the promotion of temporary Lt Col Philip James Vandeleur Kelly, Commander of the Darfur Expedition. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/55]
1917 Apr 18
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, on a despatch from temporary Maj Gen Sir Lee Oliver Fitzmaurice Stack, Acting Sirdar and Governor General of the Sudan, describing the final operations in Darfur which makes the recommendation for promotion of Brevet Lt Col Philip James Vandeleur Kelly, Commander of the Darfur Expedition, and Maj Hubert Jervoise Huddleston. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/56]
1917 Aug 18
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, recommending that Col Cyril Edward Wilson, British Military and Political Representative in the Hedjaz, be awarded the CMG in addition to his DSO, and describing his liaison work with the Arabs during the Hedjaz operations. Includes copies of telegrams between Wingate and the War Office relating to this subject. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/57]
1917 Sep 11
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, on the possibility of further honours for Col Cyril Edward Wilson, British Military and Political Representative in the Hedjaz. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/58]
1917 Oct 22
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, asking that his Aide de Camp, Capt James Ulick Francis Canning Alexander, be granted the temporary rank of Maj. Includes a note from the War Office recommending refusal of the request. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/59]
1917 Nov 12
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, on the Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, and its implications for the situation in the Hedjaz, including the possibility of the evacuation from Medina of the Turkish force led by Turkish commander Fakhri Din Pasha; the capture of Lt Col Stewart Francis Newcombe by the Turks; the need for Capt Thomas Edward Lawrence, Official British Advisor to Feisal Ibn Hussein, to be given a rest in the near future; Wingate's recommendation of Col Cyril Edward Wilson, British Military and Political Representative in the Hedjaz, for a CMG. Includes copies of letters from Wilson thanking Wingate for his efforts on his behalf, and a letter from Wingate to the Rt Hon Sir Ronald (William) Graham, Under-Secretary to the Foreign Office, requesting that Wilson be allowed to wear British uniform. 6pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/60]
1917 Nov 14
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, refusing the promotion of Capt James Ulick Francis Canning Alexander, Wingate's Aide de Camp. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/61]
1917 Nov 29
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir (Francis) Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner of Egypt, on the promotion and recommendation for awards of various officers who have performed well in operations in the Sudan, namely Col Cyril Edward Wilson, British Military and Political Representative in the Hedjaz, Lt Col Vere Lorraine Nuttall Pearson and temporary Lt Col Robert Vesey Savile, Governor and Commandant of Darfur. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/62-70]
1916 Mar 27-1917 May 7
Correspondence between Robertson and the Rt Hon Sir Frederick Edward Ponsonby, Keeper of the Privy Purse, Lt Col the Rt Hon Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, Private Secretary to HM King George V, and Col Clive Wigram, Assistant Private Secretary to HM King George V.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/62]
1916 Mar 27
Letter from Maj Gen Sir Frederick Spencer Robb, Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War, to Robertson, enclosing correspondence with the Rt Hon Sir Frederick Edward Ponsonby, Keeper of the Privy Purse, on Robertson's appointment as Col of the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys), and the method of informing Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/63]
1916 Jun 22
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col the Rt Hon Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, Private Secretary to HM King George V, on the need to replace Maj Gen Sir John Hanbury-Williams as Chief of the British Military Mission with the Russian Army in the Field, due to the lack of information being relayed by him regarding events in Russia. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/64]
1916 Oct 27
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col the Rt Hon Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, Private Secretary to HM King George V, on the War Committee's unease concerning the views and intentions of French Gen Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail, Commander in Chief, Allied Army of the Orient, in Salonika, Greece. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/65]
1917 Feb 8
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col the Rt Hon Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, Private Secretary to HM King George V, on visits by Colonial and Indian troops to Windsor Castle, London; the appointment of an officer as Keeper of the Jewel House, Tower of London. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/66]
1917 Mar 6
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col the Rt Hon Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, Private Secretary to HM King George V, on the extent to which FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, is under the command of French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/67]
1917 Apr 5
Letter to Robertson from Col Clive Wigram, Assistant Private Secretary to HM King George V, congratulating him on a speech on manpower made at the Trades Union Conference. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/68]
1917 Apr 6
Letter to Robertson from Col Clive Wigram, Assistant Private Secretary to HM King George V, on his speech on manpower given at the Trades Union Conference. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/69]
1917 May 7
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col the Rt Hon Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, Private Secretary to HM King George V, giving an account of the Allied Paris Conference, notably discussions on a withdrawal from Salonika, Greece, and French participation in planned offensives on the Western Front. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/70]
1917 May 7
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col the Rt Hon Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, Private Secretary to HM King George V, on press censorship regarding the movements of the royal family. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/71-82]
1916 Feb 3-1917 Jun 26
Correspondence between Robertson and Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/71]
1916 Feb 3
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, sending him information concerning Maj Gen Charles (Vere Ferrers) Townshend, General Officer Commanding, 6 Indian Div, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, and events surrounding his defeat at Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia (not included). 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/72]
1916 Oct 31
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, giving his views on the need for politicians and soldiers to work in harmony to win the war. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/73]
1917 Apr 9
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, on US participation in the war. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/74]
1917 Apr 10
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, disagreeing with Robertson's desire to draft US troops into British Army units, mainly for reasons of economy and discipline, and advising him to call upon British citizens in the US to enlist. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/75]
1917 Apr 12
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, on US participation in the war, notably the possibility of drafting US troops into British units. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/76-77]
1917 Jun 8
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, on a letter soon to be sent to Robertson by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce; arrangements for Repington's weekly note to America. Attached is a copy of a memorandum by Robertson on the consequences of US entry into the war. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/78]
1917 Jun 8
Letter to Robertson from Robert Burdon Stoker, President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, following a speech on manpower made by Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, to the Board of Directors, requesting that an authoritative statement on the matter be made by the Government in order to place more pressure on the commercial community to release men for service. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/79]
1917 Jun 13
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, on the Battle of Messines, Western Front, Jun 1917. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/80]
1917 Jun 13
Letter from Robertson to the Directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, regretting that he cannot supply any official figures as to the numbers of men required for the Army, but emphasising the need for every spare man to be made available. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/81]
1917 Jun 25
Letter to Robertson from Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, enclosing a copy of a letter from P[atrick] J[oseph Henry] Hannon, Editor of The Navy, on the possibility of increasing manpower on the basis of suggestions by the Manchester [Chamber of Commerce]. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/2/82]
1917 Jun 26
Letter from Robertson to Lt Col Charles A'Court Repington, Military Correspondent of The Times, professing his ignorance of the proposals of the Manchester [Chamber of Commerce] regarding manpower. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/1-49] Private correspondence,
mainly on military matters, with Reginald Baliol Brett,
2nd Viscount Esher; Lt Gen George Francis Milne;
French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle; Lt Gen Sir Henry Hughes Wilson;
French Gen Ferdinand Foch; Lt Gen Sir Frederick Stanley Maude;
Brig Gen Charles Delmé-Radcliffe; Italian Gen Luigi Cadorna
and Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, 30 Mar 1916 - 10 Feb 1918
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/1]
1916 Mar 30
Letter to Robertson from Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the age of [Maj Gen Sir] Charles St Leger Barter, General Officer Commanding, 47 Div; the position of Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby as Under-Secretary of State for War; manpower problems on the Western Front. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/2]
1916 Apr 1
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, notably on manpower problems and the strength and number of divisions on the Western Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/3]
1916 Jun 2
Letter to Robertson from Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on a discussion between himself and Raymond Poincaré, French President, on the subject of Salonika, Greece, in which Esher recommended a meeting between Gen Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, and Poincaré. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/4]
1916 Jun 18
Letter to Robertson from Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the success of Aristide Briand, French Prime Minister, in protecting his reputation [following Verdun] during a secret session of the French Parliament; Esher's opinion that none of the Allied diplomats in France have much idea of the real political situation; the influence of the planned British Western Front offensive on the morale of the French people and Army. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/5]
1916 Jun 30
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the mood of the French public regarding the perceived inaction of the British Army, and the practical reasons for delay. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/6]
1916 Jul 7
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the difficulties of keeping the French public informed of British Army operations on the Somme, mainly due to the standard of official communiqués; French successes in recent operations on the Western Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/7]
1916 Aug 9
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the deflection of criticism in Britain of Gen Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, due to his provision of fuller information concerning his plans and operations; Robertson's anxiety concerning British representation in peace negotiations; the need for the British Army to renew its strength on the Western Front before undertaking a new phase of the Somme offensive. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/8]
1916 Sep 25
Letter to Robertson from Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, offering the services of the Gaston Foundation to the War Office. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/9]
1916 Oct 5
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, politely refusing the services of the Gaston Foundation. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/10]
1916 Nov 7
Letter from Robertson to temporary Lt Gen George Francis Milne, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, notably on the need for regular private communications between Milne and Robertson, alongside regular official reports; relations with, and command of, the Greek Venizelos troops; the need to maintain morale of the British troops in Salonika, Greece. 6pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/11]
1916 Dec 18
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, briefly commenting on German war aims. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/12]
1917 Feb 6
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the character of French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front, and his relations with Gen Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France; the political situation in France. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/13]
1917 Feb 13
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the lack of central direction of the war. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/14]
1917 Feb 13
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen George Francis Milne, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, requesting an official report regarding continued occupation of the Struma Valley during the Summer; need for greater communication between Milne and French Gen Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail, Commander in Chief, Allied Army of the Orient, especially with regard to future offensive action. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/15]
1917 Feb 21
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on his disapproval of plans for the creation of an Allied General Staff; the need for greater communication between Robertson and French Gen Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey, French Minister for War; the disorganisation of the French General Staff. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/16]
1917 Feb 23
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen George Francis Milne, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, on the need for close and cordial cooperation between Milne and French Gen Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail, Commander in Chief, Allied Army of the Orient. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/17]
1917 Mar 5
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the need for personal communication between himself and French Gen Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey, French Minister for War. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/18]
1917 Mar 13
Letter from Robertson to French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander in Chief French Armies on the Western Front, on a planned meeting with Italian Gen Luigi Cadorna, Italian Army Chief of Staff, concerning the forthcoming offensive in Italy (Tenth Isonzo); the need for close cooperation between the French and British armies, without the constant intervention of politicians of either side. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/19]
1917 Mar 14
Letter to Robertson from French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander in Chief French Armies on the Western Front, agreeing with Robertson that close collaboration between the British and French armies is necessary in order to effect victory over Germany, but pointing out that recent events have shown the British Government and FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, to be unwilling to cooperate in mutual operations. 7pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/20]
1917 Mar 14
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the desperate need for harmonious collaboration between the British and French, and difficult relations between FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, and French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/21]
1917 Apr 9
Letter to Robertson from Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on a meeting at Compiégne, France, between members of the French War Committee, French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander French Armies on the Western Front, and his Army Group Commanders, on the feasibility of the planned Nivelle offensive on the Western Front, and Esher's opinion that Nivelle's position depends upon the success of the offensive; comments on the desire of the French government to send troops from the Western Front to other theatres; improvement in the liaison between Nivelle and FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France; the growing sympathy of the French people towards America and the future consequences for the British Empire. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/22]
1917 Apr 12
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, giving his opinions on the French Government and the Salonika operations; the precarious position of French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/23]
1917 Apr 14
Letter to Robertson from Lt Gen Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, Chief of the British Mission to the French Army, on the comparative organisation of the General Headquarters in London and Paris, especially regarding the powers of the Chief of Staff over the dispersal of troops to various theatres; the position of French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front, as regards the command of French troops in Italy, and the question of the command of British troops there; Wilson's opinion that the only workable plan in France would be to make Nivelle both Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/24]
1917 Apr 17
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, Chief of the British Mission to French Army, on a discussion between Alexandre Ribot, French Foreign Minister, Paul Painlevé, French Minister for War, and the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Prime Minister, concerning the possibility of sending French and British divisions to Italy, and operations on the Salonika front; liaison between the French and British War Offices. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/25]
1917 Apr 19
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the need for greater British control over the direction of the war; the progress of the Nivelle offensive on the Western Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/26]
1917 Apr 27
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, Chief of the British Mission to French Army, requesting more information on the general atmosphere in France, and the amount of assistance the British Army may expect in forthcoming operations on the Western Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/27]
1917 Apr 28
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the effect of the failure of the Nivelle Offensive on the public position of FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, and French Gen Robert Georges Nivelle, Commander in Chief, French Armies on the Western Front, himself. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/28]
1917 May 23
Letter from Robertson to French Gen Ferdinand Foch, French Army Chief of Staff, arranging a meeting between the two men to discuss the general military situation, with special reference to theatres outside the Western Front, especially Russia and Salonika, Greece. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/29]
1917 May 26
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the morale of the public in France and Britain. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/30]
1917 Aug 1
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen George Francis Milne, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, on the replacement of Lt Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray as General Officer Commanding in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, by Gen Sir Edward Henry Hynman Allenby, and future policy in Palestine and Mesopotamia; the failure to reach a decision at the recent Paris Conference concerning the transfer of a British division from Salonika, Greece, to the Palestine Front; a request for information on the preparations for the defence of Salonika, Greece. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/31]
1917 Aug 17
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen Sir Frederick Stanley Maude, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, on the strategy to be followed in Mesopotamia, namely to actively defend against the Turks and attempt to persuade the Russians to cooperate. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/32]
1917 Sep 15
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen George Francis Milne, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, on the need for a definite plan of action for the Salonika Front, including defence during the winter and preparations for an offensive in the spring; expressing doubts about the competence of French Gen Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail, Commander in Chief, Allied Army of the Orient. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/33]
1917 Oct 24
Translation of letter to Robertson from Italian Gen Luigi Cadorna, Chief of Staff to the Italian Army, reporting an Austro-German offensive on the Italian Front, and reproving his allies for the earlier withdrawal of a large amount of artillery from that front. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/34]
1917 Oct 27
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen George Francis Milne, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, requesting regular accounts of operations on the Salonika Front; the possible removal of French Gen Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail, Commander in Chief, Allied Army of the Orient; the importance of defeating German forces on the Western Front. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/35]
1917 Nov 15
Letter from Robertson to Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, on the scheme [for an Allied Supreme War Council]. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/36]
1917 Nov 23
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen George Francis Milne, General Officer Commanding in Chief, British Salonika Force, on the difficulties caused on the Eastern Front by the Russian Revolution; the need to bolster Italian troops with French and British following the Austro-German Caporetto offensive on the Italian Front; the creation of an Allied Supreme War Council, and Robertson's doubts as to its efficacy; US participation in the war; problems of manpower in Britain; the possible removal of French Gen Maurice Paul Emmanuel Sarrail as Commander in Chief, Allied Army of the Orient; problems of malaria amongst the men of Milne's command. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/37]
1917 Dec 1
Note to Robertson from Maj Gen Frederick (Barton) Maurice, Director of Military Operations, War Office, enclosing copies of two letters, dated 16 and 24 Nov, from Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, and temporary Maj Gen Charles 'Tim' Harington Harington, General Staff, British Forces in Italy, giving the general military situation on the Italian Front following the start of the Austro-German Caporetto offensive and the transfer of five British and six French divisions to Italy. 8pp..
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/38]
1917 Nov 26
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, emphasising that the six British divisions required on the Italian Front are only to be transferred temporarily, and the probability of reducing the strength of the divisions; the provision by the Italians of men for labour purposes; Robertson's views on the inability of Germany to carry out a concerted attack in any theatre. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/39]
1917 Dec 2
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding British Forces in Italy, on the military situation on the Italian Front, notably the takeover of the Montello section of the front line by British troops. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/40]
1917 Dec 4
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, giving the reasons for the taking over of the front line in Italy by British troops, namely the poor morale and exhaustion of the Italian units, and for his request for further divisions to be sent; Plumer's opinion that the British divisions in Italy should be kept up to strength, as the stay will only be of 6 months duration, and that the Western Front should remain the main theatre of operations. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/41]
1917 Dec 10
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding British Forces in Italy, on operations on the Western Front postponing the despatch of two extra divisions to Italy; the morale of the German troops; the severe manpower shortages in Britain; dangers of a possible Russian peace with Germany. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/42]
1917 Dec 11
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding British Forces in Italy, requesting that he be informed officially of the formation of the French and British detachments in Italy into two mixed groups. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/43]
1917 Dec 28
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, on the prospects of the Allies in 1918; Robertson's misgivings concerning the direction of the war by the Supreme War Council; the possible promotion of temporary Lt Gen Sir Richard Cyril Byrne Haking, General Officer Commanding, 11 Corps, British Armies in France. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/44-45]
1918 Jan 28
Two copies of a letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, on the reaction of all Corps and Divisional Commanders of the British Forces in Italy to the proposed reduction in strength of British divisions there. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/46]
1918 Jan 5
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, on the lack of manpower in Britain, and the decision to reduce all divisions in France and Italy down to nine battalions; a request for regular information on the operations of British units in Italy. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/47]
1918 Jan 21
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, on the takeover of another sector of the Piave line by British units on the Italian Front; the establishment of training schools for French and Italian officers; future plans of the Italian command. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/48]
1918 Feb 4
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, on the proposed reduction in strength of British divisions in Italy; the decision to give control over Allied reserves to the Supreme War Council at Versailles; the likelihood of the removal of the British contingent from Italy. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/3/49]
1918 Jan 5
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding British Forces in Italy, on the proposed reduction in the strength of British divisions in Italy; the Supreme War Council at Versailles; the need for a plan of operation on the Italian Front. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/1]
1915 Dec 26
Letter to Robertson from Maj Gen Edward Altham Altham, General Officer Commanding, Levant Base, outlining the administrative difficulties of one base supporting four separate forces (Dardanelles, Salonika, Mediterranean and Egypt), and recommending one Commander in Chief for the whole of Egypt. Includes note from Lt Gen Sir John Steven Cowans, Quartermaster General to the Forces, on the subject. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/2]
1915 Dec 28
Letter to Robertson from Maj Gen Edward Altham Altham, General Officer Commanding, Levant Base, enclosing a memorandum on the difficulties of having one administrative system for the garrison of Egypt and the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and the need for central control by a supreme commander. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/3]
1916 Jan 10
Letter from Robertson to Maj Gen Sir Edward Altham Altham, General Officer Commanding, Levant Base, expressing his doubts concerning the dual system of command in Egypt, and describing his unsuccessful attempts to create a single command; the placing of Altham and the Levant Base under the control of temporary Gen Sir Archibald (James) Murray, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force; the need to reorganise the troops evacuated from Gallipoli. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/4]
1916 Sep 2
Letter to Robertson from Maj Gen Sir Edward Altham Altham, Inspector General of Communication, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, requesting suitable employment in the event of the move of the General Headquarters of the Expeditionary Force to Cairo and the takeover of the Line of Communications by the Staff. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/5]
1916 Aug 26
Incomplete draft letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon Arthur James Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, on the practicability of sending a large British force into Greece instead of using French troops from French forces at Salonika, Greece. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/6]
1916 May 19
Letter from Robertson to Gen Sir Edmund (George) Barrow, Military Secretary to the India Office, on medical arrangements and discipline in Mesopotamia. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/7]
1916 Jan 21
Letter to Robertson from Sir George Stapylton Barnes, Joint Permanent Secretary to the Board of Trade, asking for his comments on a memorandum outlining a discussion between them concerning the manpower demands of the War Office. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/8]
1916 Jan 24
Letter from Robertson to Sir George Stapylton Barnes, Joint Permanent Secretary to the Board of Trade, commenting upon a memorandum outlining a discussion between them concerning the manpower demands of the War Office, and enclosing a copy of the draft 'Report of the Cabinet Committee on the coordination of military and financial effort'. A copy of Barnes' original memorandum is included. 6pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/9]
1916 Jan 16
Letter to Robertson from Belgian Col the Count de Jonghe d'Ardoye, Aide de Camp to King Albert I of Belgium, and Chief of the Belgian Mission to the British Army in the Field, awarding him the Grand Cordon de l'Ordre de la Couronne. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/10]
1916 Jun 27
Letter from Robertson to Capt Reginald St Clair Battine, on Battine's article in the Daily Telegraph, and the difficulties of providing information to the press. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/11]
1916 Mar 12
Incomplete letter to Robertson from FM HRH Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Governor General and Commander in Chief, Dominion of Canada, on the unfounded hostility of honorary Lt Gen Sir Sam Hughes, Canadian Minister of Militia, towards temporary Maj Gen Willoughby Garnons Gwatkin, Chief of the Canadian General Staff. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/12]
1916 Apr 5
Letter from Robertson to FM HRH Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Governor General and Commander in Chief, Dominion of Canada, on the character and abilities of temporary Maj Gen Willoughby Garnons Gwatkin, Chief of the Canadian General Staff; giving his views on the War Office, the methods of politicians and the manpower shortage; relations with FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/13]
1916 Aug 9
Letter from Robertson to FM HRH Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Governor General and Commander in Chief, Dominion of Canada, notably on the general military situation in Egypt, India, Mesopotamia, East Africa, and the Western, Eastern and Italian fronts. 5pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/14]
1916 Mar 6
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon (Joseph) Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, on operations in Mesopotamia, notably provision of medical supplies and river craft. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/15]
1916 Mar 11
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon (Joseph) Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, on the failure at Kut el Amara, Mesopotamia, and preparations in India for operations on the North-West Frontier. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/16]
1916 Mar 21
Letter to Robertson from Gen Sir Edmund (George) Barrow, Military Secretary to the India Office, on the possible despatch to India of two British divisions now in Egypt, and doubts in the India Office as to the wisdom of an offensive campaign on the North-West Frontier; requesting the provision of guns and ammunition to the Idrisi on the Red Sea Coast. Including copies of telegrams between Robertson, Gen Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander in Chief in India, Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst, Viceroy of India, and the Rt Hon (Joseph) Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, concerning the proposed Indian Army offensive on the North-West Frontier against Afghanistan. 7pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/17]
1916 Mar 23
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon (Joseph) Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, on medical arrangements in Mesopotamia. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/18]
1916 Aug 10
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon (Joseph) Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, on possible replacements for Lt Gen Sir Percy Henry Noel Lake, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/19]
1916 Dec 26
Letter to Robertson from the Rt Hon (Joseph) Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, on responsibility for affairs in South Persia. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/20]
1916 Mar 22
Letter to Robertson from honorary Maj Gen Charles Edward Callwell, Head of a Mission to Russia concerning the supply of munitions, notably on a proposed trip to the Caucasus; operations in Mesopotamia; the need for increased information from Britain concerning munitions provision to Russia; Russian military ambitions in the Ottoman Empire; the lack of official communication between the Foreign Office and Russia. 12pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/21]
1916 Mar 23
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon George Nathaniel Curzon, Earl Curzon of Kedleston, on medical arrangements in Mesopotamia. 2pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/22]
1916 Jan 4
Letter to Robertson from Lt Gen Sir William Pitcairn Campbell, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command, advising the abolition of the Salisbury Training Centre, at present under the command of a separate officer. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/23]
1916 Jan 8
Letter from Robertson to Lt Gen Sir William Pitcairn Campbell, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command, referring the matter of the Salisbury Training Centre to FM Sir John Denton Pinkstone French, Commander in Chief, Home Forces. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/24]
1916 Oct 29
Telegram from Karri Davis to Gen Sir Archibald Hunter, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Aldershot Command, requesting introductions in New York. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/25]
1916 Dec 28
Letter from Robertson to Brig Gen Charles Delmé-Radcliffe, Chief of British Military Mission to the Italian Army in the Field, on French pressure on the British and Italians to send further divisions to Salonika, Greece; a proposed meeting between the French, Italians and British to discuss operations as a whole in 1917; the impossibility of lending heavy guns to the Italians. 4pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/26]
1916 Mar 23
Letter from Robertson to Brig Gen Charles Delmé-Radcliffe, Chief of British Military Mission to the General Headquarters of the Italian Army in the Field, giving further information concerning a proposed meeting between the French, Italians and British; requesting that his correspondence with Delmé-Radcliffe remain private and confidential. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/27]
1916 Oct 18
Letter to Major Cecil Courtenay Lucas, Aide de Camp to Robertson, from Robert Donald, Editor of The Daily Chronicle, proposing a meeting between Robertson and the Marquis de Chasseloup-Laubat. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/28]
1916 Nov 21
Letter to Robertson from Robert Donald, Editor of The Daily Chronicle, requesting a lunch meeting. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/29]
1916 Sep 13
Letter to Robertson from the Rt Hon Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman, [Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords], requesting military employment. 3pp.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/30]
1916 Sep 14
Letter from Robertson to the Rt Hon Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman, [Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords], on the prospect of his employment in a military capacity. 1p.
[ROBERTSON: 8/4/31]
1916 Sep 20
Letter to Robertson from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, requesting confirmation that Robertson was in charge of the supply arrangements during the Mons retreat on the Western Front, 1914, for his history of the war. 1p.