Captain Guy Plantagenet Bigg-Wither R.N., an interesting archive relating to his Royal Navy career

Captain Bigg-Wither (father of Lt. Cdr (A.) R.L. Bigg-Wither – Lot … - with correspondence featured in that lot) was born in Red Hill, Surrey, in 1878.

A military timeline includes:
- Promotion to the rank of Lieutenant on 30^th June, 1900
- Promotion to the rank of Commander on 30^th June, 1912
- Navigating Officer of H.M.S. Benbow at the Battle of Jutland
- Promotion to the rank of Captain 31^st December, 1917
- Appointed command of light cruiser Dartmouth August, 1920
- Placed in charge of H.M.S. Caradoc August, 1921, remaining in command for around a year
- Retired 27^th September, 1922

An obituary clipping within this lot notes,
‘…Capt. Bigg-Wither was educated at Cheam School, Surrey, and entered H.M.S. Britannia in 1892. He served as midshipman on H.M.S. Howe and as a lieutenant navigating officer on H.M.S. Pylades, one of the Navy’s last sailing ships on the Australian station.
He served in various other ships until 1912, when he was promoted to Commander, being on the staff of the R.N. War College from 1912-1914 and on the Admiralty war staff at the outbreak of war.
Later in 1914 he was appointed squadron navigator to H.M.S. Benbow, flagship of the 4^th Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet, and for war staff duties to Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee. He took part in the Battle of Jutland and was mentioned in despatches. In 1916-17 he served in H.M.S. Hercules, flagship of Admiral Sturdee.
After being promoted captain, he was appointed to the Admiralty Naval staff where he later became director of the new training and staff programme.
His next appointment was as deputy director of the first R.N. Staff College at Greenwich, and afterwards commanded the cruisers Dartmouth and Caradoc…’

THE ARCHIVE INCLUDING,

Two fascinating handwritten logs complete with regular entries, hand drawn maps, hand drawn illustrations (ships and technical details)
‘Log of H.M.S. Howe from February 14^th 1894 to April 30^th 1896…’
‘Journal of H.M.S. Blenheim. Wanderer. And Resolution. From November 15^th 1896 to November 15^th 1897…’
these providing a quotidian insight of life onboard a R.N. vessel during the period,
many entries beginning with ‘Divisions. Prayers. …’ or detailing cleaning.

Nautical instruments,
comprising a single draw telescope by Ross of London for Gieves Ltd., no. 71674, and inscribed name ‘CAPTAIN G P BIGG-WITHER. R.N.’,
Two cased sliding rules, one by G. Lee & Son of Portsmouth, the other with interior handwritten label dated ’18.2.07.’
A marine sextant by J. Coombes, Optician & Admiralty. Agent., this inscribed ‘G.P. Bigg-Wither R.N.’ to arm, in fitted case with paper label ‘…5574 of 6 ½ inches radius by J. Coombes, Devonport divided on silver and reading 10” has been examined at the Kew Observatory/ The shades and mirrors are found good. The telescopes are also satisfactory and the powers are for the inverting 11 and 5 linear and the erect 3 linear. …July 1897…’, and a sliding rule by A.W. Faber D.R. Patent No. 206428 - in case with 'George Lee & Son, ...Contractors to the Admiralty' label

A photograph circa 1900 believed to depict Bigg-Wither in Lieutenant uniform, as well as a gold plated pendant inset cropped version of the same photograph and that of a young boy verso, and a silver Navy Lodge Masonic jewel assayed for 1919

A collection of letters to Bigg-Wither circa 1895-1919,
‘Danish Consulate,
Alexandria,
June 23^rd 1895
Dear Mr. Bigg-Wither,
As I saw in the paper that the fleet will go to Alexandria after Tripoli; I will address this letter there. …’ from an Emily H. Simms – many more from this lady, including,
‘Hotel…
Rome,
Thursday, March 11^th 1897
Dear Guy,
it is a long time since I received your last letter….’
Some wartime letters,
post-war letters – including one discussing the Battle of Jutland ‘….Your informant is evidently a very informed Naval Officer as he would not have these views about Jellicoe (that he should have been court martialled… for his tactics at Jutland)…’
One enclosed with estimation of range of enemy ships by eye – Konig Class – principal heights nearly same for all German Dreadnoughts,
‘Dear Biggwither,
I have made you out a special “edition de luxe” of the large estimating silhouette, which is enclosed herewith taken from the latest available silhouette of the “Konigs”…’

A R.N. Certificates book noting ship, rank and conduct of Bigg-Wither circa 1894 to 1921

Three further hand annotated volumes,
Including S.548 (Established December, 1903). Work Book for Navigating Officers of H.M. Ships – this with interior annotation

A series of his personal volumes including,
Watch, Station and Fire Bill for Her Majesty’s Training Brigs, pub H.M. Stationary Office, London 1892
Formulae of Navigational, Nautical Astronomy, & C. by Sir C.F.A. Shadwell, Admiral, pub. J.D. Potter, London 1878
Handbook for the Pilotage Course – this with Navigation School Portsmouth interior stamps

A large collection of typed lectures and reports relating to Captain Bigg-Wither’s time at the Royal Naval College, including
Combined Operations Dardanelles II Lecture by Lieut: Colonel W.W. Godfrey… delivered 3^rd October 1919
Spring Session. 1920. Scheme no. 3 – ‘…The scheme deals with the collection of the intelligence necessary for the production of plans for war. …’
Report of Conference… 14^th to 17^th January, 1919.
March 1920 – Scheme No. 36. Tactical Investigations
7^th January 1920, from Major General W.H. Anderson – Report on Combined Naval & Military Exercise, 1919
Naval Staff College, Scheme no. 11 – Goebben & Breslau Operations (i) – August 1914
Confidential - Copy of Memorandum from The Admiral Commanding, First Battle Squadron to The Rear Admiral and Officers Commanding H.M. Ships of the First Battle Squadron. 11^th June 1917
SECRET – Report of Work Done in Plans Division for Week Ending 19^th May, 1918
Letter - H.M.S. Collingwood, 4^th August 1917, ‘Sir, I beg respectfully to submit the attached remarks on “A LOW VISIBILITY CRUISING ORDER”.’
Typewritten ‘THE HIGHER ORGANISATION FOR WAR.”
Folders titled ‘Staff Training’ and ‘Staff Morale’
‘Reports, Office Memoranda, Etc., Showing Admiralty Organisation. Comparison between Admiralty * War Office Organisation. 11^th August- 14^th January, 1918. 1917. …’
‘CONFIDENTIAL ADMIRALTY INTERIM ORDERS (COMPLETE ISSUE.) – ADMIRALTY… 25^TH JUNE 1918’
Multiple further lectures and related documents of the period

A series of hand drawn charts, circa WWI,
one with red stamp ‘VICE ADMIRAL COMMANDING 29 DEC. 1916 FOURTH BATTLE SQUADRON’
printed – Commander Bigg-Withers torpedo tactical board
another pinned with HMS Benbow headed paper

Further highlights include,
‘AN ACCOUNT OF THE VISIT OF THE ALLIED NAVAL ARMISTICE COMMISSION TO GERMANY. December 3^rd – December 20^th, 1918.’
Copy of ‘MY WEEK WITH THE GRAND FLEET by K. Walter
A pencil written letter on Admiralty S.W. embossed paper – titled ‘The use of submarines in a Fleet Action’