Sir Wyndham Deedes Collection

Papers relating to Deedes’ service in Libya, Turkey, Palestine and Egypt including letters home during his service and reforms of the Ottoman Gendarmerie in Libya in 1910-1911, correspondence relating to his work as part of the Turkish Ministry of the Interior in Anatolia 1913-1914, papers relating to the Gallipoli and Palestine campaigns 1917-1919. Also includes correspondence while Director of Public Security in Egypt, during his tenure in Palestine, correspondence relating to his Zionist advocacy and contact with Zionist groups, and general correspondence relating to Deedes’ career.

Deedes, Sir Wyndham Henry (1883-1956) Knight, Brigadier-General

Born 10 Mar 1883, son of Colonel Herbert and Rose Deedes. Educated at Eton, joined Army after leaving school, first post in King’s Royal Rifle Corps, in South Africa. 1910-1911, reformed the gendarmerie of northern Libya. 1913, posted to Anatolia and seconded to the Turkish Interior Ministry by the Foreign Office. On outbreak of war, joined British War Office intelligence department, and was subsequently drafted as Staff Captain for Gallipoli campaign, then to Cairo, working with those planning the Arab Revolt, finally stationed as Administrator in Jerusalem, which acquainted him with Zionism, for which he became an advocate. Promoted from Captain to Major to brevet Lieutenant-Colonel to Brigadier-General, 1916-1918. Seconded to Foreign Office 1919 and then appointed Chief Secretary in Palestine under Herbert Samuel. Knighted 1921, resigned 1923 and returned to England, where he became heavily involved in social work and devout Anglicanism, while still travelling and promoting Zionism. Labour member on the London county council for Northeast Bethnal Green 1941-1946. Died 2 Sept 1956, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London.

• 1. Libya Correspondence, 1910
• 2. Libya Correspondence, 1911
• 3. Asia Minor Correspondence. Part 1: Libya and Turkey 1910-1911
• 4. Asia Minor Correspondence. Part 2: Turkey 1912
• 5. Turkey Correspondence, 1913-1914
• 6. Palestine Campaign, Nov 1917-Sept 1919
• 7. Palestine Correspondence, 1918-1923
• 8. Gallipoli Campaign, 1915-1917
• 9. Palestine Campaign, 1915-1919
• 10. Constantinople and Egypt Correspondence, 1918 – 1920
• 11. Deedes’ Career and Zionism, 1913-1927

Open

For further information on how to use the Middle East Centre Archive, please see our Archon entry at http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13531965

Borrowed from William Deedes MP (nephew) and photocopied, 1968.

Sir Wyndham Deedes Collection (pdf file)

Fonds, series, file and item level description created by Thomas Stanbury Jul 2011 and revised by Debbie Usher 23 Oct 2013. Biography based on pre-existing summary created 25 Aug 1998 and Deedes’ entry in the online Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, retrieved 16 Jun 2011.

No restrictions on copying or quotation other than statutory regulations and preservation concerns

In the possession of Sir Wyndham Deedes and William Deedes.

In Middle East Centre Archive

For other papers relating to the Gallipoli and Palestine Campaigns see:

• GB165-0005 Sir Edmund Allenby Collection
• GB165-0077 J.M. Dawkins Collection
• GB165-0183 Ivan Lloyd Phillips Collection
• GB165-0184 John de Vere Loder Collection
• GB165-0188 Sir Harry Luke Collection
• GB165-0213 Henry Myer Collection

With William Deedes, now Baron Deedes of Aldington.