Catalogue description War Office: Directorate of Tactical Investigation: Papers

A Research Branch, independent of existing directorates, was created in 1938 under the chief of the Imperial General Staff. In January 1943 it was given the status of a directorate and placed under the deputy chief of the Imperial General Staff. Its name was changed in December 1943 to the Directorate of Tactical Investigation, and it functioned until 1948.

Its functions were to study and analyse the lessons of war and from them draw conclusions to assist in the formulation of tactical and organisational doctrine for the future roles of the Army and for its co-operation with the other Services; to keep in touch with new weapons and equipment and assess their tactical value; and to study developments in tactics and organisation in relation to the present and future commitments of the Army.