Greenwood, Nova Scotia

City

Greenwood (2001 pop. 4,500) is a village located in the western part of Kings County in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley. Surrounded by agricultural lands, Greenwood was a small hamlet south of the Dominion Atlantic Railway's Kingston Station. In 1942, the Royal Air Force established RAF Station Greenwood and built an aerodrome on nearby farmland to provide a facility for training ...

Read more at Wikipedia

Documents about Greenwood, Nova Scotia

Tuesday 14th May 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract Home Security Minister calls for internment of enemy aliens. PM: “Better that these persons should be behind barbed-wire”
extract German attack on Switzerland today “possible”. PM: Swiss “brave and determined”. "Confident they would fight the invader”
extract PM to send personal message to Mussolini expressing “hope that this country and Italy should not be divided by bloodshed”
extract Chief of Air Staff reports loss of over 100 British fighter aircraft. Pilots “in tremendous fettle, but weary”
extract Belgian government has not yet evacuated Brussels. UK command “confident” Belgians can hold position
extract Lord Halifax confirms Dutch government will continue war from exile and in Colonies. Information Minister to announce
extract Churchill “refuses to accept” PM Reynaud’s “gloomy” analysis of "serious" military situation. French Generals “calm”
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Paul Reynaud
person Alan Keyes
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Halifax Peninsula
place Republic of China
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK force in Norway told to expect no new troops to support operations around Narvik. Town will be captured “any moment”
extract PM orders 12 new fighter squadrons in a month. Air Production Minister to discuss how to meet “impossible” target
extract Air Chief: Germans made “considerable advance” overnight. Situation “very serious”. Information Minister to warn public
extract PM reports on visit to France. Demanded "supreme effort" in exchange for more aircraft because of "grave risk" to UK
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Narvik
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees no further refugees should be admitted to UK until the military situation becomes clearer
extract UK Ambassador Belgrade reports rumour Germany may make peace offer before a “decisive attack” on England
extract Halifax and Churchill express concern at UK operations in Norway. Force used “urgently needed elsewhere”
extract As “precautionary measure” PM directs Admiralty to gather large number of small vessels ready to proceed to French coast
extract Le Havre subjected to intense air attack overnight. RAF has lost a further 23 aircraft in last 24 hours
extract German units advancing on Arras, held by "partially trained" 23rd Division. BEF holding: “Tired but in very good heart”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet informed French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud arriving in London for meetings with British government
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Paul Reynaud
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary Eden: “Now clear” Calais has fallen. UK troops "cut off from the quay", holding positions in the streets
extract No information on Army casualties. “Some personnel” withdrawn from France. Ship leaving Dunkirk “heavily attacked”
extract PM informs War Cabinet King Leopold of Belgium seeking Armistice - to take effect from Midnight. “Certainly not heroic”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Alan Keyes
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract Evacuation of children from vulnerable UK coastal towns to begin in 72 hours. London registration will begin June 3rd
extract Cabinet discuss possible German plans for invasion of UK and home defence. PM suggests using gas to defend UK beaches
extract Home Secretary prepares deportation of 1,500 Italians (“desperate characters”) if Anglo-Italian relations worsen further
extract French government makes clear their intention to approach Signor Mussolini without the UK
extract Air Chief: Bad weather over France "in our favour" preventing Germany bombing beaches
extract Admiralty and War Office put number of troops evacuated at over 100,000. Information Minister to tell press of withdrawal
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Clive Anderson
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Halifax Peninsula
place Dunkirk
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Navy
 

Saturday 1st June 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Battle "in progress along the whole Western Front." PM Reynaud again urges fast despatch of UK forces
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Paul Reynaud
place Iceland
place Narvik
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
place Libya
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract Home Security Minister now taking into custody Italians resident in the UK. Cabinet keen to deport "as many as possible"
extract General Dill: French "fighting well", German advance "much slower" than expected. News scant due to move of French HQ
extract UK Ambassador Paris reports French morale "now everywhere good", sees "a general determination to fight to a finish"
extract PM to go to France for Supreme War Council meeting. Aims to find out French intentions, discourage move to separate peace
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person John Dill
place Portugal
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Turkey
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Dangerous "thrust towards Verdun" by Germans. "If successful, would turn the Maginot Line"
extract PM: If France refuse terms Hitler's only course to "smash this island". Then America in the war "within a fortnight"
extract Halifax: France must be made to see that Armistice "a slippery slope" to loss of their fleet and eventually their liberty
extract PM Reynaud to appeal for "maximum help" short of an expeditionary force from US. France to "hold on" for US response
extract Statement by US President "much heartened" French government. Churchill: "As near as possible to a declaration of war"
extract Churchill: PM Reynaud asked that France be released from agreement not to make a separate peace with Germany
extract Telegram from Roosevelt to PM Reynaud: US "doing everything in its power" to make war material available to Allies
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Press uncertainty over possible announcement of neutrality by Spain. UK Ambassador: "We should take nothing for granted"
extract Turkey considering whether to declare war on Italy. Egyptian government has severed diplomatic relations
extract UK 52nd division having a "very good" morale effect on French. Eden: Their arrival "might make all the difference"
extract General Dill: Germans claim to be "within 12 miles of Paris already", capital being encircled. Rheims cut off to the east
extract PM Churchill and Lord Halifax in France for further meeting with French government. PM to return tonight to brief Cabinet
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Dill
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agree not to bomb Vatican but tell Papal Nuncio safety of rest of Rome depends on Italy observing "rules of war"
extract Roosevelt will not publish his message of support to France. PM: US holding back will have "disastrous effect" on French
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Vatican City
place Turkey
place Sicily
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
organisation KEF
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian PM and 50 staff flown into London from Nantes. 1000 Canadian troops arriving for defence of Iceland today
extract Eden: Report from Information Minister on UK public opinion "not very encouraging". PM to broadcast speech on 18th
extract South African PM calls for UK occupation of Irish ports ahead of Germany. Chamberlain: UK should "insist" on IRA roundup
extract PM Reynaud offers meeting in France this afternoon. Churchill declines, UK sending assent for France to ask for terms
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Neville Chamberlain
person Paul Reynaud
place South Africa
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place London, Ontario
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract 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
 

Monday 1st July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet approves despatch of troops from India to Iraq. Colonial Secretary: Early introduction of force "essential"
extract PM: Growth in scheme to evacuate children abroad "defeatist", must be "sternly discouraged". Entry to scheme to be closed
extract General Dill: De Gaulle has been addressing French troops in UK. 1,900 volunteers have been assembled at White City
extract Admiralty reports ten Italian submarines have been sunk in three weeks since Italy joined war
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clive Anderson
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Leo Amery
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madagascar
place Iraq
place Hong Kong
place British Cameroons
place North America
place Nigeria
place Syria
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told French cruiser accidentally sunk without warning yesterday. UK to apologise and restate warning policy
extract Cabinet agrees to pause overseas evacuation of UK children. Vessels cannot be escorted and so are at too great a risk
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Richard Kiel
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Hamburg
place Halifax Peninsula
place North America
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Government of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

extract French Charge d'Affaires lodges formal protest against “irregular and unnecessary” segregation of French missions to UK
extract Cabinet approves Home Security plan to modify UK air raid warning system to carry on factory production during air attack
extract Air Secretary: Germans may be using captured Hurricanes from Belgium and France in air attacks on UK
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Office inform Cabinet Roumania has left League of Nations. Sign of "complete subservience of Roumania to Germany"
extract Chamberlain rules out guarantee by UK to restore "the independence and territorial integrity of France" and French Empire
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Charles de Gaulle
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Neville Chamberlain
place Portugal
place Madrid
place Europe
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place West Germany
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Japan situation does "not look very favourable". Rejects call for deal to be made before new government in place
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Clement Attlee
person Neville Chamberlain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Clement Attlee proposes "Youth Force" for young men below the age for military service. Cabinet orders detailed scheme
extract Halifax: UK may be "held up to the execration of the World" for operating a blockade preventing food imports to Europe
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Clement Attlee
place Halifax Peninsula
place Europe
place South America
place Morocco
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet alters India Secretary's statement. No question of India achieving status of Canada or Australia for 40 years
extract PM Churchill accuses India Secretary of negotiating future Indian government with Viceroy without full Cabinet approval
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Clement Attlee
person Leo Amery
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Advanced Micro Devices
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Despite "some risk" Cabinet agrees to supply arms and equipment to Eire to protect the country against German invasion
extract France refusing to resume diplomatic contact with UK without "unacceptable" conditions being met. Halifax to consider
extract Overnight air attack on Dover shipping "most serious attack yet experienced". 5 UK vessels sunk, 26 enemy aircraft downed
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Clement Attlee
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Europe
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

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 2nd August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee warns evacuation of east coast towns bankrupting local authorities. Lowestoft already "in the hands of a bank"
extract HMS Highlander, off the north coast of Scotland, is reporting having brought down two Heinkels by machine-gun fire
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK diplomats recommend withdrawal of N. China garrisons. PM: Troops can reinforce Singapore, "might help our prestige"
extract Aircraft Production Minister: "Very anxious" to avoid any suspicion that Government "encouraging the holiday spirit"
extract Cabinet agrees relaxation of holiday rules to avoid "serious" effects on production. No announcement to be made
extract Minister of Labour proposes confiscating any wages of conscientious objectors higher than a private soldier's income
extract Cabinet approves seizure of Baltic shipping. Halifax: Will cause "trouble with Moscow" but necessary "as a pledge"
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Andrew Duncan
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place South Africa
place Singapore
place North China
place Tokyo
place Republic of China
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: "Strong Italian attack in three columns" developing against British Somaliland. Two columns heading towards capital
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Richard Kiel
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Leo Amery
place Somaliland
place Malta
place North China
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation British Army
organisation United States Navy
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told three Australian government ministers and Chief of Australian General Staff killed in Canberra air accident
extract Air Chief: Total civilian and service casualties during 24 hours ending at 0600 this morning 63 killed and 155 injured
extract Air Chief: So far today 6 confirmed, 11 unconfirmed enemy losses. 3 of our own aircraft crashed, 2 unaccounted for
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place East Germany
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation United Nations
organisation Home Fleet
organisation Bank of England
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: UK forces in Somaliland withdrawing after Italian attack "with hopelessly superior forces and fire power"
extract Home Secretary believes find of dropped German parachutes "plan to undermine morale". No evidence of paratroops landing
extract Air Secretary: Despite "intense air fighting" British figures carefully tested and "almost certainly under the mark"
extract UK Embassy Washington warns UK/German claims of downed aircraft "so contradictory" US may think both sides "telling lies"
extract Air Chief: Figures for fighting over UK yesterday: 8 RAF machines lost (3 pilots saved), 30 Enemy destroyed, 8 probable
extract Air Chief: RAF attacked targets overnight in France, Belgium and Holland. "Good results" against oil target near Bordeaux
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Clive Anderson
person William Anderson (RAAF officer)
place Somaliland
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract At insistence of Air Production Minister Beaverbrook, Cabinet agrees to continue priority 1A for aircraft ahead of tanks
extract Cabinet argue production priority for tanks, aircraft. PM: Not at issue whether we have aircraft or tanks. We need both
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Ministry of Supply
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: President Roosevelt hopes to begin supplying destroyers this week (up to 50) with additional rifles, aircraft, ships
extract Information Minister to address false press reports RAF has bombed 5 divisions of troops in France massing for invasion
extract Cabinet approves violating Swiss airspace in raids on N. Italy. Air Secretary: Necessary "to attack certain targets"
extract General Haining: Evacuation of our forces in British Somaliland complete with little loss. HMAS Hobart remaining in area
extract Cabinet express concern at ground losses of RAF aircraft, 40 destroyed at one aerodrome. Air Secretary to order inquiry
extract RAF report casualties today 22 machines lost (12 pilots saved). Enemy 126 confirmed, 26 probable and 13 downed by AA fire
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 Walter Hines Page
person Kingsley Wood
person Bob Kerslake
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place Somaliland
place Moscow
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet agrees "every endeavour must be made to limit dollar expenditure to vital needs"
extract Air Chief: Attacks yesterday mainly small, by single aircraft along the East and SE coasts. "Good proportion" intercepted
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
place Greece
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Bermuda
place Singapore
place Washington
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation House of Commons of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to assure Greek government UK will provide "immediate military and financial help" in event of attack by Italy
extract PM concerned at "heavy" merchant shipping losses, "serious" if they continue at this rate. Admiralty planning new tactics
extract Air raid casualty figures "fairly heavy". Cabinet agrees release: total "not high" compared to peace-time road casualties
extract Air Chief: Germans unload bombs whether or not targets located. RAF ordered to return bombs if targets cannot be located
extract Air Chief: Weather prevented some aircraft locating their target last night in mission to bomb military targets in Berlin
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Clement Attlee
place South Africa
place Athens
place Greece
place Gibraltar
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Looks as if whole of French Equatorial Africa and Cameroons as well as Chad territory "swinging away" from Vichy
extract PM Churchill: We can "not afford to allow any of our aerodromes to be out of action"
extract PM complains arrangements for filling aerodrome bomb craters "very inadequate". Runways must be repaired within 24 hours
extract Beaverbrook: Recent air fighting has made considerable inroads on reserves. Effect of bombing on production "not serious"
extract PM: In view of German indiscriminate bombing considering temporary "marked departure" from bombing only military targets
extract Air Chief: Bombing of Berlin targets last night "most successful". PM to send congratulatory message to Bomber Command
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Charles de Gaulle
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place South Africa
place New Caledonia
place Bermuda
place Caribbean
place British Cameroons
place Washington
place Africa
place Newfoundland, Kentucky
place Chad
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Tuesday 3rd September 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discuss compensation for households damaged by air raids. 8000 houses hit to August. "Very few" totally destroyed
extract PM hopes Cabinet can "continue their business without interruption" if air raids begin during meetings at Downing Street
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet meets to discuss incessant air raid warnings which are affecting production. "Red" warning to be abolished
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US has now agreed to release 250,000 further rifles to us. Negotiations proceeding over aircraft and flying boats
extract First Sea Lord: Severe loss by enemy attack on convoys approaching UK in last 3 days. 7 ships in one convoy, 4 in another
extract Air Chief: Number of enemy fighters crossed SE coast this morning. Casualties so far 9 aircraft. Enemy 10 (+5 probable)
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 Charles de Gaulle
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Kingsley Wood
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
person Clement Attlee
person Andrew Duncan
place Egypt
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary: London and Liverpool enemy's chief objectives in past 24 hours. Air Secretary to boost Liverpool defences
extract PM: German wireless has announced "Three-Power Pact" with Japan and Italy. Pact seems to be directed against USA
extract Cabinet agrees to maintain blockade of French colonies. Halifax: Difficult to alter our "join de Gaulle or starve" policy
extract PM: RAF construction/repair "nearly 2.5 times" number of machines destroyed. Fine achievement by Air Production Minister
extract Admiralty: First 5 Destroyers obtained from USA have arrived Belfast. SS Stratford, Ashantian and Port Denison torpedoed
extract Air Chief: Vickers Works severely damaged. Crewe attacked damage "slight". RAF lost 10 machines (7 pilots safe), Enemy 32
extract Air Chief: Great deal of enemy activity off Dutch coast and Dover yesterday, heavy attack on Isle of Wight & Southampton
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 Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Kassala
place Guernsey
place Portugal
place Egypt
place Madagascar
place Bermuda
place Tangier
place Liverpool
place Sudan
place Malta
place Dakar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
 

Thursday 3rd October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Swiss Minister now discussing UK airspace violations "with complete good humour". Hopes RAF will use mainly Geneva route
extract Cabinet agrees to reopen Burma Road. PM: Right decision, do not believe Japan will "declare war upon us as a result"
extract Air Chief: Air casualties 1 machine (pilot safe but wounded), Enemy 10. Weather very bad but a few bombers reached Berlin
extract Air Chief: 250 enemy aircraft over UK yesterday "only dropped a few bombs on the South Coast"
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Leo Amery
place Berlin, New York
place Singapore
place Malta
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

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 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 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
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

Thursday 7th November 1940

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 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 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 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
 

Thursday 16th January 1941

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
 

Wednesday 5th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Tokyo warns of "possibility of Japanese control over Indo-China". Chiefs of Staff to consider implications
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Bob Kerslake
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

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 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 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 Air Chief: Particulars just received of very heavy air attack on Malta yesterday by over 100 German and Italian aircraft
extract Cabinet refuses any Parliamentary debate of lease of British bases to the United States
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
place Jamaica
place Malta
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 Morrison: Casualties and damage in last night's bombing appear "to have been less than on the previous night"
extract Admiralty: Shipping losses for the last 4 days heavy but HMS Arbutus sunk a U-boat on the 7th March. 24 prisoners taken
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Liverpool
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Chief: Bomber Command sent 255 aircraft overnight to attack targets in Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Boulogne and Calais
extract Air Chief: ...In January, 1 in every 110. In March (first 12 days) 1 in 63. Agreed these figures could not be published
extract Air Chief: Measures against night bombing "increasingly effective". In December we destroyed one bomber in every 326...
place Hamburg
place Somaliland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
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
 

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
 

Wednesday 2nd April 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Kingsley Wood is now presenting his budget for 1941/2 to the War Cabinet
person Kingsley Wood
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

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 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 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 Cabinet meeting to discuss "certain difficulties" in negotiations with miners and mine-owners over pay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Iraqi Ambassador told if matters continue his country will "be at war with the whole of the British Empire"
extract Morrison: Other places attacked during the last four nights include Portsmouth, Tyneside, Barrow-in-Furness and Belfast
extract Morrison: Merseyside has suffered air attacks for 4 nights. Repeated attacks on towns "present many difficult problems"
extract General Dill: We are holding perimeter of Tobruk except part of west side. Germans using flamethrowers for first time
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Ankara
place Baghdad
place Iraq
place Jamaica
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation United States Department of State
 

Meeting minutes

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

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