RAF Coastal Command

Military

RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force (RAF). Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive the resources it needed to develop properly or ...

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Documents about RAF Coastal Command

Saturday 2nd March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract US military attaché requests data on British forces and plans. Cabinet directs Foreign Office to refuse
extract German attacks on shipping now reaching as far west as Isle of Wight. UK has no technology to intercept night air attacks
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Sumner Welles
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Samuel Hoare
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
person Woodrow Wilson
place Heligoland
place Finland
place Europe
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Vatican passes on anxiety at Mussolini’s “increasingly pro-German course”
extract Cripps in Moscow says USSR wishes to improve relations with UK, does not want to be “too closely tied” to Germany
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Maxime Weygand
person Kingsley Wood
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Hamburg
place Finland
place East Germany
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Rome
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet informed of German raid on British lines in the Saarland. Two soldiers killed, 16 captured
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Harold Wilson
person Andrew Duncan
place Finland
place Egypt
place Rome
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM on Sumner Welles mission: “aiming for the impossible”. No peace without “real change of outlook in Germany”
person Sumner Welles
person Adolf Hitler
person Harold Wilson
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place Europe
place Berlin
place Rome
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Zetland congratulated on surviving assassination attempt. PM to await Viceroy's new report before deciding India policy
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Adolf Hitler
person Harold Wilson
place Finland
place Burma
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told leaflet drops now secondary to air reconnaissance. Danish Attaché: “Extensive damage” done by Sylt attack
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Neville Chamberlain
place Hong Kong
place Paris
place Gibraltar
place Denmark
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Dutch Foreign Minister rejects discussions with UK government over arrangements to resist German invasion of Netherlands
extract USSR offers to reopen trade talks with UK. Ambassador Maisky denies military alliance with Germany
person Harold Wilson
person Neville Chamberlain
place Athens
place Ankara
place Russian Empire
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Rome
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Thursday 4th April 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Japan trade talks proceeding well. Halifax warns Japanese ambassador not to raise status of Japan’s government in China
person Ronnie Campbell
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Heligoland
place London, Ontario
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Weekly Resume (No. 31) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon March 28th to 12 noon April 4th, 1940.

extract Chiefs of Staff report lull in U-Boat activity but increase in German reconnaissance aircraft activity off Norway coast
place Somaliland
place Hong Kong
place Narvik
place North China
place Denmark
place Rome
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation United States Navy
 

Monday 27th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM opposed. US “given us practically no help in the war”, keep "everything which would help us for their own defence”
extract British Ambassador to Washington suggests lease of UK bases overseas to America to help pay war debts
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person John Dill
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Iceland
place Bermuda
place Washington
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Indian National Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Latest evacuation figures (1200 BST) 139, 244 returned from BEF, 14811 Allied troops. Evacuees classed as casualties 9480
extract Rumours Germans developing amphibious tanks for UK landings. Beach mines being produced at rate of 10,000 a week
extract In last 24 hours 5 ships have been sunk, 3 on fire, 4 damaged. 222 Navy vessels and 665 ships and boats used in operation
extract First Sea Lord has ordered "equal opportunities" for British and French troops for embarkation from beaches
extract Eden to order Lord Gort's departure for his own safety. French troops to be evacuated until "not safe" for UK to remain
extract First Sea Lord says "swell on the beaches" delaying embarkations. Will "probably abate later"
extract Signs of major German attack; unclear for today or tomorrow. Lord Gort hopes most remaining troops will sail tonight
extract War Secretary Eden reports Dunkirk evacuation figures as at 0700 BST: 133,878 men from BEF and 11,666 Allied troops
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Ernest Bevin
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Portugal
place Halifax Peninsula
place Lisbon, New York
place Rome
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation United States Navy
organisation United States Congress
 

Monday 3rd June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Dominions Secretary to invite Canadian government to take over defence of Iceland from occupying British force
extract Cabinet approves changes to UK bombing rules. Chamberlain: German action provides "fullest justification" for proposals
extract Report from Rome of German plan to move troops from Naples to Cadiz for attack on Ireland. Halifax: “Unwise to ignore”
extract Total number of evacuees at 0600 BST: 292,380. Halifax: Total not to be released to Press because of French objections
extract Situation confused. Unclear how many French now at bridgehead. Germans not pressing attack but beach under artillery fire
extract PM: Personnel of BEF have been withdrawn to this country "practically intact". French could do more to evacuate
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation United States Navy
organisation Government of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Ironside briefs on Home Defence plans: police powers, road blocks, production of new “Ironsides”
extract Intelligence report that Italians may make ultimatum to Allies. PM: "Our rejection should take the form of an air attack"
extract General Dill:”No doubt” Germans planning attack towards Paris. Expects this “in four or five days' time, or even earlier”
extract First Sea Lord: Navy "keeping a look-out for individual British soldiers who might reach the French coast"
extract General Dill: 20,700 men remain "unaccounted for. Most of these must have been killed or taken prisoner."
extract General Dill informs Cabinet "final measure" of Dunkirk evacuation completed overnight. Men evacuated (0000 BST) 310,216
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Great Britain
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "Generally speaking" French holding German attacks. "Real anxiety" whether they have adequate reserves
extract Chief of Naval Staff fears German claims to have sunk HMS Glorious “almost certainly true”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Francisco Franco
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet informed of tonight's targets in Italy including Fiat motor factory. Incendiary attack on Black Forest approved
place Trondheim
place Turin
place Malta
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "No confirmation" of report of Soviet forces massing on the frontier of East Prussia
extract Report Swiss government to capitulate to military coup, allowing German troops free passage. Halifax: "A wild story"
extract BEF no longer under overall French command. "Grave risk" if French agree Armistice force "involved and unable to escape"
extract General Brooke reports that organised resistance in France has "come to an end". French army "disintegrating"
extract Roosevelt says his message "in no sense" promised US military action. PM: "Nothing short" of this will sustain France
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Adolf Hitler
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet Secretary: Cabinet members “consulted again individually” on de Gaulle broadcast. Now agree should be allowed
extract Cabinet adopts plan by Lord Halifax for return of Emperor to Abyssinia. UK to foment anti-Italian action in the country
extract Cabinet agrees de Gaulle should not broadcast as long it remains possible French government may act in Allied interests
extract General de Gaulle has submitted text of broadcast saying France not defeated and inviting French soldiers to rally to him
extract Stafford Cripps in Moscow warns he sees "no prospect of drawing the Soviet Union into a common front against Germany"
extract Navy Vice Chief: SS Lancastria sunk in Loire yesterday with 3,000 troops on board. Not yet possible to assess casualties
extract Evacuation continuing from Cherbourg, St Nazaire, St Malo, Brest. 42,502 personnel returned to UK
extract Chief of Air Staff has despatched aircraft to Bordeaux after Polish reports General Sikorski somewhere in France
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
place East Germany
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Narvik
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Decision “distasteful” but cannot see Cabinet can reach conclusion other than that proposed by Chiefs of Staff
extract Cabinet discuss Channel Islands report. PM: “Repugnant” to abandon territory held by Crown since the Norman Conquest
extract Halifax announces receipt of telegram from Japan threatening war if UK will not immediately comply with a list of demands
extract Halifax reports French colonies may “be willing in most cases to cooperate with us” whatever decided by Petain government
extract Admiralty to make arrangements to embark Polish and Czech troops at French ports and bring them to UK
extract Admiral Darlan: “In no circumstances” will Fleet be surrendered to Germans. Can be got away during negotiations
extract PM: “More encouraging picture” from France. Fighting continuing, French navy has sunk two Italian submarines
extract Air Chief: 120 enemy aircraft over UK last night. Attacks on Cambridgeshire, East Anglia. Nine casualties so far reported
person Andrew Greenwood
person Walter Hines Page
person Maxime Weygand
person Jean Bart
place Great Britain
place Narvik
place Gibraltar
place South America
place East Anglia
place Eritrea
place Kenya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Navy
organisation RAF Fighter Command
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Office report enemy aliens being locked up as fast as facilities can be provided. Reliable aliens being "combed out"
extract PM concerned at rise in number of children for evacuation overseas. Information Minister to stress transport limits
extract French government's move to Perpignan for evacuation to N. Africa cancelled. Position on Fleet may have changed for worse
extract Military evacuation of Channel Islands complete. Evacuation of residents wishing to leave will be finished later today
extract British evacuation from France now complete (144,180 returned to UK). Some Polish troops still awaiting embarkation
person Walter Hines Page
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Iceland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Nigeria
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Government of Canada
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain: We must keep the ships. Sweden knows that she cannot bully Germany "but might succeed in bullying us"
extract Halifax: Sweden taken "gravest possible view" of UK seizure of Destroyers. Germany may offer "protection" against us
extract Lord Halifax informs Cabinet that British Ambassador and his staff will leave France today for the UK on HMS Galatea
extract HMS Dunedin to intercept French vessel en route to Martinique to seize cargo of £60m in gold.
extract First Sea Lord: Mutiny by Germans being transported to Canada aboard SS Duchess of York. Further rising on vessel feared
extract PM urges War Office "push forward" with creation of a Foreign Legion. General Pownall says action already being taken
extract General Pownall reports 10000 Czech and Pole troops, 8000 French heading to coast for UK. HMS Keppel to arrange transport
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Hamburg
place Malta
place Europe
place Algeria
place Africa
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: Relations with France "might well approach very closely to those of two nations at war with each other"
extract Telegram received from former PM Reynaud. Churchill: Clear French government "completely under the thumb of Germany"
extract Aerial reconnaissance over Dortmund-Ems aqueduct shows RAF bombing has failed to damage structure despite being on target
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
place Egypt
place Iceland
place Berlin, New York
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation RAF Fighter Command
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty suggests action against French oil stocks. Cabinet rejects as "act of war" with talks in N. Africa continuing
extract Pole, Czech troops arriving "in large numbers" in UK. Polish troops "good quality", Czechs must "be carefully sorted out"
extract 50-70 aircraft over UK last night. Bombing Midlands, East Anglia, Bristol targetting aerodromes and aero-engine factories
extract General Wavell reports on first 10 days fighting Italy in Middle East. Halifax: "Superiority of our troops" clear
extract Cabinet approves formation of Economic Mission to United States. Seeks permission to buy armaments on credit
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Walter Hines Page
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place East Anglia
place Africa
place Bristol
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
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
 

Monday 8th July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Food requests Cabinet approve tea rationing with immediate effect. Margarine to be rationed within two weeks
extract Members of French overseas missions in UK to be temporarily "segregated" at Worcester College, Oxford
extract Chief of Air Staff reports 27 casualties overnight in bomb attacks on south coast ports and shipping in Straits of Dover
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stafford Cripps
person Richard Kiel
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Kassala
place Egypt
place Isle of Portland
place Sudan
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary requests leave for the Army be resumed "on a limited scale". Stoppage having "bad effect". Cabinet approves
extract Air Chief: Overnight enemy action slight. Minelaying in Thames Estuary, Harwich areas, attacks on Bristol, Kent, Suffolk
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Guernsey
place Halifax Peninsula
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Bristol
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects plan to transfer British fascists to St. Helena. To be kept in UK "under suitable conditions"
extract Cabinet divided over a response to the recent speech by Herr Hitler. PM Churchill to consult more widely
extract Halifax warns of impact of possible US oil embargo on UK stocks, Japan may be "stung" into seizing Dutch East Indies
extract First Sea Lord: Enemy air attacks on Malta continuing, three raids yesterday. "Only slight damage"
extract Air Chief: Enemy air activity concentrated against Channel shipping and Straits of Dover. "A few isolated raids" inland
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Hugh Dalton
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Adolf Hitler
person Clement Attlee
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Farouk of Egypt
place Hamburg
place Portugal
place Trondheim
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madrid
place Sicily
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

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
 

Thursday 12th September 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Swiss to issue further "stiff protest" over RAF violations of their airspace. Foreign Office and Air Ministry to discuss
extract Home Secretary "most grateful" for the increased support. City of London has escaped serious damage two nights running
extract Air Secretary: London anti-aircraft defence "being more than doubled". Third of raiders turned back by barrage last night
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Clement Attlee
place Turin
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Office: Swiss do not believe story UK overflights due to navigational errors. Flights to be suspended temporarily
extract General Dill: Two Italian columns have occupied Sidi Barrani. It now seem three divisions have crossed Egyptian frontier
extract Air Secretary: Bad weather cancelled all UK bomber missions last night. Two German machines downed, 1 by barrage balloon
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Freetown
place Egypt
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary: Overnight attack on London mainly on north suburbs and just south of river. 13 parachute mines dropped
extract Cabinet debate Operation Menace. PM: "We should be careful of embarking upon new adventures with inadequate preparations"
extract War Secretary: Colonel Sandford Mission 101 has "penetrated some way into Abyssinia". Operations proceedingly sucessfully
extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 4 aircraft (2 pilots safe). Enemy 26 certain, 8 probable. Weather "not good"
extract Air Chief: Enemy attack yesterday on Portland, Plymouth "unsuccessful". "Considerable damage" to aircraft works at Filton
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Richard Kiel
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
person William Anderson (RAAF officer)
place Kassala
place Egypt
place Rome
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Friday 11th October 1940

Weekly Resume (No. 58) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon October 3rd to 12 noon October 10th, 1940.

extract Chiefs of Staff: "No reliable details" of German force in Romania. Likely "practically unnoticed" Romania to be occupied
person Charles de Gaulle
place Greece
place Egypt
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Kenya
place Alexandria
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation United States Navy
 

Air Reinforcements for the Middle East.

extract Air Chief: "We are justified in assuming that a most serious danger is already developing in the Middle Eastern theatre"
extract Air Chief approves limited air reinforcements for Middle East. PM: RAF "still vastly inferior in numbers" to Luftwaffe
place South Africa
place Wellington, Nevada
place Malta
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects New Zealand request for air support. UK will supply up-to-date aircraft as soon as it can manage to do so
extract PM: Neither UK "nor the Americans" have received any news on talks between Germany and Vichy. Position "extraordinary"
extract Halifax: General Metaxas asks for our "immediate help" to defend Corfu by sea and Athens by air and for financial aid
extract Cabinet told of unconfirmed reports Athens bombed, 10 Italian divisions ("perhaps 200,000 men") moving into Greece
extract Admiralty: Germans have adopted acoustic mines. Experts "working day and night" to discover secret of these new mines
extract Admiralty: Enemy minelaying taking place on considerable scale in Home Waters. Most ports temporarily closed most nights
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
place Kassala
place Athens
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation British Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Civilians around target areas "must be made to feel the weight of the war". Italians will "not stand up to bombing"
extract Air Chief: 450 enemy aircraft over UK yesterday, 200 more overnight. Attacks on London, Birmingham, Coventry, Liverpool
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Kingsley Wood
person Bob Kerslake
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place South Wales
place Birmingham
place Cairo
place Libreville
place Malta
place Khartoum
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Friday 8th November 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Bombing more severe last 2 nights. "Good many casualties" at Southwark, Wandsworth, Richmond. Penzance attacked
extract Halifax: "Sharp and unhelpful" reply from M. Petain to the King's message. Nothing yet settled between Hitler and Vichy
extract PM: UK cannot tolerate shipping losses on present scale. Will ask Roosevelt to pressure Ireland to abandon neutrality
extract PM: "For the present" Crete appears in no great danger of Italian attack. Possible Australian units could replace Greeks
extract General Dill: Greeks advancing in Pindus sector (Italian morale "bad") but under "heavy pressure" in Epirus sector
extract General Dill: UK forces have captured Gallabat on Sudan/Ethiopia border and resisted Italian counterattack
extract Admiralty: Work on new German acoustic mines now allows certain counter measures. Method still in the experimental stage
extract Admiralty: "No further information" of convoy attacked by the Admiral Scheer. Surviving ships due in home waters tomorrow
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Hugh Dalton
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
person Chiang Kai-shek
person Jean Bart
place Greece
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madrid
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet approves "only one day" of holiday for workers at Christmas
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Jean Bart
place Athens
place Greece
place Madrid
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Washington
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: If Eire had been willing to come into the war "public opinion might well have brought about a united Ireland"
extract PM De Valera remains "totally unreceptive" to UK use of Irish ports, thinks US entry to the war would make no difference
extract Air and Information Ministers to meet newspaper editors over reports of bombing which convey information to the enemy
extract General Dill: Greeks making further advances in Northern and Pindus sectors, meeting with more resistance in the Epirus
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Plymouth
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Albania
place Bristol
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Monday 2nd December 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects plea from General Wavell to deport SS Patria survivors from Palestine. Decision to admit them will stand
extract PM: It might be that the President is waiting "for the election atmosphere to disperse before taking any striking action"
extract PM Churchill: "Rather chilled" by attitude of the United States since the Election
extract Morrison: Fire situation in Southampton remains "serious" but Fire Brigade have "stood up very well to their ordeal"
extract General Dill: Greek forces between 10 and 25 miles into Albanian territory. Thought they will attempt to advance further
extract Admiralty: German Destroyers proving "faster than ours". Measures being considered to give ours "an extra turn of speed"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Clement Attlee
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Africa
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Diplomats in Washington and Geneva receiving reports of "growing restiveness and discontent in Italy"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Andrew Duncan
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place North America
place Sicily
place Valona, California
place Bristol
place Madrid, New York
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Many fires reported in Birmingham but all under control. 12 factories, 8 schools, 5 churches, 2 cinemas damaged
extract PM Churchill to consult with President Roosevelt before ordering economic action against Ireland
extract Chiefs of Staff: RAF have inflicted severe losses on Italian Tank Group and a Blackshirt Division withdrawing to Sollum
extract Chiefs of Staff: Sidi Barrani captured by British forces. 4th Armoured Brigade making for Sollum, now west of Buq Buq
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Andrew Duncan
place Greece
place Egypt
place North America
place Valona, California
place Morocco
place Madrid, New York
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill formally tells Cabinet Lord Halifax is to step down as Foreign Secretary to become UK Ambassador Washington
extract Halifax: Swiss have asked their airspace not be "violated" on Christmas night. Hope it will be possible - for goodwill
extract Air Chief: After enquiries "strongly of the opinion" bombing of Basle "not done by our machines". Halifax to inform Swiss
extract General Dill: 37,000 prisoners now captured in Libya. Greek advance of 4km, 3 Italian bombers downed by small arms fire
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Winston Churchill
place Freetown
place Greece
place Egypt
place Manchester
place Cranborne
place Liverpool
place Africa
place Dublin
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Monday 13th January 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves compulsory civil defence service of up to 48 hours a month for "men and women (subject to age limits)"
extract PM has met with personal envoy of President Roosevelt (Mr Harry Hopkins). "Very favourably impressed with his attitude"
extract General Wavell reports preparations for attack on Tobruk "proceeding satisfactorily". Garrison estimated at 15-20,000
extract Air Chief: Italian aircraft losses in Egypt last month 207 (ours 17). Losses in Greece 47 (ours 23), Malta 50 (ours 4)
extract Air Chief: Raid on Venice last night "very successful". Oil refinery received a direct hit from a 1,000 lb. bomb
person Alexander Cadogan
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Greece
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Ethiopia
place Eritrea
place Africa
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation United States Congress
 

Weekly Resume (No. 73) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon January 16th, to 12 noon January 23rd 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Over 14,000 prisoners taken so far at Tobruk and about 200 guns. "Our casualties were under 500"
person Richard Kiel
place Great Britain
place Freetown
place Somaliland
place Alexandria Troas
place Narvik
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Tobruk
place Albania
place Africa
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Scapa
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Weekly Resume (No. 74) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon January 23rd, to 12 noon January 30th, 1941.

extract General Dill: Our forces in the Sudan have captured Biscio and are "now pushing on towards Agordat"
extract Air Chief: "There has been less enemy activity this week than at any time since intensive raids began last autumn"
place Freetown
place Aruba
place Portugal
place Iceland
place Sudan
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Alexandria
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation ING Group
 

Monday 10th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Secretary Eden to consult President Roosevelt on whether to detain the Asaka Maru at "the risk of war" with Japan
extract PM Churchill: In what way should our forces in the Middle East now be employed?
extract Admiralty: 24,000 tons of merchant shipping lost since last report made to the War Cabinet
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Francisco Franco
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Republic of China
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM directs Japanese vessel Asaka Maru be permitted to travel to Lisbon to "give more time" to consider action to be taken
extract Cadogan: Unconfirmed report all Japanese ships have received orders to return to Japan by the 1st March
extract Cadogan: Yugoslavia seems to be "under German pressure". Report Italian forces in Tripoli being evacuated by sea to Italy
extract PM: Hope Bomber Command realise we do not press for bombing operations to be undertaken when weather unfavourable
extract Air Chief: Fog on 11th rendered landing impossible. Crews ordered to bale out, 22 aircraft lost. All but 5 crew safe
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Kingsley Wood
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Lisbon, New York
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Weekly Resume (No. 76) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon February 6th, to 12 noon February 13th, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: "Waterless and inhospitable" Sirte desert now a very good defence for remaining Italian forces in Libya
place Somaliland
place Iceland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Gibraltar
place Stockholm
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place Denmark
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Thursday 3rd April 1941

Meeting minutes

extract General Haining: Some of our forward posts overrun in Libya. Our troops withdrawing to a position north of Agedabia
extract PM: President Roosevelt has allotted funds to build a further 200 ships for us. I stated urgent need for escort vessels
extract Admiralty: The air attack against our shipping was more intense during March than in any previous month
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Finland
place Cranborne
place Iceland
place Narvik
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Indian Government to send troops to secure Basra in Iraq. General Rashid Ali to be told but force will "land in any case"
extract General Dill: Our force in Greece holding its own against heavy German attack. But enemy has taken Sollum on Egypt border
extract General Dill: Germans have occupied North Yugoslavia. Their advance likely to be by Sarajevo and Mostar to the Adriatic
extract Air Chief: In Libya on April 12th our bombers made 4 attacks and dispersed about 60 enemy tanks drawn up to attack Tobruk
extract Air Chief: In Balkans we have (with severe aircraft losses) inflicted fairly serious damage on advancing German troops
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Iceland
place Basra
place Eritrea
place Albania
place Addis Ababa
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: "We should try to open up discussions with the Soviet Union", although I am "not very sanguine of good results"
extract Air Chief: In my view our bombers are "flying too low over Germany". Issuing orders to deal with this
person Stafford Cripps
person Francisco Franco
place East Germany
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Madrid
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Thursday 1st May 1941

Weekly Resume (No. 87) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon April 24th to 12 noon May 1st, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Iraqi Army concentrated in and around Baghdad. Evidence Raschid Ali may offer resistance to our troops
extract Chiefs of Staff: Every indication Germans see Libya as "theatre of war to which their maximum efforts should be devoted"
extract Chiefs of Staff: "No reliable indications of imminent hostilities" between Germany and USSR, relations somewhat strained
place Aruba
place Greece
place Baghdad
place Iceland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Europe
place Tobruk
place Tunisia
place Alexandria
place Morocco
place Syria
place Africa
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Advanced Micro Devices
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: I think Stalin's open assumption of power shows he realises the clouds are gathering
extract PM: Enemy "short of ammunition, petrol and food". "With good fortune the Battle of Egypt might well turn in our favour"
extract PM informs Cabinet Operation Tiger, to send tank reinforcements to General Wavell through the Mediterranean, is underway
extract Air Chief: "Light night" led to 23 enemy aircraft being brought down. Air Secretary to congratulate Fighter Command
person Walter Hines Page
person Herbert Morrison
person Joseph Stalin
place Egypt
place Iceland
place Manchester, New Hampshire
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United Nations
 

Weekly Resume (No. 88) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon May 1st, to 12 noon May 8th, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: General Fraser unable to occupy Basra. Population "hostile and imbued with anti-British propaganda"
person Richard Kiel
place Athens
place Wellington, Nevada
place Greece
place Iceland
place Eyre Peninsula
place Turkey
place Basra
place Sicily
place Europe
place Morocco
place Bristol
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary directed to announce Ethiopia under temporary "military guidance". PM: No need to concern ourselves unduly
extract Minister of Information to "give guidance" to Press on Hess's "bloody" record. Coverage has been "almost laudatory"
extract PM: Rudolf Hess will be held as a prisoner of war. He is also a prisoner of State and should be kept in isolation
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Caribbean
place Ethiopia
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Weekly Resume (No. 90) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon May 15th, to 12 noon May 22nd, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Situation at Heraklion obscure. Town and harbour partly occupied by Enemy who has mounted machine guns
person Richard Kiel
person Robert German
place Newcastle upon Tyne
place Freetown
place Greece
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Iceland
place Basra
place Europe
place Tobruk
place Berlin
place Syria
place Africa
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Friday 4th July 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM: All defences to very highest state of anti-invasion efficiency by September 1st. "No vigilance should be relaxed"
extract General Dill: Russians do not seem to have lost confidence. Their latest type of fighter "doing well"
extract General Dill: Progress continues to be slow in Syria. Telegram sent to C-in-C Middle East urging "a quick decision"
extract Air Chief: During last two days we have made successful raids on shipping at Tripoli, during which five enemy vessels hit
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
place Moscow
place Syria
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command