Catalogue description Government Code and Cypher School and Government Communications Headquarters: Records relating to the writing of the history of British signals intelligence in World War II

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Details of HW 50
Reference: HW 50
Title: Government Code and Cypher School and Government Communications Headquarters: Records relating to the writing of the history of British signals intelligence in World War II
Description:

This series contains records produced during the production of the History of British Signals Intelligence in World War II (now preserved in HW 11). These working papers cover all aspects of the work carried out at Bletchley Park, as well as intercept stations, overseas units and liaison with wartime allies, and include notes of consultations with former members of staff of the Government Code and Cypher School.

Date: 1914-1954
Related material:

The histories written following this work are in HW 11

Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:

Government Code and Cypher School, 1919-1946

Government Communications Headquarters, 1946-

Physical description: 95 files and volumes
Access conditions: Open unless otherwise stated
Immediate source of acquisition:

from 2004 Government Communications Headquarters

Accumulation dates: 1945 to 1954
Selection and destruction information: Selected under acquisition policy criterion 2.2.1.3, showing the methods used to compile the history of British Signals Intelligence during the Second World War. Working papers of the historians that throw light on the activities of GC&CS during the war selected, ephemeral and duplicate papers not selected.
Accruals: Series is accruing
Administrative / biographical background:

In September 1945 a group of Government Code and Cypher School experts, headed by Frank Birch, were brought together to write internal histories of the British signals intelligence effort during World War II. The experts were given full access to the records produced during the war, and consulted former colleagues on aspects of the work.

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