HC Deb 22 April 1926 vol 194 cc1379-80
59. Captain CROOKSHANK

asked 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. McNEILL

With 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:

Military History:

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:

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.