Memoirs of Sir Charles Dixon

• Reference:GB 254 MS 190
• Former Reference:GB 254 MS 15/137
• Dates of Creation:1969
• Name of Creator:
  Sir Charles William Dixon
• Physical Description:
  0.03 linear metres

• Scope and Content

  Memoirs of Sir Charles Dixon with a forward by Sir Harry Batterbee, 1969. Chapter One Introductory: A summary of biographical details. Chapter Two The Colonial Office, 1911-1914: colleagues, working life in the colonial office, stories, humorous verses composed by Reginald Stubbs, (First Class Clerk). Includes 'Annex': Draft Treasury reply in monosyllables to official letter from the War Office proposing to keep a War Reserve of Bank of England notes at Coaling Stations, etc.; by Sir R.E. Welby, c.1890-1895. Chapter Three The Colonial Office, 1914-1919: share of war work relating to control of imports and exports, shipping, trading with the enemy, etc. Some anecdotes connected with the war. Recollections of Armistice Day, 11 November 1918. Arrangements made in 1918 and 1919 for the representation of the Dominions at the Paris Peace Conference, and their separate membership of the League of Nations. Chapter Four The Colonial Office, 1920-1925. Sir Charles Dixon was appointed a Principal in the Dominions Department of the Colonial Office, 1922. References to Mr Winston Churchill, T.E. Lawrence and General Smuts. Chapter Five The Dominions Office, 1925-1947: the Imperial Conference of 1926 when the 'Balfour Declaration' was adopted. Imperial Conference of 1930. Comments about the effectiveness of the League of Nations. Debates on the Statute of Westminster, 1931, and comments on its principles. Debates leading up to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935. Contact with the Dominions during the Abdication Crisis, 1936. Personal recollections of the Coronation of 1937. Eire Constitution, 1937. Czechoslovak Crisis, 1938. Despatch of the 'War Telegram' to the Dominions on 3 September, 1939. Promoted to be Assistant Under-Secretary of State in August 1940. Deliberations on the law of nationality. British Nationality Act, 1948. Chapter Six The Commonwealth Relations Office, 1947-1948: change of name from 'Dominions Office' to 'Commonwealth Relations Office', July 1947. Chapter Seven The Commonwealth Relations Office, 1948-1966: formal retiral in May 1948, but part-time appointment as 'Adviser' until 1967 when he was asked to retire finally because of his age (79½ years). Examples of duties from 1948 onwards and anecdotes. Comments on the institution of the Diplomatic Service. Chapter Eight The Commonwealth Office, 1966-1967: obliged to retire in September, 1967. Tried to persuade the authorities to keep him on until the end of April 1968 when he would reach the age of 80, but did not succeed. Wished that he could live for another fifty years after his retirement to see how everything developed. Chapter Nine General Conclusion: comments on changes from the time before the war to 1967; important landmarks, especially the Statute of Westminster, 1931. Situation in Rhodesia in the 1960's. Comments and quotations with regard to the character of the Commonwealth. Chapter Ten Yorkshire & Clifton, 1888-1907: upbringing in Yorkshire. Time at Clifton School, 1902. Became Head of the School in 1906. Chapter Eleven Balliol, 1907-1911: years spent at Balliol College, Oxford. People whom he met there. Influence on his outlook. Entrance to the Civil Service. Anecdotes. Chapter Twelve Personal: details about his parents and invalid sister. Personal friend, W.D.L. Marshall. Trip (four months) to India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaya and Japan, 1956-1957. Trip (two months) to South Africa, 1958. Trip (five and a half weeks) to Kenya and Tanganyika, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, 1960-1961. Personal religious beliefs, political outlook, taste in music, art, literature, theatre, architecture. Final comments about his life.

• Administrative / Biographical History

  Sir Charles William Dixon was born in Yorkshire on 29 April 1888 where he lived until 1902 when he went to Clifton School, Bristol. He was Head of the School in 1906-1907. From 1907-1911 he was an Exhibitioner at Balliol College, Oxford and obtained First Classes in 'Mods' (Moderations) in 1909, and 'Greats' (Literae Humaniores) in 1911. After leaving university he gained third place in the Open Examination for the Civil Service and entered the Colonial Office. He rose to be Assistant Under-Secretary of State and was awarded MBE (Civil) in 1919 and OBE (Civil) in 1924; CMG in 1940; KCMG in 1945 and KCVO in 1961. He retired in 1967, and died on 12 September 1976.

• Arrangement

  Records are arranged chronologically within series.

• Access Information

  Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

• Acquisition Information

  This record was transferred from Dundee University Library in 1983.

• Note

  Sir Charles William Dixon was born in Yorkshire on 29 April 1888 where he lived until 1902 when he went to Clifton School, Bristol. He was Head of the School in 1906-1907. From 1907-1911 he was an Exhibitioner at Balliol College, Oxford and obtained First Classes in 'Mods' (Moderations) in 1909, and 'Greats' (Literae Humaniores) in 1911. After leaving university he gained third place in the Open Examination for the Civil Service and entered the Colonial Office. He rose to be Assistant Under-Secretary of State and was awarded MBE (Civil) in 1919 and OBE (Civil) in 1924; CMG in 1940; KCMG in 1945 and KCVO in 1961. He retired in 1967, and died on 12 September 1976.

• Other Finding Aids

  Descriptive list.

• Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

  The records are on paper.

• Archivist's Note

  Description compiled by Mareike Platt

• Conditions Governing Use

  Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

• Custodial History

  Unknown

• Accruals

  Not expected

• Additional Information

  Published

  Catalogued

  MS 190