The Papers of Jim Moulton

James Louis Moulton was born on 3 June 1906, the son of J. D. Moulton. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Barnet, and Sutton Valence School. He married Barbara Aline Coode in 1937, with whom he had one son and one daughter.

He joined the Royal Marines, 1924, and served on HMS Rodney, 1927-9, and HMS Revenge, 1929-30. He volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm and served in 460 and 462 Flights in the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious in the Mediterranean, 1931, and in 824 and 825 Squadrons in HMS Eagle on the China Station, 1933-5. He returned to general service and was sent to Alexandria, during the Abyssinian crisis, with a Royal Marine anti-aircraft battery, 1935.

He attended Staff College, Camberley, 1938. He was appointed GSO3 in the operations section of the British Expeditionary Force, 1939, and was involved in the evacuation at Dunkirk, 1940. He was appointed GSO1 of Force 121, 1942, and took part in Operation Ironclad, the assault on Diego Suarez and occupation of the island of Madagascar. He formed 48 Commando and commanded them during D-Day and the campaign in northern France and Belgium, 1944. He took command of 4 Commando in Germany, 1945, and was mentioned in despatches.

After the war, he directed the Small Arms School, Browndown, and the Commando School, Bickleigh, 1947-9, where he pioneered marine training in mountain and Arctic warfare. He served on the staff of the Commandant General, Royal Marines, 1949-52. He commanded 3 Commando based in Malta, 1952-4. He was promoted Major-General and took charge of Portsmouth Group Royal Marines, 1954-7, initiating the use of helicopters for troop landings. He was Chief of Amphibious Warfare, 1957-61.

He retired from the Army in 1961. He wrote a number of books and was naval editor, 1964-9, and editor, 1969-73, of "Brassey's Annual". He was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Marines, 1969-72.

He was awarded the DSO, 1944, the OBE, 1950, and the CB, 1956.

He died on 22 November 1993.

His publications include: "Haste to the Battle" (1963); "Defence in a Changing World" (1964); "The Norwegian Campaign of 1940" (1966); "British Maritime Strategy in the 1970s" (1969); "The Royal Marines" (1972); and "The Battle for Antwerp" (1978).

Papers comprising correspondence, notes and press cuttings relating to military history

The papers were given to Churchill Archives Centre by Robert Moulton, 1996 and 1997.

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. Churchill Archives Centre is open from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. A prior appointment and two forms of identification are required.

Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holders and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Please cite as Churchill Archives Centre, The Papers of Jim Moulton, MLTN

Copies of the collection level description and catalogue are available at Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, the National Register of Archives, London, and on the Janus website http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk.

This collection level description was prepared by Sophie Bridges, August 2004. The collection was catalogued by Louise King, 2001. Biographical information was obtained from "Who's Who 1897-1996" (A and C Black) and Jim Moulton's obituary in "The Daily Telegraph", 24 November 1993.