Cranborne

City

Cranborne is a village in East Dorset, England. In 2001 the village had a population of 779 people. The town is situated on chalk downland called Cranborne Chase, part of a large expanse of chalk in southern England which includes the nearby Salisbury Plain and Dorset Downs.

Read more at Wikipedia

Documents about Cranborne

Tuesday 30th July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: If Britons arrested in Tokyo not returned within 2-3 days UK should “seize ten or twelve Japanese subjects”
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Cranborne
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Friday 4th October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM orders ships to be diverted from anti-invasion duties to convoy escort. Winter weather renders invasion "not likely"
extract Air Chief: Only serious damage to De Havilland aircraft factory. All our own operations cancelled due to poor visibility
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity "on a much reduced scale" in past 24 hours, 80 aircraft during the day, 60 overnight
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Great Britain
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Madrid, New York
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: "Intolerable that any newspaper should indulge in criticism and abuse...in a time of great national peril"
extract PM complains of "dangerous and sinister" Press criticism. Accuses HG Wells and Editors of advocating a "surrender peace"
extract PM argues with Halifax over "appeasement of Vichy". UK should "retaliate by bombarding Casablanca" if Gibraltar attacked
extract Halifax: Reports Herr Ribbentrop's Rome visit had "object of keeping Italy in the war". Our bombing having "great effect"
extract USA has inquired about use of Singapore "in the event of trouble in the Far East". PM: Japan has made "great" mistake
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madrid
place Tangier
place Singapore
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
place Rome
place Libya
organisation Daily Mirror
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Report Germans "sending train-loads of gas" to Belgium. PM unhappy with UK gas preparations. Attlee to enquire
extract Halifax: UK Ambassador Tokyo has informed Japanese that the Burma Road will reopen. Interview "passed off satisfactorily"
extract Halifax: UK Minister in Bucharest preparing to leave. "No doubt that British subjects being ill-treated in Roumania"
extract First Sea Lord: 5 more US Destroyers received and first 50,000 of 250,000 US rifles delivered. More "on their way"
extract First Sea Lord: Reports of "arrival of certain of General de Gaulle's forces" at ports in French Equatorial Africa
person Anthony Eden
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 Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place London, Ontario
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Daily Mirror
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Report invasion of UK postponed to Spring 1941. PM: "Premature to dismiss possibility of an attempt being made"
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity "rather heavier than usual" overnight. St. Paul's Cathedral hit, choir and altar badly damaged
extract Cabinet postpones Jewish recruiting campaign until US Presidential Election. Halifax: "No question" of abandoning scheme
extract Cabinet told Coventry aircraft factory strike now in 3rd week. Public feeling "said to be running high against strikers"
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Washington
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation British Army
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: We are "straining every nerve" to counter night bombing. "The people of this country must stick it out."
extract Cabinet concerned civilians in London beginning to wonder if UK "hitting back hard enough at Germany" in bombing attacks
extract PM blocks moving more ships to protect NW Approaches. Intelligence German plans for invasion "still moving forward"
extract Admiralty: Sweep by HMS Ajax has sunk 3 Italian destroyers. Italian claims to have damaged one of our cruisers untrue
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Andrew Duncan
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM satisfied "central nucleus of Government should not move". Church House Westminster set as alternative for Parliament
extract Home Security Minister: Damage to two tube stations has made public realise "practically no kind of shelter" invulnerable
extract Attlee: Newspaper proprietors recognise some recent articles "mischievous". "Appeared somewhat chastened" after meeting
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Leo Amery
person Chiang Kai-shek
place South Africa
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Alexandria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation United States Congress
organisation Daily Mirror
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: UK cannot currently assemble strong fleet at Straits of Gibraltar. Again urge "tolerable agreement" with Vichy
extract Halifax opposes bombing Vichy if France attacks Gibraltar. Ambassador authorised to deliver this "threat" to deter attack
extract "Serious damage" to Treasury overnight in London bombing. "Minor scale of attack on Birmingham and Liverpool"
extract Air Chief: All overnight UK bomber missions cancelled due to adverse weather. Equipment for landings in fog being fitted
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Walter Hines Page
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Bob Kerslake
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Newcastle upon Tyne
place Cranborne
place Hong Kong
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Africa
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation ING Group
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Washington: "Almost miraculous change of opinion" in US now it is clear UK effectively resisting air attack
extract Halifax: Prospect of trade agreement with USSR "promising". Marshal Chiang Kai-shek also desires "closer co-operation"
extract Home Secretary: 370 casualties in London last night, damage to railways. Londoners "at the moment a little pessimistic"
extract Admiralty "certain" Germans using radio detection to locate convoys. "Taking all steps possible" to deal with situation
extract Admiralty: Shipping losses over weekend "the worst ever experienced". Germans using new tactics, attacking at night
extract Air Chief: Pilot detailed to attack Berlin overnight came down to 2,000ft and dropped four 500lb bombs on the Chancellery
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person Chiang Kai-shek
person Andrew Duncan
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Africa
place Republic of China
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: If new measures not successful "necessary to raise again" question of the use of certain bases in Irish Free State
extract PM Churchill: Shipping losses of last few days "without precedent", 100,000 tons sunk. "Certain measures decided upon"
extract PM authorises strengthening Whitehall buildings to resist bombardment. Move to new steel framed buildings where possible
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "No confirmation" of this morning's Press report UK inflicted 400 losses on Italian forces in the Sudan
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity yesterday "on a reduced scale". Attacks mostly from Norway where weather conditions were better
extract Cabinet directs War Secretary to decline invitation to Iraq on security grounds. Foreign Office will blame lack of time
extract PM proposes new Supreme War Council including Dominions, Free France, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Poland and Czechoslovakia
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Maxime Weygand
person Kingsley Wood
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iraq
place Madrid
place Sudan
place Khartoum
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Czechoslovakia
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Government of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

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

Need of New Zealand for Operational Aircraft.

extract New Zealand's concern over Japanese hostility "increasing". Ministers request air support be released to the Dominion
place Cranborne
 

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 India Secretary approves arrest of Pandit Nehru for anti-war speeches "calculated to stir up agrarian discontent"
extract Halifax: Diplomats suggest "cocksureness" of Germans disappearing. "Less power of resistance" to air attack than Britons
extract Home Secretary: Birmingham New Street Station badly damaged overnight. Bombs dropped this morning in Parliament Square
extract Cabinet told of reports German vessels in the Channel making eastwards. "Too early" to say risk of invasion has receded
extract General Dill: Tatoi aerodrome (Athens), Patras, Preveza and Corinth Canal bombed. No enemy action against Corfu as yet
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 Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
person Kingsley Wood
place Athens
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place Burma
organisation Home Office
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Indian National Congress
 

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: A fortnight since our last communication with Vichy. "Still no reply" on the status of their talks with Germany
extract UK Miltary Attaché in Athens reports "weak advances" made by Italy are being held by Greek forces
extract Air Chief: Enemy air activity over this country "on a reduced scale both by day and night." Several towns machine-gunned
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 Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Farouk of Egypt
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place South America
place Bulgaria
organisation Home Office
organisation KEF
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "Possibility" of Italian advance into Egypt. Greece situation "still obscure". RAF will report tomorrow
extract Air Chief: Enemy air attacks "on a low scale" over weekend. A number of attacks on East Coast convoys, no casualties
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 Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Jean Bart
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Halifax Peninsula
place Malta
place Toulon
organisation Home Office
organisation Government of Canada
organisation Daily Mirror
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK Naval Attaché Washington has seen "hypothetical" US Navy plans for entering war. Far East "second place" to Europe
extract Cabinet told Roosevelt likely to be re-elected "by a large majority". Election may turn out to be "democratic landslide"
extract General Dill: Indications Italian advance in Western Desert may be resumed. We might expect an attack about 9th November
extract Halifax to press Bulgaria for assurance she will not attack Greece, in order to release Greek troops for Albanian front
extract General Dill: Greek army now mobilised, Italian morale low. UK reinforcing Crete so Greek Division can fight on mainland
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Duff Cooper
person Samuel Hoare
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Europe
place Dakar
place Bulgaria
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet to take no action over criticisms of MI5 over Arandora Star sinking. "A pity" to revive public interest in this
extract Prime Minister Churchill sends personal message to FDR Roosevelt congratulating him on his re-election as US President
extract General Dill: Greeks "getting worried" by Italian attacks in Epirus sector. "Rather diminished satisfaction" at Greek HQ
extract General Dill: Greeks advancing in Northern sector. "Considerable number" of Italian prisoners taken, Greek losses few
extract Admiralty: Heavy attacks on convoys by Luftwaffe yesterday. PM: Attacks emphasise need for more air support of convoys
extract Air Chief: Overloaded aircraft from Malta have crashed on bombing runs to Italy. Orders issued to prevent this in future
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Wellington, Nevada
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Sudan
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Berlin
place Valona, California
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discuss death of Mr Chamberlain. PM: Loss will "be felt most deeply by all those who had worked with him"
extract Halifax "a little anxious" at Molotov visit to Berlin. May be "a face-saving device" or to discuss an anti-Turkish policy
extract Admiralty: General De Gaulle has taken Gabon capital Libreville. Vichy claims UK bombed the city and sunk vessels untrue
extract General Dill: Greeks could hold up Italians for a considerable time. "A different matter" if Germans attack on this front
extract Air Chief: 12 Italian aircraft shot down over UK today. Total enemy losses for the weekend now 47 confirmed, 31 probable
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Jean Bart
person Neville Chamberlain
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Malta
place Berlin
place Africa
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Greeks advancing again towards Kalamas river. Italian troops "unenthusiastic" over move to Albanian front
extract Air Chief: 5 Italian airmen taken prisoner yesterday. Fiat bomber landed with engine still running. Fighter escort fled
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person Stephen King
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
person Leo Amery
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Albania
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Death of Egypt's PM throws politics there "into the melting-pot". UK Ambassador hopes to find replacement
extract General Dill: Greeks have begun large scale counterattack advancing in a number of sectors. Many Italian prisoners taken
extract Admiral: Shipping Ministry must stop persistent tendency of convoy ships to straggle. Stragglers vulnerable to air attack
extract Anderson: Raid "heaviest yet experienced". Full details not yet available. Reinforcements of Police, firemen sent to city
extract Air Chief: 300 enemy bombers in Coventry attack. RAF targetted aerodromes to lessen assault with "fairly good results"
person Stephen King
person Bob Kerslake
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Jean Bart
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Sudan
place Valona, California
place Albania
place Africa
place Chad
place Burma
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves cancelling Boxing Day Bank Holiday "for workers engaged on essential production" after talks with unions
extract Britain to urge Turkey and Yugoslavia to announce they would declare war if German troops were allowed to enter Bulgaria
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 Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Albania
place Bulgaria
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Attorney General to consider legal action against Daily Worker newspaper for libellous cartoon of Labour Minister Bevin
extract PM: Utmost importance to build reserve of gas weapons. If enemy uses gas "we must be in a position to retaliate at once"
extract Greenwood: Damage in Birmingham "probably more serious" than Coventry but recovery in both cities "going ahead well"
extract Cabinet told an explosion has sunk the SS Patria carrying "illegal immigrants" to Palestine. 385 people unaccounted for
extract Halifax: Upshot of various reports that "probably not very much" settled at Berlin talks between Hitler and Molotov
extract General Dill: Italians landing at Durazzo, Valona to retrieve situation by extensive reinforcement. Vital to impede this
extract Admiralty reports "good progress" made in devising means for dealing with acoustic mines
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Hugh Dalton
person Herbert Morrison
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Andrew Duncan
place Wellington, Nevada
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place Belgrade
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Valona, California
place Bristol
place Bulgaria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Secretary to investigate Vichy claims RAF has bombed Marseilles. Lord Halifax requests "facts as quickly as possible"
extract Air Chief: RAF attacked Kiel, Wilhelmshaven overnight. One of our pilots thought he obtained a direct hit on the Tirpitz
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Richard Kiel
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Tangier
place Malta
place Africa
place Lisbon, New York
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees illegal immigrants rescued from wreck of SS Patria may remain in Palestine as a "special act of clemency"
extract Minister for Labour Bevin: "Content to accept the advice of the Prime Minister on this matter"
extract PM: Cartoon of Minister for Labour "no more than a vulgar insult". "Best course" not to institute libel proceedings
extract Anderson: Repairs "well in hand" in all 3 cities subjected to recent heavy air attack (Birmingham, Coventry, Bristol)
extract Morrison: Number of homeless persons in rest centres in London has "fallen from a peak of about 24,000 to about 6,000"
extract Air Secretary to investigate statements in telegrams from abroad that UK bombs are "too small or did not explode"
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place Bristol
organisation Home Office
 

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 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
 

Relations with Eire.

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

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Production restored in Sheffield shortly. Civic authorities have stood the strain well, public morale excellent
extract General Dill: Heavy snow in Albania but Greeks making some small advances. War Office considering sending warm clothing
extract General Dill: Position in Bardia "developing slowly and favourably". 800 prisoners taken at Sidi Omar and more to come
extract Air Chief: Recent air fighting in Libya "extremely satisfactory". UK losses 10, enemy 77 certain and 25 probable
extract Air Chief: "Excellent results" from 3 nights of attacks on Mannheim. 100 tons of explosives, 14,000 incendiaries dropped
extract Halifax: Swiss have issued "very strong" protest over bombing of Basle. Claim clear visibility means "no possible excuse"
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Albania
place Africa
place Burma
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: 18,500 people successfully rehoused in Sheffield. Homeless there reduced to about 1,500
extract Talks proceeding on new finance deal with US. President Roosevelt hopes to put matter before Congress in "a few days"
extract General Dill: Some Sikh troops in Hong Kong apparently object "to wearing steel helmets". A number have been arrested
extract General Dill: Unconfirmed reports of German troops moving through Hungary, either to Roumania, Yugoslavia or Bulgaria
extract General Dill: Preparations for attack on Bardia continuing. Garrison believed to be 13,400. 40,000 prisoners now taken
person Walter Hines Page
person Herbert Morrison
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Hungary
place Hong Kong
place Manchester, New Hampshire
place Bulgaria
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Indian National Congress
 

Thursday 2nd January 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves Chancellor's plan of economic action against Eire. Irish food imports and shipping to be disrupted
extract American Naval Attaché in London to be informed of defects in US supplied Destroyers. President not to be told directly
extract President expects financial aid bill for UK to be passed around February 15th. Possible to meet our payments until then
extract President Roosevelt proposes sending Red Cross food aid to France and Spain. PM: Not politically possible to oppose this
extract General Heywood reports "very rigorous conditions" on Greek Front causing frostbite but Greek forces "in very good heart"
extract Air Chief: Last night's attack on Bremen appears "from preliminary reports to have been highly successful"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Ernest Bevin
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place South Africa
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Washington
organisation Home Office
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves seizure of 4 French ships. Vessels to be held until Vichy releases Allied vessels held in French ports
extract Admiralty: Attacks on UK shipping now "on a greatly reduced scale" due to wintry weather and "our protective measures"
extract Unconfirmed reports Gazala (30 miles west of Tobruk) abandoned by the enemy. 35 enemy aircraft "burnt out and abandoned"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Hugh Dalton
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Leo Amery
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Tobruk
place Burma
organisation Home 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 Renewed warning of German plans for gas attack. "Very few people" now carry gas masks. Home Secretary to consider steps
extract Morrison: "Sporadic, but widespread" air attack yesterday. "As many as 100 people might be trapped" by bomb in Lambeth
extract Air Chief: Overnight raid on Wilhelmshaven "very successful". Two enemy machines brought down near London last night
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Hugh Dalton
person Herbert Morrison
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Andrew Duncan
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Preparations for attack on Tobruk delayed owing to sand storms. Italians falling back on the Kassala front
extract Admiralty: Damage to HMS Illustrious not serious but 10 ships lost in last 4 days, 3 by U-boat action, 3 by raider action
extract PM: Important to maintain strong air defence at Malta. Fighter reinforcements must be sent, AA ammunition reserve checked
extract "Cheerful telegram" from Air Officer Commanding Malta: about 37 enemy aircraft downed in the recent heavy air attacks
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Clement Attlee
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden urges Yugoslavia and Turkey to make clear they would regard any German infiltration of Bulgaria as an open invasion
extract Weather on Continent makes invasion unlikely in next few weeks. War Secretary to consider extended leave for Home Forces
extract Information Minister to publicise an Italian cavalry charge on Sudan Front. Cavalry charged our gun position, losing 25
extract General Dill: Italian retreat continuing on Kassala front but Italians fighting better than in Libya
extract PM to send "private congratulatory telegram to General Wavell" on Tobruk capture. Number of prisoners taken not yet known
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Clement Attlee
place Kassala
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Ethiopia
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Vichy's new economic proposals have "little relation to reality". UK will refuse to "make large concessions"
extract PM: Position "an anxious one and must be carefully watched". Defence Committee reviewing Eastern Mediterranean area
extract Cabinet discuss Balkans. Death of General Metaxas "a serious loss". Clear some German infiltration of Bulgaria occurring
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Cranborne
place Ethiopia
place Morocco
place Africa
place Bulgaria
 

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
 

United States Bases.

extract Colonial Secretary circulates draft text of lease for British bases to the United States
place Cranborne
place Bermuda
 

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 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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cadogan: President Roosevelt had "frank talk" with Japanese Ambassador. Tension in the Far East seems to have lessened
extract General Dill: Greeks again taking offensive in Albania, apparently with success, but so far only 400 prisoners confirmed
extract General Dill: "Not yet known what success, if any" achieved in Operation Colossus before our parachutists taken prisoner
extract Air Chief: 3 lost enemy aircraft have landed or tried to land at UK aerodromes. One captured intact with crew
person Alexander Cadogan
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Francisco Franco
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Europe
place Kismayo
place Albania
place Thailand
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place Libya
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cadogan: General Franco refused "abject appeal for help" from Signor Mussolini at their recent meeting
extract Remaining UK assets in America to be given to US government. PM: We will receive "far more than we could possibly give"
extract PM: Japan offers to mediate between Hitler and ourselves. Will make clear our war purpose is the eradication of Hitlerism
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Francisco Franco
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Cranborne
place Africa
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: Japanese Ambassador denies "aggressive intentions" against Australia, Singapore or Dutch East Indies
extract President Roosevelt has "advised against interception" of Japanese vessel Asaku Maru. Vessel allowed to leave Lisbon
extract General Haining: Allied forces in Italian Somaliland have captured Jumbo and are advancing on Brava. 3000 prisoners taken
extract PM Churchill welcomes PM Menzies to all War Cabinet meetings while in UK. Commonwealth relationship "unique in history"
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Somaliland
place Cranborne
place Madagascar
place Singapore
place Eritrea
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves non compulsory "thinning out" of coastal towns. PM: "Undesirable to exercise too great pressure"
extract Cabinet votes to approve double summer-time from around 1st May to 8th August. Home Secretary to take necessary steps
extract Admiralty: 19 convoy vessels sunk or damaged off Ireland. PM: Effort against this danger must "be our supreme exertion"
extract Air Chief: RAF bombed Cologne and invasion ports overnight. 1st use of Manchester bombers. 150 fires observed in Cologne
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
place Somaliland
place Manchester
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Eritrea
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
 

Monday 3rd March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves public statement on gas weapons. Bevin calls for regular gas mask drill in workshops, offices, schools
extract UK Ambassador in Sofia authorised to break off diplomatic relations and leave Bulgaria as soon as position "impossible"
place Ankara
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Malta
place Bulgaria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Shortage of jam "a serious matter" says PM Churchill. Rationing of other foods drives "people to consume more bread"
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Haining: Our forces meeting "considerable resistance" in attacks against "strongly fortifified" Keren in Eritrea
extract Admiralty: 150,000 tons of shipping damaged in the last 4 days during air attacks on Merseyside and Manchester
extract Air Chief: In last 4 days 27 enemy aircraft destroyed over UK, 20 over Greece (23 damaged). UK losses 4 (3 pilots safe)
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Bob Kerslake
place Greece
place Somaliland
place Manchester
place Cranborne
place Manchester, New Hampshire
place Eritrea
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Necessity for base facilities in Eire.

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

Meeting minutes

extract PM: 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
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "A clear rebuff to our enemies". UK will recognise new government if it is "determined" to denounce Pact with Germany
extract Cabinet informed King Peter has seized authority in Yugoslavia, arrested Ministers, appointed new government
person Herbert Morrison
place Athens
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Belgrade
place South America
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden to warn Italy any attempt to scuttle ships at Massawa will result in UK ceasing food shipments to Eritrea, Abyssinia
extract President Roosevelt has sent details of first allotments under Lease and Lend Act. 180 'planes, 5,500 Oerlikon guns...
extract PM: Have telegraphed congratulations to Sir Andrew Cunningham and Sir Arthur Longmore on this fortunate and timely action
extract Admiralty: 3 enemy cruisers and 2 destroyers sunk and an Italian battleship torpedoed at Matapan. Our losses two aircraft
person Stafford Cripps
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
place Greece
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation United States Navy
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

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 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 Beaverbrook: Serious damage suffered by aircraft factories at Rochester and Belfast last night
extract Haining: Greeks holding out at Roupel Pass and on the Nestos Line. Yugoslavs have given ground in the Strumica Valley
extract General Haining: It is believed our infantry formations in Libya have completed their withdrawal to the Tobruk area
extract War Cabinet accepts offer from President Roosevelt for additional US forces to defend Newfoundland, Bermuda and Trinidad
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Telesforo Trinidad
place Cranborne
place Bermuda
place Albania
place Newfoundland, Kentucky
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM opposes requesting US approach Eire government over bases. "Discreet soundings" if De Valera willing to visit London
extract General Haining: Greek troops still holding out NE of Salonika though cut off by German advance. Our forces holding line
extract PM: Issue communiqué naming Generals and state part of our rear-guard cut off but our main force now in the Tobruk area
extract War Secretary: Germans broadcasting 6 UK Generals, 2,000 troops prisoners in Libya. Should we admit 3 Generals missing?
place Cranborne
place Tobruk
place Berlin
place Eritrea
place Addis Ababa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Chief: Aircraft losses in Libya during the previous two or three days are Enemy: 25, Our Own: 9
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Cranborne
place Tobruk
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
 

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 Morrison: Palace of Westminster "considerably damaged". Damage to Admiralty building, Selfridges, Kidbrooke aerodrome
extract Morrison: Attack on London last night affected 66 boroughs, especially Central and South London. 40 serious fires
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Telesforo Trinidad
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Madrid
place Basra
place Dublin
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

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

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
 

Thursday 1st May 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill pays tribute to Prime Minister Menzies who is attending his final meeting of the War Cabinet "on this visit"
extract Eden: Iraqi Army has taken up positions on hills surrounding our aerodrome at Habbaniya. RAF will be used if need be
extract Morrison: Plymouth has suffered air attack 5 nights running. Report of unofficial nightly exodus to surrounding districts
extract General Dill: Evacuation operations from Greece now complete. Total Army personnel got away about 43,000 (out of 55,000)
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Report by United Kingdom High Commissioner in Canada.

extract Dominions Secretary circulates assessment of Canadian PM Mackenzie King. "Shrewd and humorous", swims with Roosevelt
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place Cranborne
 

Report by United Kingdom High Commissioner in Canada.

extract UK High Commissioner Canada reports talks between PM King and Roosevelt. US culture "slopping over every day into Canada"
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Stephen King
place Cranborne
 

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
 

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 Home Secretary to inform Northern Ireland PM War Cabinet "disposed to apply conscription" and seek view of NI government
extract General Dill: All objectives taken in recent Libya operations but Capuzzo afterwards lost to a counter-attack
extract PM Churchill to bring the shipping position in the Central Atlantic "to the notice of President Roosevelt"
person Alexander Cadogan
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Tobruk
place Syria
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

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 Cabinet postpones decision on N.Ireland conscription. NI Government says opposition "more widespread" than realised"
extract Some Ministers express doubt over "adequacy of the preparations in Crete to meet the scale of attack which had developed"
extract Cabinet told "critical point" reached in operation to hold Crete. "Crucial" to prevent reinforcements reaching the enemy
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Ernest Bevin
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Maxime Weygand
place Cranborne
place Washington
place Northern Ireland
place Denmark
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "More trouble than it was worth" to apply conscription to Northern Ireland. "Best to dispose of the matter"
extract PM: "Every hope" that we shall soon receive information that this enemy ship has been destroyed
extract PM: Bismark has received four hits from torpedoes, and is virtually stationary. Strong naval forces near at hand
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
place Cranborne
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: About 100 German survivors from the Bismarck picked up by our ships
extract Admiralty: Ships returning from action against Bismarck attacked off Irish coast. HMS Norfolk damaged, HMS Mashona sunk
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
place Cranborne
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Monday 2nd June 1941

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: 17,000 of our troops evacuated from Crete. Our losses 7-8,000, German losses considerably higher
extract Air Chief: Estimated 25% of German Air Force employed against Crete. Enemy might have lost 400 aircraft in the operations
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Walter Hines Page
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
place Greece
place Russian Empire
place Manchester
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Cyprus
place Syria
place Dublin
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Iran
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet informed German concentration against Russia proceeding and "should be by now nearly complete"
extract General Dill: "No reason to be dissatisfied with the progress made" although a number of tanks put out of action by mines
extract General Dill: Attack in Western Desert underway. Enemy at Halfaya still resisting. Fort Capuzzo, Bir Waer in our hands
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
place Portugal
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Germany should be represented as an insatiable tyrant that attacked Russia to obtain material for carrying on the war
extract Cabinet told "no change" in position between Russia and Germany. Question raised over publicity "line" if war broke out
person Herbert Morrison
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Cairo
place Beirut
place Washington
place Syria
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Soviets ready to receive British Military Mission, provided we accept they will "give help as well as receive it"
extract General Dill: No information received from Russo-German front. Russian concentrations appear to be too far forward
extract Cabinet approves daylight bombing of industrial targets in Northern France. Air Chief to consider if warning to be given
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Ronnie Campbell
person Stafford Cripps
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Moscow
place London, Ontario
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Labour Party (UK)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee to nominate representatives from industry for Mission to United States. "Very unfortunate" details leaked to Press
extract Eden: Russians have bombed Finnish aerodromes. Prospects of Finnish neutrality being maintained "not very bright"
extract Eden: Spanish government apologises, promises compensation for damage to British Embassy Madrid in "organised riot"
extract General Dill: "Stiff fighting in Syria". Damascus and Merjayoun now in our hands. Have advanced 10-12 miles toward Beirut
extract General Dill: No first-hand information from USSR. Germans making some progress but Old Russian frontier not yet reached
person Walter Hines Page
person Duff Cooper
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Sumner Welles
place Finland
place Cranborne
place Madrid
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Beirut
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Madrid, New York
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation House of Lords
 

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