Scope and Content:
Papers of the late Councillor David Cotgrove relating to wreck of Richard Montgomery (notes, correspondence, photographs, slides, newscuttings, navigational charts, surveys of wreck, copies of reports and published material) 1915 - 1994, and to Dr. Murie and the Thames fishing industry (notes, edited versions of Murie's text, copies of published material) 1980 - 1990s

Box 1
Plan of cargo of Richard Montgomery [1944]
Memos issued by NCS Thames re enemy attacks, aircraft approach, use of defensive armaments in Port of London, vessels awaiting orders at Southend and Southend anchorage instructions, 1944
Copies of publications

Box 2
Report by Marine General Division of Department of Transport, 1992
Research files including notes re 1917 explosion in Halifax, Nova Scotia; correspondence

Box 3
Newscuttings, 1952-1980
Port of London Authority ‘Bye-laws and Rules relating to Explosives,’ 1935
Notes of meeting between Navy Department and local authorities, 1968
Report by Marine General Division of Department of Transport, 1992


Box 4
Newscuttings, 1952-1980
D. A. Atkinson, R. A. Baker, D. Cotgrove ‘The Explosive Cargo of USS Richard Montgomery’, c. 1966 (4 copies)
Plans of sections for Emergency Ship Construction Division of US Maritime Commission, 1941-1942
Diagrams of bombs
Papers re bombs fired in 1940s at P and E.E. Shoeburyness, 1992-1994

Box 5
Miscellaneous publications re explosives
D. A. Atkinson, R. A. Baker, D. Cotgrove ‘The Explosive Cargo of USS Richard Montgomery’, c. 1966 (4 copies)

Box 6
Publications re explosives
Papers re Kielce explosion, 1967
Photocopies of documents in US National Archives, 1994

Box 7
Drafts of final text of The Explosive Cargo of USS Richard Montgomery’
File of East Suffolk County Council correspondence re Raydon RAF station, 1941-1946; photos and map, 1974
Newspapers, 1972-1973

Box 8
Plan of Shell Haven Refinery, showing layout of firemains, 1962
Admiralty chart of Dover Strait, 1965
Chart of Thames Estuary and approaches to River Medway, 1968
Chart of Dover Strait from North Foreland to Beachy Head and Boulogne, 1990
Correspondence 1990s; copy of Southend Echo, 1994

Box 9
Files of notes, press notices, correspondence etc, compiled by David Cotgrove, 1970s-1990s, marked A-D, G-H.
A: Political and ministerial: principal correspondence, inc. DTI Office Minute 606
B: ‘Official material re Richard Montgomery’
C: MPs letters re Richard Montgomery
D: Correspondence with US maritime administration
G: Witnesses information re stranding
H: Salvage to Ipswich: Details of salvaged bombs and transport to US establishments

Box 10
Files of notes, correspondence etc, compiled by David Cotgrove, 1970s-1990s, marked I-L, N, P, R
I: Publication of study report
J: Sundry letters and enquiries
K: Wreck data
L: Documents and data re explosive cargo. Cargo manifest, salvage documents, assessment of cluster fragmentation bombs
N: Naval Control Service Thames
P: copies of publications, 1960s-1970s
R: Letters re reports, 1972-1977
Additional miscellaneous correspondence

Box 11
Photographs inc.
Photograph of Richard Montgomery at sea, 10 August 1943
File of mounted photographs of Richard Montgomery, 1943-c. 1971
Photographs of wreck of Richard Montgomery, 1949-1990s, inc. aerial photographs
Aerial photographs of Thames estuary, showing Essex and Kent coasts, 1966
Slides of wreck of Richard Montgomery, etc. 1972-1991

Box 12
Admiralty notices, 1942-1944
Transcript of interview with Tom Adams, 1973
Papers re Arthur Smith who worked at Ipswich Docks during Second World War, 1985-1986; transcript of interview, 1993
Journal of Southend-on-Sea and District chamber of Trade and Industry, 1972
Medport News (journals), 1974-1975
Study on Richard Montgomery, complied by Alisdair Daw for ‘A’ level project, 1993
David Lampe: ‘The Thames Bombs’, n.d; ‘The Domesdays Ship’ 1964
The American Connection 1942-1992 (Essex County Council Education resources pack)

Box 13
Maps and plans: inc. layout of cargo of Richard Montgomery, 1944; plans, sections and elevations of liberty ship; aerial photographs of Thames Estuary, c. 1975; navigational charts of entrance to Thames, approaches to River Medway, Sheerness, plans of Raydon Airfield



Extent:
10 boxes
Catalogue Reference:
D/DS 548
Dates of Description:
1915-1994

Accession Boxes for S2695

S2695 Box 1 Order 
S2695 Box 2 Order 
S2695 Box 3 Order 
S2695 Box 4 Order 
S2695 Box 5 Order 
S2695 Box 6 Order 
S2695 Box 7 Order 
S2695 Box 8 Order 
S2695 Box 9 Order 
S2695 Box 10 Order 
S2695 Box 11 Order 
S2695 Box 12 Order 
S2695 Box 13Maps, plans, navigational charts Order 
S2695 Box 14Dr. Murie's papers re the Thames fishing industry Order 
S2695 Box 15David Cotgrove's notes and versions of Dr Murie's text Order 
S2695 Box 16Photocopies of books on fishing industry; colour photographs of plaque marking western boundary of oyster ground called Great Thorpe Shore, painting of fishing boats; slides of illustrations Order