Sub-series 2 - Robertson Letters

28 items

23 letters from Sir William Robertson (1860-1933) and 4 letters from his wife Mildred, daughter of Lieut Gen Charles T Palin of the Indian Army, to Peter Freyer, written at the end of World War I. Robertson was from the village of Welbourn, Lincolnshire. He rose through the ranks of the British army and went to India in 1888 with the 3rd Dragoon Guards. He had a distinguished career and by the autumn of 1915 had become Chief of the General Staff at the War Office. He was made a general in June 1916. However he did not get on well with Lloyd George, who became Prime Minister at the end of 1916. Their relationship reached crises point in early 1918 and Robertson left the War Office. In April 1919 he was made Commander in Chief of the British Army of Occupation on the Rhine and was created a Baronet in October 1919. He became a Field Marshall in March 1920 and retired from active employment in 1921. Most of these letters were written in 1919, from General Headquarters, British Army of Occupation on the Rhine, [Cologne, see P57/287], where the Robertsons appear to have been very happy. Mildred Robertson wrote on her arrival in July 1919, that their situation was 'very lovely and everything full of interest' [see P57/185]. In the letters Robertson describes his activities at his new posting in the aftermath of World War I, many of which were of a social nature. He gave dinners, entertaining 24 staff college pupils in September 1919 [see P57/171] and visited his foreign colleagues in Paris and other cities, such as Strasbourg and Mainz [see P57/168]. In June 1919 he wrote that 'the Paris crowd are all at loggerheads' [see P57/166] and in the following month describes the Victory march in Paris as a 'great display' [see P57/168]. He repeatedly asks Freyer to come and visit. In early August he was expecting visits from Winston [Churchill] and the Carnarvons [see P57/169] and Freyer also visited that month. Robertson wrote on 18 September 'it was a very great pleasure to have you here' [see P57/171]. In the same letter he first mentions the possibility of an Irish post [Commander of the Forces in Ireland?], 'Winston has written saying he is arranging a date in November for me to take over in Ireland. I suppose I'd better go. What do you say? (This is secret)'. But by mid-October he was writing 'The Irish job seems to be off. Reliable information is that L[loyd] G[eorge] refused to allow me to go' [see P57/172]. In the remaining letters he mentions the £10,000 he was awarded for his services during the War and that Lloyd George insisted it be given to trustees [see P57/173]. In November Robertson received a degree [Honorary LLD] from Cambridge university [see P57/175] and in the letters dated early 1920 he discusses what he will do when he returns to England. He and his wife were 'very sick' at leaving 'this place' [see P57/182]. It is evident from the letters that Robertson felt honoured by Freyer's friendship towards 'a rough diamond such as myself' [see P57/167]. He thanks Freyer for all his trouble on his behalf 'it is an enigma to me' [see P57/168]. The letters are full of thanks for hospitality given to the Robertsons by Freyer on visits to London. They also show that Robertson and Freyer shared an interest in game shooting and friendship with the Pirries. The first letter is from C C Linear of the War Office, [a member of Robertson's staff?], followed by the 23 letters from Sir William Robertson and the 4 letters from his wife.

P57/287, /289, /290 and /336

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27/06/2013
29/07/2025