Archive of General Sir Archibald Hunter
GCB GCVO DSO TD LLD
at the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster.
Kitchener - Hunter Letters in the First World War
Letter to Hunter from Kitchener, dated
11 Aug 1914, from 2 Carlton Gardens, SW.
“My dear Hunter,
I hope soon to find you a post. I want men first so help by getting
Scotchmen to join they are rather slow coming. I want a Scotch Division.
Yours
K”
Accession Number: KO2686/115
Letter from Hunter to Kitchener
dated 13 Dec 1914 from Headquarters Training Centre, Aldershot with a
pencil reply on rear from Kitchener to Hunter, undated.
“Headquarters, Training Centre, Aldershot
13 Dec 1914
Secret
My dear Lord Kitchener
I and all under me here, are naturally thinking about the future, and
how we can best help to train the New Armies for War.
In this purpose, I have drawn up the enclosed proposal, but before
sending it to Secretary, War Office, I submit it to you for approval.
As regards composition of Staffs, I could offer you some suggestions, if
you wished.
There is one question I absolutely should like you to answer when you
can, and that is, in what command you intend to employ me.
Yours very sincerely,
Archibald Hunter”
On the rear of this letter, in pencil, is written:
“My dear Hunter
If all goes well I shall try and carry out your scheme of concentration
in fact I had already considered the matter. By February we shall know
how things are going to work out and before then I hope I shall be able
to answer you query.
Yours
KK”
Accession Number: KO2686/116
Letter to Hunter from Kitchener,
dated 1 Apr 1915
“Private
War Office
Whitehall, SW
1st April 1915
My dear Hunter
The question of how the New Armies will go out has been recently under
discussion. The idea of breaking them up with Brigades has been
abandoned but at least for the first New Army it has been better to send
them out by Divisions if they join the army in France.
There is no necessity to make this known at present but I let you know
at once. I am sure the troops you have trained so well will do you the
utmost credit and that you will remain at Aldershot as our principal
training centre where you have done such excellent service to the
country.
Yours very truly
Kitchener”
Accession Number: KO2686/117
Letter to Hunter from Kitchener,
dated only ‘8th’ probably 8 Feb 1915
“War Office
Whitehall, SW
8th
My dear Hunter
Apparently your divisions as well as the division of the 1st Army at
Shorncliffe cannot move as I wanted them to do on war conditions. They
would be very little use if an enemy invaded us I think we shall have to
make some change in the divisional Generals. Will you try them all by
practising the division at moving out for a day then two and then more.
Yours very truly
Kitchener”
Accession Number: KO2686/118
