Royal Navy

Military

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is therefore known as the Senior Service. From the 17th century until well into the 20th century it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British ...

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Documents about Royal Navy

Wednesday 24th January 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Confidential Annexe: Intelligence reports of new German heavy bombers. Chamberlain suggests naval attack on Petsamo
person Neville Chamberlain
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Turin
organisation Royal Navy
 

Thursday 22nd February 1940

Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Translation of a memorandum from the French Ambassador advocating the immediate occupation of the principal Norwegian ports.

extract French urge British Navy to immediately occupy Norwegian ports in order to protect Allied shipping. Cabinet to consider
place Finland
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Navy
 

Tuesday 12th March 1940

Comparison of British and Japanese Fleets.

extract Churchill circulates comparison of Royal Navy and Japanese fleet. UK superiority extremely narrow
person Winston Churchill
organisation Royal Navy
 

Naval Prize Money and Prize Bounty.

extract Churchill urges paying naval prize money for captured ships. Navy carrying “main burden” of fighting in this phase of war
person Winston Churchill
organisation Royal Navy
 

Wednesday 3rd April 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain: “Matters have now gone too far for us not to take action.” Date of April 8th set for operation
extract Halifax urges delay of minelaying to inform governments. War Secretary warns this would cause fall of French government
extract War Secretary: “Garbled report” of German force collecting at Rostock for action in Scandinavia. Swedish sources confirm
person Neville Chamberlain
place Ankara
place Halifax Peninsula
place Paris
place Oslo
place Istanbul
place Stockholm
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Royal Marines
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

The Royal Message of Condolence, Memorial Scrolls and Plaques, the King's Certificate and Badge on Discharge.

extract PM presents agreed text from King George for message of condolence to relatives when family members are killed in service
person Neville Chamberlain
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
 

Monday 27th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM argues Air Ministry exaggerating extent of German air superiority. Praises Hurricane as “fine fighting machine”
extract Naval vessels standing by for re-embarkation in Dunkirk area. “Awaiting information" on points selected for operation.”
extract Belgian line near Comines Canal in “grave danger of collapse”. British 5th and 48th divisions sent to reinforce
extract Troops in Calais “still holding out with great gallantry”. Evacuated troops replaced by “other men of the same unit”
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
place South Africa
place Dunkirk
place Narvik
place Paris
place South America
place West Germany
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: A day gained may mean another 40,000 men saved. BEF must not be offered choice "between resistance and capitulation”
extract Lord Halifax: Not dishonourable to relinquish the struggle in order to save a handful of men from massacre
extract Cabinet discuss how long BEF should continue fighting rearguard action to gain time for evacuation
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
organisation Royal Navy
 

Wednesday 5th June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Navy Chief: “Still a number of small craft in the Channel.” Air reconnaissance carried out, some small vessels brought in
extract French request further air help, anti tank weapons. PM to examine with Chiefs of Staff
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
place Halifax Peninsula
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract US Embassy in Germany informs government that UK's ambassador to Belgium Sir Laurence Oliphant is a prisoner in Berlin
extract Rumour received from Barcelona of German “secret weapon”: aircraft painted in British colours to attack Royal Navy
extract UK 51st Division “very hard pressed”, situation “cause for considerable anxiety”. No reinforcements for 2-3 days
extract PM: French seem to be resisting German attack “fairly well” in spite of the weight of the assault
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Clive Anderson
place Greece
place Brussels
place Berlin, New York
organisation Royal Navy
 

Plans to meet a certain eventuality.

extract Chiefs of Staff circulate strategy for obtaining more cooperation from US and how UK might respond to an occupied France
place Paris
place Washington
place West Germany
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Must avoid "putting undue pressure" on loyal province of Ulster. In favour of allowing Germany first move in Eire
extract Chamberlain urges offering Eire government declaration favouring a United Ireland in exchange for ports, hosting UK force
extract Halifax: Japan threat yesterday "should not be taken too seriously". Japan may be trouble "later on but not immediately"
extract Withdrawal of French government "complicated" by refusal of President Lebrun to leave. German forces rapidly approaching
extract M. Petain: Unlikely France will agree to give Destroyers to UK. But will "never allow them to fall into German hands"
extract Air Chief: UK bomb raids "hitting Germany considerably harder" than their raids hitting us. Good night for Bomber Command
extract Air Chief reports raids on industrial targets across UK overnight including ammunition stores. Casualties "very slight"
extract General Dill: Germans continuing to advance towards Lyons and western French ports. 111,478 troops so far evacuated to UK
person Walter Hines Page
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Great Britain
place Egypt
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Africa
place Dublin
place Northern Ireland
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation British Army
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Cannot run “mortal risk” of allowing ships to fall into enemy hands. Rather "we should have to fight and sink them"
extract Cabinet to send appeals directly to French naval officers to secure fleet in spite of French government opposition
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
person Jean Bart
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Alexandria
place Syria
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract French formally complain about de Gaulle broadcasts, recent statements by PM. Demand recall of UK consuls in N.Africa
extract War Cabinet informed that a Franco-Italian Armistice has been signed. No news is available as to its provisions
extract Halifax argues for return of destroyers to Sweden in exchange for their cancelling US aircraft contracts. Cabinet assents
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stephen King
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Clive Anderson
place South Africa
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place North America
organisation Home Office
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves evacuation of women and children from Hong Kong. War Secretary to look at UK recruitment in Far East
extract General Dill: Military operations in the Middle East confirm "reluctance of the Italians to fight"
person Walter Hines Page
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Francisco Franco
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Russian Empire
place Hong Kong
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Navy
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Royal Navy to transport an estimated 20,000 men back to France from tonight
extract PM: Desirable to remove from UK as soon as possible all French troops not volunteering "to remain and carry on the fight"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Walter Hines Page
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place South Africa
place New York, Lincolnshire
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Iceland
place Malta
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Africa
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Royal Marines
 

Economic Help from the Americas. Text of a Telegram despatched to H.M. Ambassador, Washington.

extract Washington embassy instructed to approach US government for more economic support and to deny resources to Germany, Italy
person Arthur Greenwood
place Europe
place Washington
place West Germany
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Government of Canada
organisation United States Congress
 

Thursday 4th July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax informs Cabinet President Roosevelt has agreed to joint Anglo-American "technical naval discussions" in London
extract Minister of Labour admits that over 75,000 women registered for war work in London alone have no jobs available for them
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Samuel Hoare
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Portugal
place Halifax Peninsula
place North America
place Tokyo
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM meets junior Ministers over home defence concerns: "Terrible events" part of invasion but enemy will be "thrown back"
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Dunkirk
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Royal Navy
 

Draft of Proposed Agreement with General de Gaulle.

extract Cabinet Secretary circulates proposal from General de Gaulle for UK to recognise and support his new French force
person Charles de Gaulle
person Winston Churchill
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Organisation of Allied Naval, Army and Air contingents.

extract Chiefs of Staff circulate force sizes of Allied French, Poles, Dutch, Czechs, Norwegians, Belgians and anti-Nazi Germans
person Charles de Gaulle
place Portsmouth
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation British Army
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet waters down proposed naval blockade. PM has "grave doubts", Attorney-General says plan breaches international law
extract Dominions governments to be told their requirements for aircraft cannot be met due to "peril of invasion" facing Britain
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Clement Attlee
place South Africa
place North America
place Europe
place Kenya
place Africa
organisation United States Department of State
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Government of Canada
 

Army Expansion - Use of Public Schools and Universities.

extract Eden and Chamberlain agree that schools will not be used for army training but university campuses will be made available
person Neville Chamberlain
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Royal Navy
 

Friday 25th October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract President Roosevelt has issued protest "in strongest terms" against France permitting Germany to use its Fleet against UK
extract King George telegrams Petain over French fleet: "Confident you will reject proposal that would bring dishonour to France"
extract General Dill: "No confirmation" received of the rumours of an impending Italian attack on Greece
extract Home Secretary: "Considerable damage" to Birmingham. Both railway stations, Town Hall hit. Damage in London negligible
extract PM welcomes Air Marshall Portal as new Chief of the Air Staff. Birmingham "heavily attacked" overnight
extract Halifax: French considering handover of fleet and bases to Germany. King George to issue urgent appeal to Marshall Petain
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Maxime Weygand
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place Sudan
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Royal Navy
 

Extension of Dangerous Areas in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

extract Admiralty proposes widening UK's "sink on sight" zone to provide Royal Navy submarines more targets off French coast
organisation Royal Navy
 

Tuesday 3rd December 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty brief junior Ministers on recent success against Italy with "very limited" forces. 27 Italian subs sunk so far
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Albania
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Navy
 

Relations with Eire.

extract Minister for Food: Effect in 3 months "so profound" as to render negotiations possible "on our terms"
extract PM Churchill asks Minister for Food for effect of "cutting off of Irish supplies of food for say six months"
extract Cabinet Secretary circulates recent Eire memos. PM De Valera "calculating and egotistical. His first interest is himself"
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
place Cranborne
place South Wales
place Liverpool
place Europe
place East Anglia
place Northern Ireland
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
 

Draft letter from Prime Minister to President Roosevelt.

extract PM to cable Roosevelt on year ahead: "Unless we can establish our ability to feed this Island...we may fall by the way"
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Singapore
place Turkey
place North America
place Europe
place Africa
place Northern Ireland
place West Germany
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
organisation French Navy
 

Reports for the Month of November 1940 for the Dominions, India, Burma and the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories.

extract India Secretary: Civil disobedience continuing and spreading. Mr. Gandhi has extended considerably his anti-war campaign
person Charles de Gaulle
place South Africa
place Greece
place Egypt
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Jamaica
place Kenya
place Burma
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Government of Canada
 

Contacts with the Vichy Government.

extract Halifax: To go beyond this may be difficult for Vichy. They must be careful "to avoid rousing German suspicions"
extract Halifax: We have received written assurances from Vichy that France will retain her fleet and Empire and not attack UK
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Maxime Weygand
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Greece
place Egypt
place Tangier
place Libreville
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Morocco
place Africa
place Madrid, New York
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Royal Navy
 

Monday 27th January 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees "some easement" of ban on Press and broadcast publicity of anti-gas measures
extract PM: President hopes "Lease-Lend" Bill will be passed into law "towards the end of February"
extract PM Churchill: President Roosevelt has requested a cable of "a list of our most immediate demands" for the next few months
extract Eden: Warning Belgian King "might make a deal" with Germany. Private messages should be sent "to stiffen his attitude"
extract PM: "White population in Abyssinia" might be "in great danger" if anti-Italian revolt spreads. Eden to watch situation
extract General Dill: In Eritrea our forces are closing in on positions round Agordat and Barentu. Over 1,100 prisoners captured
extract General Dill: In Libya, the enemy force at Mechili "stronger than anticipated" but plans are in hand for dealing with it
extract Air Chief: Evidence 20% of German air strength moved from aerodromes facing UK to other theatres or to German interior
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person John Dill
person Andrew Duncan
place Cranborne
place Eyre Peninsula
place Eritrea
place Africa
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
 

Saturday 8th February 1941

The "Asaka Maru".

extract Eden: But "strongest possible reaction" if vessel intercepted. It will resist - "first-class incident may be anticipated"
extract Eden: Japan seeking protection for Asaka Maru bound for Berlin. "Impertinent" and to "organise a joint front against us"
person Anthony Eden
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Europe
place South America
place Berlin
place Tokyo
organisation Royal Navy
 

Wednesday 19th March 1941

Necessity for base facilities in Eire.

extract Dominions Secretary reports effects of UK economic action against Eire. "To-day Southern Ireland is very uncomfortable"
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
place Great Britain
place Cranborne
place Dublin
place Northern Ireland
organisation British Army
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Menzies to try and arrange meeting with Mr De Valera in Ireland
extract Report received from Belgrade that Yugoslav PM and Foreign Minister leaving tonight for Vienna to sign pact with Germany
extract PM: Royal Navy "stretched to their fullest extent", Home Fleet dispersed. "Undoubtedly serious" but "no cause for alarm"
extract General Haining: Our forces have captured Jarabub in eastern Libya. 800 prisoners taken
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
person Richard Kiel
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Belgrade
place Malta
place Eritrea
place Vienna
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Madrid, New York
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Navy
 

Thursday 24th April 1941

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet approves publication of "Beating the Invader" leaflet to all householders
extract Morrison: Plymouth main target for the last 3 nights. Overnight 4 oil tanks set alight. Fires not yet under control
extract Air Chief: Bombardment of Tripoli harbour "far more satisfactory" than first appeared. Several ships sunk, others damaged
extract Air Chief: Aircraft losses in last 72 hours in home and overseas theatres; Enemy 31 (+15 probable), Our Own 14
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
place Plymouth
place Fiji
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Ethiopia
place Eritrea
place Kenya
place Tripoli, Greece
place Africa
place Addis Ababa
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Navy
 

Sunday 18th May 1941

Minesweeping and Mine Disposal by Naval Personnel.

extract Admiralty: Over 3300 mines destroyed by Royal Navy so far. "Casualties have been heavy" amongst minesweeping personnel
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: Royal Navy vessels continuing to shadow German battleship Bismarck. HMS Rodney within 35 miles
place Denmark
organisation Royal Navy