Miscellany compiled by Lt Col Alfred Claude Bromhead

This material is held atSenate House Library Archives, University of London

Scope and Content

A varied collection of miscellany compiled by Bromhead, with items dating from 1557-1972. These include an Italian account of the funeral procession of Anne of Cleves in 1557. Alongside his diaries of his time in Russia, 1916-1917, and volumes of sketches are letters and newspaper cuttings, the subjects of which include the history of London, criminology and The Gentlemen's Magazine.

Administrative / Biographical History

Alfred Bromhead was born in Southsea on 25 July 1876. He joined the 4th Queen's Regiment in 1889 and retired as a Captain in 1907. He returned to the army in 1914, with the 24th London Regiment and The Queen's Regiment and was seconded to a special mission with the Russian Armies in 1916. He was in Russia from February 1916 to January 1917 and again from April to September 1917. His function in Russia was to show and distribute propaganda films to the Russian forces and this took him to Petrograd, Moscow and numerous frontline regions. After being made a Lieutenant Colonel in 1917, Bromhead commanded a British Special Mission to the Italian Armies between 1918 and 1919. He received a CBE in 1918.

Bromhead became the co-founder with M. Leon-Gaumont of the Gaumont Picture Company in 1898. He later became the first Chairman of the Gaumont British Picture Corporation and later Chairman of Provincial Cinematograph Theatre Ltd. He was made Honorary Adviser to the Film Division of the Ministry of Information between 1939 and 1945. Bromhead was also a director of the Anglo-Scottish Investment Trust Ltd.

During his adult life, Bromhead resided in Petersham, Surrey and Basingstoke, Hampshire. He died on 5 March 1963.

Access Information

Open for research. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Other Finding Aids

Partly listed. Copy available in metal binder 'Add.MSS 555-' in searchroom.

Archivist's Note

Date(s) of descriptions: 1999-08-09 Keith Austin, 2000-05-22 .

Conditions Governing Use

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests