Correspondence regarding Fougasses
Reference code
RUR/05/11
Title
Correspondence regarding Fougasses
Date
1961-1962
Level of description
File
Extent and format
1 folder
Scope and content
Correspondence relating to RR's wish to test fire a fougasse on Malta:
- Letter from Major General AJC Block to RR. (1p). 14th April 1961. Arranging to visit a fougasse with RR.
- Letter from Major General AJC Block to RR. (1p). 30 May 1961. Thanking RR for letter and enclosed photographs of fougasses.
- Letter from Major General AJC Block to RR. (1p). 22 Aug 1961. Agreeing to arrange a firing party.
- Letter from Brigadier JC Murphy to RR. (1p). 16 October 1961. Asking for more detail on the fougasse before advising on the possibility of firing one.
- Letter from Brigadier JC Murphy to RR. (1p). 19 Oct 1961. Confirming arrangements for lunch as agreed on a phone call.
- Letter from Major General Charles Dalton to RR. (1p). 13 Oct 1961. Stating he doesn't know any experts in gunpowder, ancient or modern, but his brother might be able to help.
- Notes from a phone conversation with Guy Russell. He was Lord Gort's Chief of Staff in Malta. He doesn't know anything about any firing of fougasses. (1p). Oct 1961.
- Letter from Major General John Dalton to RR. (2 pp). 16 Oct 1961. Introducing RR to Brigadier Charles Murphy who may be able to help re explosives.
- Letter from Major General John Dalton to RR. (1p). 14 Nov 1961. Enclosing letter from Col Eastman. Letter enclosed. (1p). 3 November 1961. Confirming no knowledge of fougasses being fired experimentally during the war.
- Letter from Lieutenant General Sir William Dobbie to RR. (1p). 9 Nov 1961. Cannot provide any information. Has passed request to his daughter.
- Letter from Sybil Johnston (daughter of William Dobbie) to RR. (1p). 12 Nov1961. Apologising that she has no memory of the fougasses being fired.
- Letter from Brigadier J C Murphy to RR. (1p). 17 November 1961. Putting RR in contact with Colonel Bennett in Malta to advise on safety and reminding RR to be very careful with gunpowder.
- Letter from Major General A J C Block to RR. (1p). 12 Dec 1961. Replying to RR and saying he will have the matter of the 4 fougasses looked into.
- Letter from H Borg Cordona, Secretary Treasurer of the Gozo Civic Council. (1p). 22Jan 1962. Regarding clearing of fougasses in Gozo so that RR can photograph.
- Letter from H Borg Cordona, Secretary Treasurer Gozo Civic Council. (1p). 2 Feb 1962. Asking RR to give him dates so he can arrange the clearing.
- Letter from Bill (surname illegible) from AWO Office to RR. (1p). 4 July 1962. Confirming CRE prohibited any firing of fougasses. Attached to the letter appears to be 1 page of notes from RR.
- Letter from Major General A J C Block to RR. (1p). 19 July 1962. Confirming that he cannot term the firing a 'training exercise' so can't provide transport or labour. Advises that the fougasse on Gozo is the only one safe enough to fire. Advises on what gunpowder to use and where to get it - Cooppal expolsives. Attached to the letter are handwritten notes by RR
- Copy of letter from RR to the Chairman of the Antiquities Committee. (1p). 25 August 1962. Explaining his wish to test fire the Fougasse on Gozo and asking the Committee to consider his application.
- Letter from C G Zammit, Director of The Museum. (1p). 19 Sept 1962. Committee has no objection to the firing.
- Letter from PB Featherstone to Professor. (1p). 30 Aug 1962. Confirming arrangement to fire at 3pm following day.
- Letter from A J C Block to RR. (1p). 4 Sept 1962. Sorry to hear of frustrations and delays about the gunpowder.
- Notes August 7 1962. (1p). Suggestions from Mr Vivian de Gray on gunpowder to use.
- Notes Friday 21 Sept 1962. (2pp). Notes from a meeting with Mr de Gray with suggestions on next steps for firing the Fougasse.
- 2 pages of notes in French
- Letter from Major General AJC Block to RR. (1p). 14th April 1961. Arranging to visit a fougasse with RR.
- Letter from Major General AJC Block to RR. (1p). 30 May 1961. Thanking RR for letter and enclosed photographs of fougasses.
- Letter from Major General AJC Block to RR. (1p). 22 Aug 1961. Agreeing to arrange a firing party.
- Letter from Brigadier JC Murphy to RR. (1p). 16 October 1961. Asking for more detail on the fougasse before advising on the possibility of firing one.
- Letter from Brigadier JC Murphy to RR. (1p). 19 Oct 1961. Confirming arrangements for lunch as agreed on a phone call.
- Letter from Major General Charles Dalton to RR. (1p). 13 Oct 1961. Stating he doesn't know any experts in gunpowder, ancient or modern, but his brother might be able to help.
- Notes from a phone conversation with Guy Russell. He was Lord Gort's Chief of Staff in Malta. He doesn't know anything about any firing of fougasses. (1p). Oct 1961.
- Letter from Major General John Dalton to RR. (2 pp). 16 Oct 1961. Introducing RR to Brigadier Charles Murphy who may be able to help re explosives.
- Letter from Major General John Dalton to RR. (1p). 14 Nov 1961. Enclosing letter from Col Eastman. Letter enclosed. (1p). 3 November 1961. Confirming no knowledge of fougasses being fired experimentally during the war.
- Letter from Lieutenant General Sir William Dobbie to RR. (1p). 9 Nov 1961. Cannot provide any information. Has passed request to his daughter.
- Letter from Sybil Johnston (daughter of William Dobbie) to RR. (1p). 12 Nov1961. Apologising that she has no memory of the fougasses being fired.
- Letter from Brigadier J C Murphy to RR. (1p). 17 November 1961. Putting RR in contact with Colonel Bennett in Malta to advise on safety and reminding RR to be very careful with gunpowder.
- Letter from Major General A J C Block to RR. (1p). 12 Dec 1961. Replying to RR and saying he will have the matter of the 4 fougasses looked into.
- Letter from H Borg Cordona, Secretary Treasurer of the Gozo Civic Council. (1p). 22Jan 1962. Regarding clearing of fougasses in Gozo so that RR can photograph.
- Letter from H Borg Cordona, Secretary Treasurer Gozo Civic Council. (1p). 2 Feb 1962. Asking RR to give him dates so he can arrange the clearing.
- Letter from Bill (surname illegible) from AWO Office to RR. (1p). 4 July 1962. Confirming CRE prohibited any firing of fougasses. Attached to the letter appears to be 1 page of notes from RR.
- Letter from Major General A J C Block to RR. (1p). 19 July 1962. Confirming that he cannot term the firing a 'training exercise' so can't provide transport or labour. Advises that the fougasse on Gozo is the only one safe enough to fire. Advises on what gunpowder to use and where to get it - Cooppal expolsives. Attached to the letter are handwritten notes by RR
- Copy of letter from RR to the Chairman of the Antiquities Committee. (1p). 25 August 1962. Explaining his wish to test fire the Fougasse on Gozo and asking the Committee to consider his application.
- Letter from C G Zammit, Director of The Museum. (1p). 19 Sept 1962. Committee has no objection to the firing.
- Letter from PB Featherstone to Professor. (1p). 30 Aug 1962. Confirming arrangement to fire at 3pm following day.
- Letter from A J C Block to RR. (1p). 4 Sept 1962. Sorry to hear of frustrations and delays about the gunpowder.
- Notes August 7 1962. (1p). Suggestions from Mr Vivian de Gray on gunpowder to use.
- Notes Friday 21 Sept 1962. (2pp). Notes from a meeting with Mr de Gray with suggestions on next steps for firing the Fougasse.
- 2 pages of notes in French
Creator
Russell, Raymond Anthony (1922-1964), antiquary and organologist
Block, Adam Johnstone Cheyne (1908-1994), Major General
Murphy, J C (fl. 1950s), Army officer
Dalton, Charles James George (1902-1989), Army officer
Russell, Guy Herbrand Edward (1898-1977), Knight, Royal Navy officer
Dalton, John Cecil D'Arcy (1907-1981), army officer
Dobbie, William George Shedden (1879-1964), Knight, Army officer
Johnston, Sybil (fl. 1950s)
Borg Cordona, H (fl. 1950s)
Zammit, Charles George (1911-2006), archaeologist
Featherstone, P B (fl. 1950s)
Block, Adam Johnstone Cheyne (1908-1994), Major General
Murphy, J C (fl. 1950s), Army officer
Dalton, Charles James George (1902-1989), Army officer
Russell, Guy Herbrand Edward (1898-1977), Knight, Royal Navy officer
Dalton, John Cecil D'Arcy (1907-1981), army officer
Dobbie, William George Shedden (1879-1964), Knight, Army officer
Johnston, Sybil (fl. 1950s)
Borg Cordona, H (fl. 1950s)
Zammit, Charles George (1911-2006), archaeologist
Featherstone, P B (fl. 1950s)
Language
French