59. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what progress is being made with the War histories; and how soon it is anticipated that no further expenditure will be required on the Estimates for this purpose?
§ Mr. McNEILLWith my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, I will circulate the answer, which is a long one, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The following 14 volumes of the Official War Histories have already been published:
§ Naval History:
- Naval Operations: Three volumes.
- Seaborne Trade: Three volumes (completed).
- Merchant Navy: Two volumes.
§ Military History:
- Military Operations, Western Front, 1914–15: Two volumes (first volume now in second edition).
- Mesopotamia Campaign: Three volumes.
§ Air History:
§ War in the Air One volume.
§ The following volumes will, it is hoped, be published in the course of the next 12 months:
- Naval Operations: One volume.
- Merchant Navy: One volume (to complete).
- Military Operations, Western Front: One volume (possibly two).
- Mesopotamia Campaign: One volume (to complete).
- Campaign in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria: One volume.
- War in the Air: One volume.
§ A history of the Gallipoli Campaign, to be complete in one volume, is also being prepared, and will probably be ready for publication at the end of 1927. The second and final volume of the Campaign in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria is well advanced.
§ One more volume of Naval Operations, and probably two more of the War in the Air, will be required to complete these histories. It is estimated that five more volumes will be necessary for the Military Operations, Western Front, up to the end of 1917; while for the operations on this front for 1918, the compilation of which is already in hand, four volumes will probably be required.
§ A history, in one or two volumes, of the Operations South Persia, the Persian Gulf, East Persia, Trans-Caspia, and North-West Persia (1915–1919) is shortly to be commenced at the request of the Government of India, by whom the cost will be borne. It is not anticipated that additional histories will be necessary, but, pending further progress with those already in hand, it is not possible to indicate when expenditure under this head will cease.