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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 3h

Newly published guest blog post - an article by Peter Ricketts on diplomat Valentine Lawford, with extracts from Lawford's diaries held at Churchill Archives Centre. The article was originally published in Engelsberg Ideas. buff.ly/U1W7kMz @lordrickettsp.bsky.social

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Valentine Lawford, the hidden hand behind Britain’s wartime diplomacy - Churchill Archives Centre

Article by Peter Ricketts on Valentine Lawford with extracts from his diaries held at Churchill Archives Centre

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

New guest blog post from researcher Richard Simpson, on Charles Merz (born 152 years ago this week), arguably the most important early pioneer of Britain's electricity supply industry. buff.ly/MjPieHL

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Britain's forgotten electricity pioneer - Churchill Archives Centre

Blog post by Richard Simpson on Charles Merz, arguably the most important early pioneer of Britain's electricity supply industry

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Wednesday 7th October, 4pm UK time, join Director of the Archives Centre Allen Packwood in a FREE WEBINAR on Winston Churchill and Global Modern History, hosted by Bloomsbury publishers @bloomsburyhist.bsky.social @bloomsburydigital.bsky.social Find out more and register to attend: buff.ly/b1eHSkp

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https://mailchi.mp/bloomsbury.com/save-the-date-churchill-and-global-modern-history-10481596?e=7e93a37453

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Sun 1st Nov Aldeburgh Cinema is showing Groundbreakers, about Women in Parliament. With a panel discussion chaired by Zoe Billingham CBE, with Baroness Gillian Shephard, Baroness Anne Jenkin, Dame Vera Baird, @bonisones.bsky.social and intro by Director of @chuarchives.bsky.social buff.ly/548pun0

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Breaking Barriers: Women in Politics - Film Screening & Panel Discussion | Aldeburgh Cinema

Showing from Sun 1 Nov

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

⏰️ TONIGHT at 5.30pm, open to all. Bill Whiteside will discuss his new book about the sinking of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940, in conversation with Director of Churchill Archives Centre. In the Jock Colville Hall at Churchill College. No need to book, just turn up. buff.ly/Yil2tgD

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‘Operation Catapult’: A discussion of a new book by Bill Whiteside about the sinking of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940 - Churchill Archives Centre

A discussion of a new book by Bill Whiteside about the sinking of the French fleet at Mers el-Kebir in July 1940. The author will be in conversation with Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill…

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

📰 New guest blog post from Archives Centre researcher Zachary Kuntz, PhD candidate in History at the University of South Florida. Zach used the Mitrokhin papers to research Iosif Grigulevich, one of the most successful deep‑cover illegals in the history of Soviet espionage. buff.ly/2t5MIb3

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A Spy Turned Academic: Tracing the hidden footprints of Iosif Grigulevich inside the Mitrokhin Papers

Blog post by PhD student Zachary Kuntz about his research using the Mitrokhin Papers at Churchill Archives Centre.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

We are excited to release our highlights video of the Geopolitical Risk conference from earlier this year, featuring exclusive interview clips with our speakers and valued supporters. Thank you to all who contributed to these crucial discussions. buff.ly/pcYVihP

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Geopolitical Risk: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future

A conference hosted by the Churchill Archives Centre at the Moller Institute at Churchill College to mark 80 years since Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech. Contributors: Allen Packwood…

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

George notes that Jack is relieved to be "finally getting out of the way of the German artillery", but fearful about the possibility of returning to the trenches in a few days' time. He also took the time to underline for emphasis that the cheese he ate during this holiday was "very good"!

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This letter has quite a different tone to most of the archival material we have from the First World War, and indeed most of Jack's letters, as he was permitted to leave the trenches for a short trip to the French coast in October 1916 ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Our last post this week is another WW1 letter from Jack Oughtred's archive, this time chosen by ARU student George Hayman ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Phyllis also witnessed the war but from a different angle, as she was nursing injured soldiers back home in Hull. We'll post another letter from this collection tomorrow!

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Jack was 20 when the First World War started, and rose from the rank of Second Lieutenant to Captain by 1917. He wrote over 100 letters to his then-fiancée Phyllis throughout the war, and the letters eventually made their way into our archives ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Yesterday we posted an extract from one of Jack Oughtred's letters describing conditions during the Battle of the Somme, as part of our series marking the Somme's 110th anniversary. Here's the only photograph of Jack in the collection, alongside a photo of his wife, Phyllis Bentham ... 🧵

Two black-and-white photographs. The photo on the left shows a man in military dress smiling at the camera. The photo on the white shows a woman dressed in white holding a tennis racket.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

"To me this is intriguing: would Phyllis, who was working with injured soldiers, be more or less worried about Jack than those who were kept in the dark about the nature of the war?" We'll be posting more items from Jack's archive later this week.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

"Jack notes that he is only able to send her letters when he is out of the trenches, which was the reality for many soldiers. Those awaiting news at home must have felt stressed by these long periods of silence ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Eve comments: "This letter was received by Phyllis Bentham, who worked at a naval hospital in Hull, treating injured soldiers during the war. So when Jack wrote about being in the trenches, she would know that it was no exaggeration ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

This letter from Lieutenant Jack Oughtred was chosen by ARU History student Eve Gore, as part of our social media series commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Somme. Written just 6 days before the end of the Battle, Jack's letter is frank about conditions in November 1916 ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

In April, we were delighted to welcome students from 12 schools around the world for NUREMBERG 80, an international student exercise marking the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials. You can watch the highlights here: buff.ly/q1VLYje

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Nuremberg 80

An international student exercise hosted by the Churchill Archives Centre to mark the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trial

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Bagnold kept 160 maps of various parts of the world between 1910 and 1948. All can be accessed in our reading room: buff.ly/U7A4OL8

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https://buff.ly/U7A4OL8

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

We believe that this map was published in 1917 by Stanfords in London as a 'half-inch map of the Western front in France and Flanders'; the markings match up close with copies of the Stanfords map that are held in other archives ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

However, before his service with the LRDG in WW2, he served in the Great War, and retained this map showing the areas that would become infamous during the Somme campaign." ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

"What is incredibly interesting is the detail of the map, which is extraordinary for the time it was produced, and the individual it belonged to. The map was kept by Brigadier Ralph Alger Bagnold, who would earn his fame serving with the Long Range Desert Group in the Second World War ..."

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Ending the week with a WW1 artefact selected by ARU History student George Hayman. George writes: "This is a map of the Western Front from Soyecourt (better known as the Somme) to the Ypres salient. It shows what would become the frontlines of the infamous “Battle of the Somme” ... 🧵

Large map of the Western Front with settlements labelled, on a blue archival folder. Red and yellow lines are marked on the map to show areas of conflict.

Close-up of roughly the top third of the map.

Close-up of roughly the middle third of the map.

Close-up of roughly the bottom third of the map.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The fully diary is preserved in our archives and can be accessed in our reading room (reference code RWLN 1/5).

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

"... but soon enough the optimism he has in this entry would disappear. There were over 57,000 casualties on day one alone for the British Army, this rose to over 420,000 by the end of the battle. It would be interesting to find a diary entry from Rawlinson from the end of the Somme to compare."

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

"This was written at the beginning of the battle with timestamps of the first day detailing when it began (9:20AM) and early afternoon (12:15PM) when there had been some advances. Therefore, General Rawlinson has a positive outlook for the rest of the battle – he said the battle had ‘begun well’..."

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Another item from ARU student Eve Gore highlighting the Somme in our archives: "This is from a diary written by General Lord Henry Rawlinson; he commanded the Fourth Army at the Battle of the Somme ... 🧵

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Eleanor discusses staffing levels and the kind of wounds they were dealing with, but also the psychological impact that the job was having on herself: "I begin to feel as if seasons didn't exist anymore, that summer in England is a kind of insubstantial dream."

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Jennie and Eleanor were friends and regular correspondents; they nursed together aboard the American medical ship 'Maine' during the Second Boer War. The letter provides insight into one nurse's frame of mind during the Somme, and what she thought relevant to convey to a fellow nurse...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

"... and could be seen as a sinister prelude for the rest of the battle, which would result in nearly half a million casualties for the British. "Warrender ends the letter with a joke that ‘the Kaiser must be feeling rather sick’ alluding to how the battle had affected the German forces." ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Eve writes: "This is a letter from Eleanor Warrender to Lady Randolph (Jennie) Churchill speaking on the war situation, in which she details caring for those injured in the Battle of the Somme. It was written on 23rd July 1916, barely a month into the battle..."

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Continuing our posts by @angliaruskin.bsky.social History students, highlighting the Battle of the Somme in the archives... Student Eve Gore chose this letter from the Churchill Papers... 🧵

First page of Eleanor's handwritte letter

Second page of Eleanor's handwritten letter.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Our Conservator Sarah also curated a display of different types of photographs, including historic formats that aren't widely used anymore, and how we take care of them.

A display showing how we conserve photographs; image taken from above.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

One such item was this little key that came with a 1911 copy of the AA handbook. The key could be used to open AA call boxes if you broke down on the side of the road.

Hand holding slightly rusty iron key with the old AA symbol.

Automobile Association and Motor Union Handbook 1911 on table with key beside it.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It was great to welcome the combined Photography Group of the Royal Automobile Club and Automobile Club de France last week! This visit gave us a chance to dig out some items from the archives that relate to cars and automobile innovation...

The group looking at a display of archival items.

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Reposted by Churchill Archives Centre

Richard Carr @richardcarr.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

As part of a 2nd year module, ARU history students visit the brilliant Churchill Archives, Cambridge and choose materials relating to a particular theme/event for an assignment. This year, The Somme. Great to see students engage with archive material for the first time, and to see what they find...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

If you've published something that has used our archives as a source, please do let us know. We regularly add books based on our collections to the Roskill Library, located on the shelves of our reading room, for future researchers to be able to access primary and secondary sources side-by-side.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

It's always great to see new publications that have been based on our collections! This article by Dr Seth Thévoz uses the digitised Chartwell Papers to analyse the extraordinary amount of private members' clubs in London that Churchill belonged to, and what membership meant: buff.ly/YXJ08Sp

clubland.substack.com

Winston Churchill's London club memberships - an update

WSC's finances give an insight into how he juggled his club subscriptions

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

We were unable to find any information about the illustrator, William Monk. The drawing has been saved in the scrapbook of Lady Eleanor Brett. Reference code: ESHR 3/5.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Ben speculates: "This picture of the destruction of a Zeppelin introduces a brand-new question into the world of warfare; how important is aerial combat going to become in the grand scale of warfare?"

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

This drawing shows the destruction that ensued when the German Zeppelin LZ 72 (or L31), a huge R Class "super-zeppelin", was shot down on 1st October 1916 near Potter's Bar, Hertfordshire, killing 19 people on board. The new super-zeppelin had only been in operation for 3 months ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Third item chosen by ARU History student Ben Clarke to highlight the #BattleoftheSomme in the archives ... 🧵

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

... but seeing the two sides working together to reach the common goal would have proved essential in how the conflict appeared to those at home." The postcard was saved by Eleanor Brett, Viscountess Esher, in a scrapbook of WW1 materials.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

... This image is an incredible example of the spirit of soldiers during the Somme and how fighting as one and in solidarity is so important. The morale of the British and the French may have been at a low because of the conflict ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ben writes: "When looking through the Churchill Archives collections related to the Battle of the Somme, one thing that was apparent, through the scrapbooks and files I searched through, was this was comradery within the British and French camps...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This postcard, 'Helping an ambulance through the mud', belonged to a series of official photographs from the trenches that were colourised to convey the atmosphere of the trenches to the audience at home (in an era before actual colour photography was widespread)...

Colourised photograph of soldiers pushing an ambulance on a road, with piles of debris on either side.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Another post by ARU History student Ben Clarke highlighting the #BattleoftheSomme in the archives... 🧵

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

These photos also help create the image of what people returned to, after the war, with a necessity to have to rebuild their livelihoods because of the war." Reference code: The Papers of Lord Esher, ESHR 3/5

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

These photos depict one of many affected areas across Northern France. Thousands of homes and important buildings were torn down throughout the conflict, with many becoming homeless, because of their homes being destroyed by shelling ...

Two black-and-white photographs showing destroyed buildings in Morval and Combles in Northern France, dated September 1916.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Ben writes: "There are many important things to look at when analysing the importance of the Battle of the Somme, including, much like other conflicts, the impact that the conflict had on existing infrastructure ...

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