Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

Field Marshal Sir Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC (5 May 1883 – 24 May 1950) was a British field marshal and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during World War II. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only to be defeated by the German army. He ...

Read more at Wikipedia

Documents about Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

Tuesday 25th June 1940

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 Ambassador Kennedy to ask President Roosevelt to put pressure on Irish government to cooperate with UK defence plans
extract Halifax urges bombing of aircraft factories in German-occupied France before air defences are installed. Cabinet approves
extract PM: "Little chance now" of resistance in French Africa. UK mission not permitted to see French ex-Ministers at Rabat
extract Cabinet abandons plans for full scale evacuation of east coast towns. Hopes for voluntary evacuation of 60% of population
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place East Anglia
place Syria
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation French Army
 

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
 

Tuesday 2nd July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract French vessels in Algerian ports to be told to either sail to UK or French Caribbean territories or prepare to be sunk
extract SS Arandora Star carrying "enemy internees" torpedoed and sunk. PM: Germans may blame UK, retaliate against British POWs
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Guernsey
place Halifax Peninsula
place Syria
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Fighter Command
organisation French Army
 

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 reports on operations in East Africa, Sudan, Libya. Italians "consistently put up a very poor show"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Somaliland
place Sudan
place Kismayo
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Wavell planning withdrawal from Sollum on Libyan border. Lack of equipment makes holding position “too risky”
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
 

Thursday 8th August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Despite Foreign Minister's denials "good deal of evidence" Japan intends invasion of French Indo-China
extract Halifax: Japan tension has "certainly relaxed". Considering release of one or two Japanese, third party mediation
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Finland
place Moscow
place Gibraltar
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
 

The Middle East: Directive to the Commander-in-Chief.

extract PM warns General Wavell invasion of Egypt from Libya "must be expected at any time", circulates orders for Middle East
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Sudan
place Malta
place Europe
place Kenya
place Khartoum
place Alexandria
place Africa
place Libya
 

Friday 13th September 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told dive-bombing attack carried out on Buckingham Palace. PM: "Too dangerous for Parliament to sit after dark"
extract Cabinet agree Tube should not be used as shelter. Police opposed and "more important" to keep it available for transport
extract Home Secretary: This tendency due in part to a number of street shelters having suffered direct hits
extract Health Minister: Silvertown evacuated due to failure of water supply. A reluctance to use public shelters in some areas
extract Health Minister: AA fire has transformed London morale. People who "clamoured to be taken away" now reluctant to leave
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity on "reduced scale" in past 24 hours, not more than 100 aircraft. No UK air casualties
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clive Anderson
person Andrew Duncan
place Egypt
place South America
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Magnetic mines dropped on this country overnight. Blast will destroy glass "over a wide area". Glass to be conserved
extract Air Chef: Enemy activity mainly directed against London and SE yesterday. "A few raids" on Wales and the Midlands
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Clement Attlee
place Malta
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

Wednesday 9th October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM: We should "take advantage" of any delay caused by a German "Eastward thrust" to develop our army in the Middle East
extract War Secretary Eden to make personal visit to Middle East. PM: Sure that such a visit will be of great value
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Stafford Cripps
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Sydney Brenner
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Kenya
place Khartoum
place Syria
place Libya
 

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 1st November 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to warn Vichy its capital ships are barred from the Mediterranean "where they might fall into German hands"
extract Cabinet informed UK battalion arriving in Crete today. If Greek resistance good UK "prepared to take some risks" to help
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
 

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 Secretary reports on his N.Africa visit. Position "far more favourable than seemed possible a few months previously"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Kassala
place Greece
place Egypt
place Alexandria Troas
place Cairo
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Syria
place Africa
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
 

Monday 9th December 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM informs Cabinet extensive UK attack now in progress in Libya. Hopes to inflict "decisive defeat" on Italian divisions
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Greece
place Egypt
place Sudan
place Northern Ireland
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Hitler's next move "a matter of speculation". "Most menacing outlook" in Spain. Germans may move to occupy N. Africa
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Adolf Hitler
place Africa
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Monday 6th January 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: News from Bulgaria "disquieting". A number of indications government coming "under strong pressure from Germany"
extract PM: Attack "brilliantly executed", casualties "extraordinarily small". No need to emphasise there was not "much fighting"
extract General Dill: 25,000 prisoners taken at capture of Bardia "including 2 Corps Commanders and 4 Senior Generals"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Gibraltar
place Albania
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
place Libya
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the Emperor Haile Selassie and the position of Italian East Africa in the event of an Enemy Defeat.

extract Foreign Secretary Eden reaffirms UK's commitment "to an independent Ethiopia" and the recapture of British Somaliland
person Anthony Eden
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Sudan
place Ethiopia
place Kismayo
place Eritrea
place Rome
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Japan has sent an "unpleasant memorandum" over Dutch East Indies. Netherlands government will "play for time"
extract Eden: Balkans situation "disquieting", German divisions in Roumania rising to 20. Greece "frightened" to provoke Germany
extract Eden: Resistance in Eritrea less than expected. Possible we will be able to advance as far as Agordat and threaten Asmara
extract Eden meeting junior ministers. Says German morale remains good but "deteriorating" among troops in occupied territory
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Greece
place Russian Empire
place Turkey
place Malta
place Ethiopia
place Eritrea
place Tripoli, Greece
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Monday 3rd February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves construction of Burma-China railway if border agreed. Secretary of State to inform Burmese government
extract Eden: Resignation of Iraq government "not to be regretted". New one "not very satisfactory but might be only a stop-gap"
extract General Wavell reports enemy making "determined stand in difficult country" in Eritrea. Rapid progress "unlikely"
extract General Heywood: Greek First Corps "in good heart". Few casualties suffered from the enemy, but many from frost bite
extract Admiralty: Swordfish bombers attacked dam in Sardinia. Met heavy anti-aircraft fire, claimed 3 hits on dam with torpedoes
extract Air Chief: Enemy aircraft have dropped bombs and mines in the Suez Canal. A number of the mines have now been detonated
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Eritrea
place Washington
place Morocco
place Africa
place Burma
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US to despatch 250,000 more rifles and 50m rounds of ammunition. This cargo must be distributed between several ships
extract General Dill: Signs of Italian movements out of Benghazi. General Wavell has ordered our Forces to press on rapidly
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
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 Ernest Brown
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Leo Amery
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Burma
place Libya
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: In my opinion the enterprise is a risk we must undertake. At worst bulk of force could be got back to Egypt
extract PM Menzies: If enterprise "only a forlorn hope it had better not be undertaken." Is there substantial chance of success?
extract PM Churchill: "Difficulties...must not be under-rated". If colleagues have misgivings "they should express them now"
extract PM Churchill: Cabinet must now "reach a most important decision, namely, whether to open a new theatre of war in Greece"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Joseph Stalin
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Bulgaria
organisation Luftwaffe
 

Policy in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.

extract Eden calls on PM to "do everything in our power to bring fullest measure of help to Greeks at earliest possible moment"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Republic of Macedonia
place Greece
place Turkey
place Kenya
place Bulgaria
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill "deeply moved" by assent of Dominion Governments. They have "responded magnificently" to severe proposals
extract PM Menzies: Australian government concurs in the proposed use of two Australian divisions in Greece
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Harold Wilson
place South Africa
place Republic of Macedonia
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Albania
place Bulgaria
place Libya
 

Tuesday 4th March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: "If resolutely tackled over the next four months, the position should show great improvement"
extract PM Churchill: "Above all, the offensive spirit must be retained in meeting the enemy's attacks on our merchant shipping"
extract PM Churchill: This is the Battle of the Atlantic which must be fought out in the shipyards and the docks, and on the seas
extract PM describes measures being taken to improve shipping situation, reduce the volume of merchant shipping awaiting repair
extract General Wavell predicts "difficulties" for German forces "if they tried to stage an early offensive against Cyrenaica"
extract Admiralty: Preliminary reports indicate raid against the Lofoten Islands "proceeding satisfactorily"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Gibraltar
place Tripoli, Greece
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Movement of Allied troops due to start today but no troops to arrive in Greece "for another four days"
extract PM: Prospects in the Balkans "not promising". Bulgaria now under German control. Greece will "have to fight for her life"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Greece
place Egypt
place Albania
place Bulgaria
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Menzies concerned over Greece operation. All new factors add to difficulties, no reason offered why it should succeed
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Republic of Macedonia
place Greece
place Egypt
place Belgrade
place Turkey
place Albania
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US to send 2 food ships to Unoccupied France. These must be allowed to pass blockade, subsequent ships to be stopped
extract Cabinet Minister suggests attack on Clydebank indicates Germans targeting "centre of communism and disaffection"...
extract Morrison: Serious damage last night at Greenwich, Edmonton and Poplar gasworks. 11 local authorities without gas
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Washington
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

Monday 7th April 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cadogan: Looks as though a "show of force" might be necessary before the position in Iraq can be redressed
extract Cadogan: Our Ambassador at Budapest "told to leave as soon as possible". Yugoslav government has left Belgrade
extract General Haining: Germans moving into Yugoslavia advanced towards Skoplje and Stip yesterday against slight resistance
person Alexander Cadogan
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Stafford Cripps
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
place Athens
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Belgrade
place Hungary
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Basra
place Eritrea
place Addis Ababa
place Bulgaria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

extract Menzies: Chance of German advance underestimated by Wavell. We consented to Greek attack because told Libya push unlikely
extract PM: If we hold the advance at Tobruk we can be well satisfied. "But we must recognise that this might not be possible"
extract PM: Deterioration due to 7th Armoured Division at Cairo for refit. Not realised it would be so completely out of action
extract PM: General Wavell reports position in Western Desert greatly deteriorated yesterday. Hopes to stabilise front at Tobruk
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Greece
place Egypt
place Sicily
place Sudan
place Malta
place Tobruk
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Now clear the Germans had assembled "a considerably stronger force in Libya than we had reckoned on"
extract Attlee: "Somewhat surprised at the rapidity and force" of Libya attack in face of telegrams received from Desert Front
extract Eden: Hitler's plans "retarded and thrown out of gear" by Greek resistance and Yugoslav coup - both with our support
extract Foreign Secretary Eden and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff outline discussions held in Balkans and Middle East
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Stafford Cripps
person Adolf Hitler
place Republic of Macedonia
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Belgrade
place Turkey
place Sicily
place Malta
place Tobruk
place Cyprus
place Alexandria
place Bulgaria
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "Navy must be prepared to suffer heavy losses in order to cut the enemy line of communication" from Italy to Libya
extract Telegram from Yugoslav government asking for air evacuation to Athens. Greek government considering evacuation to Crete
extract General Dill: "Most serious news" German mechanised columns moving to cut off Greek army in Albania
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Baghdad
place Iraq
place Basra
place Albania
place Cyprus
place Tripoli, Greece
place Alexandria
place Libya
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: RAF outmatched in Greece. "Main thing is to get the men away". Decision to evacuate taken this morning
extract General Blarney "quite clear" we cannot hold Thermopylae position "for very long", only policy early re-embarkation
extract General Dill: NZ division in Greece practically intact, Australians have lost 2 battalions, 2 more have "severe losses"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Athens
place Greece
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Position of Syria "serious", risk of German paratroop attack. UK to urge Vichy France to defend its territory
extract General Dill: Enemy advancing in Western Desert from Sollum. Have penetrated 5-6 miles across Egyptian frontier
extract General Dill: Evacuation of troops from Greece proceeding. 27,000 evacuated. 13,000 have landed in Crete of 59,000 total
extract Admiralty: British Ambassador to Yugoslavia taken prisoner. Submarine Regent found port of Kotor under enemy occupation
extract Air Chief: RAF bomber used cloud over Emden for 45 minutes this afternoon. 18 500lb bombs dropped, streets machine-gunned
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Greece
place Ankara
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Malta
place Dakar
place Washington
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation House of Commons of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "We must now expect a period of great enemy activity in the Mediterranean". Attacks will be made on Crete and Malta
extract PM Churchill: I feel no regret over the decision to send troops to Greece
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Greece
place Egypt
place Malta
organisation United States Navy
 

Monday 12th May 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Labour suggests "further consideration" of the possibility of conscription being applied to Northern Ireland
extract PM: Operation "TIGER" successfully completed. Result will be greatly to increase General Wavell's strength in heavy tanks
extract Air Chief: Enemy concentrated larger part of attack against our bomber aerodromes overnight. Practically no damage done
person Alexander Cadogan
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Basra
place Syria
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

Administration of Ethiopia.

extract War Secretary proposes UK continue to occupy Ethiopia despite Emperor's return. Admits this "may not be easy to defend"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person David Margesson, 1st Viscount Margesson
place Ethiopia
place Africa
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chiefs of Staff asking local commanders to improvise largest possible force to move into Syria at earliest possible date
extract PM: Give French last chance to stop passage of Luftwaffe through Syria, otherwise we should proclaim Syria independent
extract Eden: Germans in "strong diplomatic offensive" on Turkey. Turks "treating us in a frank way", asking our plans in Syria
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Syria
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet delays a final decision on extending conscription to Northern Ireland until the likely degree of opposition known
extract General Dill: Little definite news available. Our losses so far light. No sea-borne landing yet reported
extract General Dill: Enemy on Crete believed not to control any large areas and has suffered heavy casualties in the process
extract Air Chief: Considerable number of our aircraft damaged recently on the ground in attacks on Western aerodromes
person Alexander Cadogan
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
place Portugal
place Cranborne
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: All chances of winning battle in Crete now appear to have gone. Must face prospect of loss of most of our force there
extract General Wavell reports from Crete our front west of Canea has broken, troops coming back in disorder. Casualties heavy
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
 

Thursday 19th June 1941

The Middle East. Note by the Secretary of the War Cabinet covering telegrams from the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East.

extract General Wavell reports failure of Operation Battleaxe in Egypt. Troops have been driven back with heavy loss of tanks
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Egypt
place Tobruk
 

Syrian Operations. Note by the Secretary covering telegram from Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

extract General Wavell reports latest progress in Syria: "By all accounts Vichy French are getting tired and reduced in numbers"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Syria
 

Meeting minutes

extract Soviet Ambassador told UK with Russia "up to the hilt in all military and economic measures for the defeat of Germany"
extract Cabinet authorises Foreign Secretary Eden to telegraph terms for a cessation of hostilities in Syria
extract Eden: Of utmost importance Syria operation concluded as early as possible. Delay having unhappy effect on other countries
extract General Dill: Russian military position appears very grave although German air and land losses have been considerable
extract General Dill: Palmyra now completely surrounded. Further reinforcements being sent to Syria
extract Air Chief: Heavy losses of bombers over last week "due to phenomenal light conditions". PM: "Our attacks must continue"
person Claude Auchinleck
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook
person Walter Hines Page
place South Africa
place Murmansk
place East Germany
place Cranborne
place Iceland
place Moscow
place Cairo
place Turkey
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place West Germany
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Wednesday 2nd July 1941

Command in the Middle East.

extract PM: General Wavell "would make an admirable Commander-in-Chief in India". Viceroy: "I shall be proud to work with him"
extract PM: General Wavell "tired", "fresh eye needed". Will be replaced by General Auchinleck as Commander in Chief Middle East
person Claude Auchinleck
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Egypt
place Africa
organisation British Army