Pakenham Papers at the National Maritime Museum

A list of the papers of Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham in the possession of the National Maritime Museum, London.

Operational, technical and tactical reports. Copy reports by Pakenham, with covering letters, correspondence and memoranda between Pakenham, colleagues and the Admiralty, discussing matters including precautions against sinking, gunnery strategies, supply and comments on the Committee of Imperial Defence, 1902-1903.

PKM/1/4

Orders on control of fire, relates to HMS ALBION, [1902].

PKM/1/5

Photograph of Pakenham's naval colleague, initials B.G.F, with good will message on reverse, 1894.

PKM/2

PKM/2/1

Reports by Pakenham in his role as naval attache, Russo-Japanese War, includes Japanese naval establishments, fleet activities, naval strategies, the Russian naval presence in area, accounts and track charts of Battle of Port Arthur, 10 Aug 1904 and Battle of Tsushima, 27 May 1905, which Pakenham witnessed from HMIS ASAHI, dated 1904-1905.

PKM/2/2

Draft reports by Pakenham on the Japanese navy, handwritten and heavily annotated, [1904-1905].

PKM/2/3

Japanese naval reports and communications, documents internal to the Japanese navy and government, which discuss naval movements and actions, positions and losses, [1904-1905].

PKM/2/4

Copies of reports and letters from Pakenham to fellow naval attaches, naval superiors, Captain Ottley, Lord Charles Beresford, Director Naval Intelligence, and Japanese admirals. Letters concern Japanese and Russian naval activities, report of Battle of the Yellow Sea of 23 Aug 1904, and summary of Pakenham's movements. Includes letters from Sir Claude MacDonald clarifying Pakenham's role and from Naval Intelligence regarding publication of reports. Dated 1904-1905.

PKM/2/5

Correspondence between Japanese naval officials, Pakenham and Naval Intelligence Department regarding Royal Naval rules about flags to be flown on detained merchant ships, dated 1905.

PKM/2/6

Papers relating to service in Japan, includes chart of Japanese and Russian ships' movements during battle, 1905, copy of letter to Admiral Fisher, 1911, printed copies of Pakenham's reports as naval attache, [1906].

PKM/2/7

Photograph of Japanese fleet going into action at the Battle of Tsushima, 27 May 1905.

PKM/2/8

Copy report describing 25 photographs taken in Jan 1905 of Port Arthur and the Russian fleet anchored there.

PKM/2/9

8 photographs of Battle of Tsushima, 27 May 1905, taken by Admiral Seki, covering period before, during and after the Battle, captioned on the reverse.

PKM/2/10

Photographic negatives, dated 27 May 1905.

PKM/2/11

Notes during battle, recording positions and firings of named ships against given times. Dated 23 Jun 1904; 10, 11 and 13 Aug 1904 (Battle of Port Arthur); 27 and 28 May 1905 (Battle of Tsushima).

PKM/2/12

PKM/2/12/1

Diary by Pakenham recording his activities as naval attache, 1904.

PKM/2/12/2

Diary by Pakenham recording his activities as naval attache, 1905.

PKM/2/13

Letter to Pakenham from Admiral Togo of the Japanese Navy, accepting invitation, 5 Jan 1905.

PKM/2/14

Photograph of Admiral Togo of the Japanese Navy, [1904-1905].

PKM/2/15

Business card of General Noghi, military advisor to the Japanese Emperor, [1904-1905].

PKM/2/16

Correspondence regarding negotiations between Japan and Russia, (1903-1904), in English and Japanese.

PKM/2/17

Notes on experiences during Russo-Japanese Naval War, 1904-1905. Printed text of talk by S Suzuki of the Japanese navy to the Association of Military Surgeons, USA, n.d.

PKM/2/18

Printed summary of Pakenham's career in Japan, [1911].

PKM/2/19

Letters to Mrs L. Strickland-Constable from Pakenham, 1904-1906.

PKM/2/20

Letters from Pakenham to his aunt Lady Jessica Sykes, dated 13 Feb 1904-25 Jan 1906.

PKM/2/21

Letters from Charles Beresford to Lady Jessica Sykes, marked confidential discusses, naval reform. Dated 1905-1906.

PKM/2/22

Letter to Margie (Strickland-Constable?), handwritten, incomplete, 24 Jan 1905.

PKM/2/23

Letter from Captain Ottley, Naval Intelligence Department, thanks Pakenham for his letters and reports sent from Japan, dated 10 Mar 1905.

PKM/3

PKM/3/1

Reports on Armenian massacres of Apr-May 1909. Reports to naval superiors regarding the intervention of HMS TRIUMPH, which Pakenham captained. Letter of congratulation, 1909.

PKM/3/2

Letters from local population in Antioch and around, pleading for protection from the Turks, 1909. Includes printed report of recent events, dated 13 May 1909.

PKM/3/3

Correspondence between Pakenham (from HMS TRIUMPH), with naval superiors and British diplomats relating to the Greek Uprising of Oct-Nov 1909, dated 1909-1910.

PKM/3/4

Letter of appreciation to Pakenham from Barnaby Moltino, on Moltino's leaving HMS ANTRIM, dated 19 February but the year is uncertain.

PKM/4

PKM/4/1

Letters from Admiral Curzon-Howe to Pakenham, 1910-1911.

PKM/4/2

Copies of letters to Pakenham from distinguished correspondents. Includes letters from Winston Churchill, offering Pakenham position of 4th Sea Lord; Admiral Charles Beresford; Admiral John Arbuthnot Fisher; Admiral Bridgeman; Lord Geddes, British Ambassador in Washington, dated 1905-1923.

PKM/4/3

Telegram from Joseph Cantoni, British Vice Consul, Alexandretta, congratulating Pakenham on his appointment as Admiral, 4 Dec 1911.

PKM/4/4

Letter of resignation by Pakenham, addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty, 28 Mar 1913; note on envelope by Sir Robert Strickland-Constable says envelope was sealed.

PKM/4/5

Dinner invite from Admiral Count Togo, Jul 1911.

PKM/4/6

Letter from Admiralty appointing Pakenham Rear Admiral, 4 Dec 1913.

PKM/4/7

Report on the progress of the programme of further new construction, 1913-1914, dated 20 Dec 1912.

PKM/4/8

Correspondence between Pakenham and senior naval colleagues, use of oil fuel, promotion of a fellow officer, absolution of blame for a ship's grounding, enquiry about a recommendation for honours, dated 1910-1912.

PKM/4/9

Copy letters from Pakenham, on board HMS COLLINGWOOD, to Commander in Chief Home Fleet, conduct during battle, the discharge of men and defence against torpedo attack, 1911.

PKM/4/10

Report on extension of oil fuel in war vessels, unsigned manuscript, not Pakenham's hand, [191-].

PKM/4/11

Memoranda, reports and correspondence, some copies, concerning Pakenham's role as Vice Admiral, Battle Cruiser Force, regarding naval policy, strategy and tactics, farewell messages to officers and men and the handover and escort of the German High Sea Fleet at their surrender, dated 1916-1919.

PKM/4/12

Letter to Pakenham from HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, discussing use of light cruisers, 21 Jun 1917.

PKM/4/13

Orders regarding the formation and conduct of cruisers, 11 Jun 1914.

PKM/4/14

Reports on torpedoes and on submarines, 2 unsigned manuscripts, not Pakenham's hand, believed to be Captain Philip W. Dumas..

PKM/4/15

Reports, memoranda and correspondence with senior officers concerning technical, strategic and tactical matters. Includes use of oil fuel, torpedoes, air policy, battle reconnaissance, an operation in Heligoland minefield and weaknesses of British battle cruisers, dated 1917-1918.

PKM/4/16

Reports of activities of HMS NEW ZEALAND during the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916.

PKM/4/17

London Gazette, dated 4 Jul 1916 and 15 Sep 1916.

PKM/4/18

Letters from Vice Admiral David Beatty to Pakenham, includes ship deployment, naval tactics and operations; and naval colleagues, dated 1916-1917.

PKM/4/19

Report from Vice Admiral David Beatty regarding threat from submarines, 20 Nov 1916.

PKM/4/20

Draft letter to the Admiralty from Vice Admiral Beatty correcting inaccuracies in an earlier report relating to the Battle of Jutland, [1916].

PKM/4/21

Copy reports and manuscript notes concerning gunnery, ships' positions and a report by Lieutenant George Battenburg on a scheme for confusing the enemy's spotters, dated 1916-1917.

PKM/4/22

Correspondence between Pakenham and Captain Chatfield of HMS LION regarding naval orders on gunnery tactics between opponents of equal force, dated May 1916.

PKM/4/23

Letter from Lord John Arbuthnot Fisher to Pakenham, offering good wishes, 3 Dec 1913.

PKM/5

PKM/5/1

Correspondence and reports, 1915-1922. Includes correspondence on Russo-Japanese war, 1920; track chart of HMS ANTRIM, 1915; letter to the Battle Cruise Force regarding their dispersal, 1919.

PKM/5/2

Correspondence between Pakenham and the Admiralty about perceived injustice of half pay, invitation to speak at Eton College, dated 1918-1919.

PKM/5/3

Letter from O. Lymington, United States navy, dated 15 Dec 1921, enclosing photostat of signatures of admirals, commodores and captains of the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland.

PKM/5/4

Photographs of visit of HMS RALEIGH to Washington, USA, 1922.

PKM/5/5

Letter from Walter H. Long, 9 Mar 1921.

PKM/5/6

Photocopy of letter from Robert M. Thompson, US Navy, 4 Feb 1922.

PKM/5/7

Letter from Lord Lee, First Lord of the Admiralty to Pakenham, concerning Pakenham's visit to North America, 1 May 1922.

PKM/5/8

Correspondence, blue prints and report concerning salvaging operations on the wreck of HMS RALEIGH, August 1922.

PKM/5/9

Letter and newspaper cuttings relating to Pakenham's visit to Cuba, as Commander in Chief, North America and West Indies Station,1922.

PKM/5/10

Letter and telegram: The letter is from Winston Churchill, requesting Pakenham's permission to publish some remarks Pakenham had made concerning Beatty. The telegram is Pakenham's reply, January 1923.

PKM/5/11

Correspondence from Beatty to Pakenham, initially concerning volunteers for a 'special volunteer force'. The post war letters concern victory celebrations and parades.

PKM/5/12

Letter to Pakenham (author uncertain), relating to the damage inflicted on various German battleships at Jutland, May 1933.

PKM/5/13

Small black and white photograph of HMS RALEIGH aground, 1921.

PKM/5/14

Letter concerning Washington Naval Treaty of 1921. Author and addresse are uncertain.

PKM/5/15

Letter to Pakenham from Lord Geddes, British Embassy, Washington, relating to the Washington Naval Treaty of 1921.

External Links

Catalogue record.