Churchill’s War Andrew Cunningham papers in British Library, London Great Russell St, WC1. Tel. 020 7636 1544 ext 367. Add MS 52563 contains correspondence between Captain Stephen Roskill [Official British Naval Historian] and Admiral Andrew Cunningham . SS-G’s note: The correspondence from Roskill to Cunningham runs from 1953 onwards. Letters are handwritten in Royal Blue Ink. He uses ampersands and abbreviates PM throughout.

PM refers to the wartime PM. Any doubtful words are preceded by ? 30 March 1953 ‘Re North & Dakar I am sure we shall not be able to find out the real villain of the piece. I think the PM was out for blood over Dakar, passed his ? master on to A.V.A. [Alexander] who wagged his tail like an obedient puppy & drove D.P. into action, which a stronger 1st Sea Lord would certainly have resisted.

I do know that D.P. was a bit cross with North before Dakar, because he [inserted: North] said exactly what he thought about CATAPULT (Oran) — but so did James Somerville &, I think, yourself! Churchill will not come clean about it. We’ve certainly tried very hard to get him to do so about the ordering of Prince of Wales onto Singapore against D.P.’s reiterated opposition to the move. I am sure he approved that order — but the Admiralty gave it.

When asked he merely said he couldn’t remember! There are letters & notes of his about the North affair which make it plain that he knew all about it while it was going on, but [inserted: he] has refused to express any opinions since. . . . With Winston in the chair I doubt whether any attempt on the political plane will prosper’. 30 July 1953 ‘I am in deep trouble with the PM over responsibility for Prince of Wales & Repulse being sent to Singapore!

Pound was absolutely right on that issue & only yielded under very heavy pressure; but it is mighty hard to be allowed to tell the truth!’ 5 August 1953 ‘5. Going

See Also