John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort

Field Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, VC, GCB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MVO, MC (10 July 1886 – 31 March 1946), was a British and Anglo-Irish soldier who served in both World War I and II, rising to the rank of field marshal. During World War I he received the Victoria Cross, the highest and ...

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Documents about John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort

Saturday 13th January 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: War Office warns of new intelligence on German plan for attack on Belgium and Holland
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Adolf Hitler
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Brussels
organisation German Army
 

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
 

Tuesday 14th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Chief of Air Staff has received naval intelligence suggesting Italy “seeking an excuse for entering the war”
extract Lord Halifax urges consideration of possibility of German paratroop attack on Ireland. Eire government to be informed
extract Belgian Ambassador complains British troops moving through Brussels which his government has declared an open city
extract Lord Gort reports “satisfactory” position of British Expeditionary Force. Belgians and French withdrawing to Antwerp line
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
organisation Royal Marines
 

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Information to inform Press that "situation although not desperate" becoming "increasingly grave”
extract Churchill: “We must face the fact the Belgian Army might be lost altogether.” Admiralty to make plans to evacuate them
extract Churchill: Fallback to Channel ports “a bomb trap”. “Total loss only a matter of time”. Retreat through Amiens, Rouen
extract General Ironside: Not acceptable. “We could certainly never evacuate the force complete”. Urges south west advance
extract BEF Commander concerned about force’s right flank. If gap widens proposes withdrawal to Dunkirk “to fight it out”
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Winston Churchill
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract French Command issue “stern orders” to drive refugees into fields and off roads to ensure troops can move easily
extract PM assents. RAF to do “everything possible” to assist. “Provided” French fight well “good prospect of success”
extract New French Commander General Weygand proposes joint Anglo-French attack in SW and in direction of Amiens within 24 hours
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation British Army
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract King Leopold of Belgium warns that withdrawal of British Expeditionary Force will force “capitulation” of Belgian army
extract Churchill: “Little grounds for confidence”. “No choice” but to follow General Weygand's plan
extract Chiefs of Staff: If BEF fall back “unlikely that more than a small part of the force could be got away”
extract German troops reported three miles from Calais by British tank regiment. Warning ammunition position “serious”
extract PM Churchill: “Best for the BEF to fall back on the Channel ports”. Warns of “catastrophic situation” at Boulogne
extract General Weygand reports he has taken Amiens, Albert and Peronne. "Only solution" to continue this maneouvre
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person Winston Churchill
place Geneva
place Paris
place Calais
place Berlin
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: UK forces “still holding out” in Calais, situation now quieter than the previous night
extract Churchill: We “must be prepared” for PM Reynaud “to say that the French could not carry on the fight”.
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
place Europe
place Calais
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation United States Navy
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

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 UK Ambassador Rome says Italy's entry into the war “now a certainty” and the delay can “no longer be reckoned in months”
extract Cabinet informed French and Norwegian troops have occupied Narvik Decision on UK to evacuate postponed http://ow.ly/1Rvsg
extract RAF switching from continuous patrols over Dunkirk to “occasional patrols of much greater strength”
extract HMS Wakeful and HMS Grafton sunk while evacuating troops. Over 630 casualties
extract PM: Latest information from Admiralty that 40,000 BEF troops now returned to UK. 2000 men being evacuated every hour
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Kingsley Wood
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Morocco
place Rome
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain warns IRA “almost strong enough” to overrun “weak” Eire forces. UK must be ready to send troops
extract PM to send "encouraging message" to PM Reynaud. To focus on RAF success and rumours of low German morale and heavy losses
extract Press reports German paratroops landed near Paris. General Dill doubts this though next German move likely a Paris attack
extract 60,000 men behind perimeter line. Can hold for “two or three days” before Germans move artillery and beaches under fire
extract PM: Latest information that 77,000 men from BEF back in UK, 4000 en route. Conditions difficult, more small boats needed
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Neville Chamberlain
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Great Britain
place Paris
place Calais
 

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
 

Saturday 1st June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract BEF Commander in Chief Lord Gort delivers his report on the campaign to Cabinet. PM praises his skill and determination
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place Brussels
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract US State Department warns appeal to US from UK and France counterproductive. Suggests broadcast to the Empire. PM agrees
extract PM: Dunkirk "first real trial of strength" for RAF and Luftwaffe. Germany has "failed consistently", far heavier loss
extract Chief of Air Staff reports 42 confirmed and 14 unconfirmed German aircraft shot down yesterday against 26 British losses
extract PM: "Now clear" embarkation must be completed tonight. "No hope" for French troops outside our perimeter. Navy concur
extract Lord Gort reports shelling and bombing of Dunkirk beaches "extremely severe". General Alexander struggling to hold line
extract Cabinet to consider more help for France. Suggestion to send bombers to southern France ready to attack Italian industry
extract PM informs Cabinet of discussions at Allied War Council in Paris. French satisfied with Dunkirk, Norway evacuation plans
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Great Britain
place Afghanistan
place Greece
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Department of State
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Norwegians negotiating over UK withdrawal. Evacuation held for 24 hours. Churchill: “Decision to withdraw must stand
extract Chiefs of Staff to make recommendations on how much force can be spared for France’s defence before Cabinet decides
extract Churchill believes three divisions can be in France within 5-6 weeks. RAF bombers to attack targets selected by French
extract Cabinet discusses which forces can be sent to reinforce French on Somme front. Difficult to re-equip BEF
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Winston Churchill
place Dunkirk
place Narvik
place Paris
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Norway evacuation proceeding "very satisfactorily", complete in about 48 hours. King Haakon to depart with his government
extract UK diplomats in Paris warn Marshall Petain has told PM Reynaud "nothing left but to make peace" and urged he step aside
extract Churchill warns Reynaud RAF fighter squadrons "worn to a shred and frightfully mixed up". UK cannot meet all his requests
extract PM Reynaud: Despatch of UK divisions to France "must be hastened to the maximum possible extent" or Paris will be lost
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Ronnie Campbell
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person Stephen King
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Narvik
place London, Ontario
organisation British Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Report former French Cabinet now in Rabat. Information Minister to fly to Morocco to convince group to form government
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Syria
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

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
 

Visit to French Morocco.

extract Information Minister reports failure in North Africa mission. French "determined we should see nobody of importance"
person Duff Cooper
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Morocco
organisation French Air Force
 

Situation in Algeria and French Morocco.

extract Chiefs of Staff to examine proposal from Information Minister Duff Cooper for an invasion of French Morocco
person Duff Cooper
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Gibraltar
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Africa
 

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
 

Monday 14th October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Anderson: One-eighth of consumers in London cut off from domestic gas supplies. Position has been "static for some days"
extract Minister of Labour: Baking industry offering "time and a half" during air raid warnings. Will end "dangerous precedent"
extract Halifax: Washington opposed to "anything like a conference" in US, London or Singapore. Cooperation to remain technical
extract Admiralty: "Great improvement" in shipping losses last week but enemy sowing "very large quantities" of mines around UK
extract Air Chief: Main concentration of overnight bombing again on London. Liverpool also received "considerable attention"
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 Stafford Cripps
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Samuel Hoare
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place Singapore
place Sudan
place Washington
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Thursday 12th June 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary reports overnight raids at Bristol, Dover and Huddersfield. Fires quickly brought under control
extract Chiefs of Staff to give preliminary consideration to arrangements for despatch of a Military Mission to Moscow
extract General Dill: British and Free French forces "slowly advancing" in Syria. Vichy troops "resisting strongly"
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Ronnie Campbell
person Stafford Cripps
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation United States Department of State