WORLD WAR I
Series of 10 telegrams on Messages and Signals army forms, from King George V, Queen Alexandra, Kitchener, Joffre, Haig, and the 'Indian Cavalry Corps'. Five messages are to French, the others to Haig, the Prince of Wales, and the final, announcing the cessation of hostilities, to an unnamed correspondent, dated from 24 November 1914 to 11 November 1918.
The messages are:To Field Marshal John D.P. French: From General Haig, 14 November 1914, thanking French for his promotion ('and your generous appreciation of such services as I have rendered'); two from King George V, 28 and 30 August and 1915, a birthday message and a message of congratulations on French's successes, adding 'I trust the sick and wounded are doing well'; from Kitchener, 27 September 1915, referring to the Second Battle of Champagne which, in the early days saw French capture a substantial amount of German ground, though the Germans managed to gain it back soon thereafter, leading to the Battle of Verdun; from Marshal Joffre, 29 September 1915, a birthday message, noting 'le grand success obtenu par les Armes Britaniques a cette meme date'.
To Sir Bertram Dawson: From Queen Alexandra, expressing her relief arising from Dawson's more reassuring account of her son's accident and thanking Dawson for sending it.
To the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII): From Kitchener, sending his best wishes (on the Prince's birthday), 23 June 1915.
To Field Marshal Douglas Haig: From 'Chief' (Field Marshal French), informing Haig that he had recommended him for promotion to General, undated (Haig was made General in December 1914).
To George V: From the Indian Cavalry Corps, wishing the King a speedy recovery from his accident, 28 July 1915.
From General Headquarters: Announcing the cessation of hostilities, and requiring that 'all troops will stand fast on the line reached at that hour ... Defensive precautions will be maintained. There will be no intercourse of any description with the enemy until the receipt of instructions from GHQ ...' (small piece missing from the upper right hand corner).
[No: 24003]