BUSH, Capt Eric Wheler (1899-1985)

Photographs relating to his naval career, 1912-1949, including photograph album containing photographs taken during his service on HMS BAC&E, 1914-1915, at Gallipoli, 1915, and in the North Sea, 1916-1918, Baltic Sea, 1918-1920, East Indies and East Africa, 1921-1924, China Station, 1932-1934, Mediterranean, 1941-1943; photographs of Allied landings at Sword Beach, Normandy, France, 1944. Two volumes of press cuttings relating to the publication of Bless our ship (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1958), 1958, The flowers of the sea (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1962), 1962 and 1971, and Salute the soldier, (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1966), 1966, and Gallipoli (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1975), 1975.

Born in 1899; educated at Stoke House, Stoke Poges, Royal Naval College, Osborne and Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; Midshipman, HMS BAC&E, 1914; present at Battle of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914; took part in defence of Suez Canal Jan-Mar 1915; served at Gallipoli, 1915; Midshipman, HMS REVENGE, 1916; served in North Sea, 1916-1918; present at Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916; Sub-Lt, 1917; Lt, 1920; served in East Indies and East Africa, 1921-1924; served on HMS THUNDERER and HMS EREBUS; served at China Station, 1926-1928; Lt Cdr, 1927; graduated from RN Staff College, Greenwich, 1931; Cdr, 1933; Capt, 1939; Chief of Staff and afterwards Capt, Auxiliary Patrol, Dover Command, 1939-1940; commanded HMS EURYALUS, Mediterranean, 1941-1943; took part in Malta Convoys, 1942, and Battle of Sirte, 1942; Senior Officer, Assault Group S3, Normandy, France, 1944; commanded HMS MALAYA; Chief of Staff, Naval Force 'W', South East Asia Command, 1945; commanded HMS GANGES, Boys' Training Establishment, Shotley, Suffolk, 1946-1948; retired list, 1948; died in 1985.

Publications: How to become a Naval Officer (Special Entry) (Gieves, London, 1935); Bless our ship (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1958); The flowers of the sea (editor) (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1962); How to become a Naval Officer (Cadet Entry) (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1963); Salute the soldier (editor) (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1966); Gallipoli (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1975),

3 vols, 1 file

Open, subject to signature of reader's undertaking form.

Placed in the Centre by the family in 1986.

Summary guide available on-line at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/top.htm, and in hard copy in the Centre's reading room.

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, attention of the Director of Archive Services.