Correspondence File

Scope and Content

Correspondence and papers relating to Dunlop's assistance to the Cabinet War Historical section in writing the official history of the Burma campaigns. There are several letters from Lt.Col. J E B Barton of the Section [Barton compiled narratives of events which were then used in S. Woodburn Kirby The War against Japan (esp. volumes 2 and 3)]. In a letter of 8 June 1951, Barton stresses the importance of Dunlop's reminiscences of No.1 Column as they lack information about it. In an undated copy letter of May 1951, Dunlop explains that he wrote a report about Operation Longcloth for General [Geoffry] Scoones in 1943 (CAB 106/204) [Scoones commanded 4th Corps in 1943/4] and that Wingate had also written a report in 1943 but he does not know if it survives. In a letter of 20 June 1951, Barton mentions he has been having in getting information from Michael Calvert [Chindit column, later brigade, commander], [H J] Lord [staff officer, Chindit HQ], and Bernard Fergusson [Chindit column, later brigade, commander]. There are also two copy letters of comments by Dunlop of Barton's accounts. a detailed typescript account by Dunlop of Column 1 during Operation Longcloth and which was supplied to the Historical Section is also present.