The Rees Papers

Photocopies of autograph, typescript and printed papers, official papers, conference notes, instructions, letters, logs, reports, and situation reports, accumulated by Major-General Rees in August and September 1947, when commanding the Punjab Boundary Force.

Major-General Thomas Wynford Rees, CB, CIE, DSO, MC, DL (1898-1959) began his military career in the 1914-1918 War. He later served in Waziristan in 1920, 1922-24, and 1936-38. In 1926 and 1927 he was an instructor at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and in 1928 to 1930 Private Secretary to the Governor of Burma. He commanded the 3rd battalion of the 6th Rajputana Rifles in 1939, the 10th Indian Division in Iraq and North Africa in 1942, the Indian Division (the Dagger Division) in Burma between 1944 and 1945, and the 4th Indian Division between 1945 and 1947. He was commander of the Punjab Boundary Force between August and September 1947, during the brief spell in which it attempted to maintain peace in the Punjab immediately before and after the transfer of power to India and Pakistan. He was Head of Military Emergency Staff to the Emergency Committee of the Cabinet in Delhi between September and December 1947.

Rees retired in 1948, and served as Honorary President of the Boys Brigade (Wales) and Vice-President and Honorary County Commander of the Monmouthshire Boy Scouts. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Wales.

The collection is available to all researchers upon proof of identity and acceptance of the terms and conditions of use.

Major-General Rees s son, Peter Rees, allowed the University of Sussex to make photocopies in 1970.

Prepared by John Farrant, August 2002.

An online catalogue is available on The Keep's website.

COPIES FOR PRIVATE STUDY: Subject to copyright, conditions imposed by owners and protecting the documents, digital copies can be made.

This collection comprises photocopies of original documents which are in copyright. The Archive is able to supply copies of them, only with the written permission of the copyright owner or representative. Peter Rees has retained the copyright.

PUBLICATION: A reader wishing to publish material in the collection should contact the Head of Special Collections, in writing. The reader is responsible for obtaining permission to publish from the copyright owner.

In 1970, Peter Rees held the originals.