§ Mr. M. Lindsayasked the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made, or are contemplated, for the official war histories 1939–46 for the three Services; and, in particular, who will be the historian in charge of each.
§ The Prime MinisterArrangements were made early in the war to prepare the material from which the Official Military Histories would in due course be written. Much of this material, which is largely in the form of detailed narratives of operations and campaigns, is now ready and the time has come when the actual writings of the histories can begin. A team of historians will be required for this work.
Great care has been taken in the selection of the chief military historian. It has been generally agreed by the Service authorities and by all others consulted that a man with first-class academic qualifications is required for this post. I am glad to announce that Mr. J. R. M. Butler, Fellow and Lecturer of Trinity College, Cambridge, has now accepted appointment.
In view of his other commitments Mr. Butler will not be able to give more than a part of his time to the work until October, 1947, but the arrangements for writing the military histories will, I hope, soon be decided upon in consultation with him. It is not at present possible to say what form they will take or what other historians will be appointed. The aim will be to provide a broad survey from an inter-Service point of view, rather than separate accounts of the parts played by each of the three Services.
The organisation for the writing of the military histories will be separate from 199W that for the writing of the civil histories. This is under the control of Professor W. K. Hancock, Chichele Professor of Economic History in the University of Oxford. Mr. Butler will, of course, work in close association with him.