Correspondence and papers of Rear-Admiral Robert Kirk Dickson (1898-1952) and of his younger brother, Midshipman Archibald Kirk Dickson (died 1916), with some papers of their father, William Kirk Dickson (1860-1949), first Librarian of the National Library of Scotland.
Scope and Contents
The collection, in which family correspondence predominates, reflects all aspects of the naval career of Robert Kirk Dickson. He took part in the Battles of the Falkland Islands, 1914, Gallipoli, 1915, and Jutland, 1916. In the Second World War he served as Duty Captain in the Admiralty War Room, 1939-1940, and commanded the fast minelayer, H.M.S. Manxman, 1940-1942, when he took part in a series of offensive minelaying operations in the Channel, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. He was Deputy Director of Plans, Naval Staff, 1943-1944, and Chief of Naval Information, 1944-1946. He served finally as Head of the British Naval Mission to Greece, 1949-1951, and retired in 1952. The correspondence and papers of Archibald Dickson largely concern his brief naval career before his death at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, when he was serving on board H.M.S. Queen Mary.
Dates
- Creation: 1st half of 20 century.
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
97 Volumes
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Arrangement
The papers are arranged as follows: MSS.13501-13588. Papers of Rear-Admiral Robert Kirk Dickson. MSS.13589-13594. Papers of Midshipman Archibald Kirk Dickson. MSS.13595-13597. Miscellaneous.
Custodial History
The papers are formed from three separate accessions: MSS.13501-13588, presented, 1956, by Mrs Robert Kirk Dickson; MSS.13589-13596, 13597, folios 1-103, 109-146, presented, 1956, by Mrs William Kirk Dickson; MS.13597, folios 104-108, bought, 1968, Documents and Autographs Ltd., London.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Various, 1956, 1968.
Genre / Form
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk