Catalogue description Greece: papers relating to economic and strategic position in the Balkans and...

Greece: papers relating to economic and strategic position in the Balkans and Dardenelles campaign; letters from Admiral Mark Kerr. Also contains correspondence on strategy concerning Gallipoli Campaign and the forcing of the Dardanelles.

Folios 1-4: Admiralty war staff appreciation of situation in Macedonia, and measures to be taken to bring pressure on Greece (undated).

Folio 5: Note by Graeme Thomson, Director of Transports, dated 30 October 1915. Number of ships now told off for the French 21, but of these 14 will do two voyages each. British and Indian Divisions are to be moved. At least 40 steamships required to keep up supplies to British forces. Also 20 colliers.

Folios 6-15: Admiralty War Staff paper, 29 October 1915, on Naval measures suggested against Greece; notes on Greece and Islands, (folios 8, 10, 13); schedule of Greek Navy (October 1915) with number of ships and their origin/place of construction, (folio 9); and map extract of Corinthe area, (folio 11); 4 postcard photographs of Corinthe, one colour, three black and white, (folio 12); list of vulnerable islands and coast towns stating populations, (folios 13-14), note on raids on shipping and commerce, (folios 14-15) , notes on cutting telegraphic communication and raids on Railway, (folio 15).

Folios 16-18: Paper titled Measures to be taken against Greek mercantile marine and blockade of Greek Coast, dated 29 October 1915.

Folios 19-29: Paper titled Disposition of Greek Merchant Vessels. Includes typed schedule of Movements of Greek merchant steam vessels, 28 October 1915, (records name of ship; where from; date; where to or at; remarks).

Folio 30: Copy of letter 27 October 1915 from 10 Downing Street (Initials. HHA), [Herbert Henry Asquith], to The Joint Staff requesting them to advise the Cabinet on assumption that either Greece takes the offensive against the Allies or we are called upon to put pressure upon her.

Folios 31-35: Note by General Staff (undated) starting 'If Greece joins our enemies...'.

Folios 36-39: Admiralty note (undated) giving General Staff comments on situation with Greece.

Folios 40-46: Paper (undated) marked as 'Note from French SS', dated 29 October 1915, concerning despatch of 150,000 Allied troops to Salonika to hold the Uskub - Salonika railway, to cover the right of the Serbian army, and to ensure its communication with Salonika. With notes on the supply of the allied troops and disembarkation at Salonika, (folio 41); railway, (folios 41-42); and the road system, (folio 42), and the expeditionary force in the Balkans, (folios 43-46).

Folios 47-50: Letter 27 March 1922 signed by Mark Kerr, Vice Admiral, sent from 16 Cumberland Terrace, Regents Park, NW1. Addressee not stated. Review of situation with Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece during the First World War. Includes descriptions of input by King Constantine. Discusses background to a Greek plan to force the Dardanelles as it relates to the eventual Allied attempt and the subsequent Dardanelles Commission at which The First Lord of the Admiralty replied to a question regarding such a Greek plan.

Folios 51-56: Covering letter dated 12 June 1922 from Mark Kerr Admiral to Captain V E Inglefield [Valentine Erskine Inglefield], Historical Section, Committee of Imperial Defence enclosing copies of telegrams 'as I have' regarding background to the Dardanelles campaign and evidence given by Winston Churchill to the Dardanelles Commission. Copies of telegrams to Sir Francis Elliot, Athens, 1pm, 4 September 1914, (folios 52-53); and 9 September 1914, (folio 54); from Sir Edward Grey to Sir Francis Elliot, Foreign Office, 4 September 1914, (folio 55); First Lord to Admiral Kerr, 10 March 1915, (folio 56).

Folios 57-63: Letter 17 April 1925 from Stephen Gaselee, Foreign Office to 'Dear Daniel' regarding Turkish and Greek involvement in First World War and starting 'the date given by Mr Churchill [Winston Churchill] is correct' and quoting from numerous telegrams by Churchill and others 'held in our most secret cipher'.