Armed forces
Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus
Found in 71 Collections and/or Records:
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 28 Jul 1936 - 10 Dec 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/119A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speeches (28 and 29 July, Secret Defence Deputation to the Prime Minister [Stanley Baldwin]) on the relative strengths of the British and German air forces, the war making capacity of British and German industry, British air training facilities, and German power to bomb British cities.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on supporting the League of Nations, collective security, and policy towards Germany and Italy. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5800-4.Notes for WSC's...
Dates:
28 Jul 1936 - 10 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: Non House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 09 Jan 1941 - 27 Apr 1941
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/181A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (9 January, Pilgrim's Society Luncheon, Savoy Hotel, London) entitled "United States co-operation" proposing a toast to Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin] on his appointment as British Ambassador to the United States and on the death of [11th] Lord Lothian [earlier Philip Kerr]. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6327-9.BBC broadcast by WSC (9 February) entitled "Give us the tools" on the war situation including: the repulsion of the threat of...
Dates:
09 Jan 1941 - 27 Apr 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: speech notes and other material., 09 Jan 1941 - 27 Apr 1941
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/150A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (9 January, Pilgrim's Society Luncheon, Savoy Hotel, London) entitled "United States co-operation" proposing a toast to Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin] on his appointment as British Ambassador to the United States and on the death of [11th] Lord Lothian [earlier Philip Kerr]. Also includes cutting from the Times reporting WSC's speech. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6327-9. Various cuttings reporting WSC's speech (17 January, Glasgow [Scotland])...
Dates:
09 Jan 1941 - 27 Apr 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Fonds
The Papers of Sir Winston Churchill
Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR, CHUR and CHAQ
Scope and Contents
The papers consist of original documents accumulated by Sir Winston Churchill throughout his life (1874-1965). They have been divided into three sections: the Chartwell Papers (CHAR) and the Churchill Papers (CHUR), with some additional material (CHAQ). Together, the three sets of papers cover the following major areas:
Personal (CHAR 1, CHUR 1 and CHAQ 1/1 and 2/1), 1884-1965
The papers of Churchill as a private person. They include correspondence with or about his...
Dates:
The majority of files date from the 1870s to 1965.
Conditions Governing Access:
The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers.
This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
Unknown
"Their Finest Hour", 18 Jun 1940
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/140A/32-55
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (18 June) entitled "Their Finest Hour" on subjects including: fighting in France; the importance of unity and respect for government Ministers; preparations, defence and forces for fighting invasion by Germany, the strength of the Royal Navy; the campaign in Norway; forecasting the Battle of Britain and the determination of the RAF; support from the Dominions. He ends "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and...
Dates:
18 Jun 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), Feb 1940
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 19/6/2
Scope and Contents
First Lord of the Admiralty's printed minutes, February 1940.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (sometimes annotated with additional printed information) to: the Sea Lords, particularly 1st [Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] and [3rd Sea Lord and] Controller [Rear-Admiral Bruce Fraser]; various naval directors; [Permanent] Secretary [Sir Archibald Carter]; Sir James Lithgow [Controller of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs]; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff [Rear-Admiral Tom...
Dates:
Feb 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 04 Mar 1942 - 28 May 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/57B/157-183,185
Scope and Contents
Letter from 1st Lord Hankey [Paymaster-General] to WSC enclosing memoranda on the use and techniques of Bomber Command and the dispersal of capital ships and their use against Japan, written before his resignation; forwarded to the Secretary of State for Air [Sir Archibald Sinclair, later 1st Lord Thurso] and Chief of Air Staff [Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal], the First Lord of the Admiralty [A V Alexander] and 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound]; with replies by...
Dates:
04 Mar 1942 - 28 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 01 Mar 1941 - 31 Mar 1941
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/36/3
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, March 1941.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet], Sir Horace Wilson [Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury and official Head of HM Civil Service], and Sir Alexander Cadogan...
Dates:
01 Mar 1941 - 31 Mar 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 20 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/54B/150-163
Scope and Contents
Letter from WSC to [Franklin Roosevelt] President of the United States, detailing secret military plans, reorganisation of command, and projected course of the war: Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to attack Cyrenaica [Libya], then advance on Tripoli; invasion of Norway has been planned as a cover; reports of German preparation for invasion of Britain over North Sea; seeks introduction of American troops to Northern Ireland; command. structure between the...
Dates:
20 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), [Aug 1942]
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/56B/107-108
Scope and Contents
Memorandum [submitted by Sir Edward Bridges, Secretary to the Cabinet] examining proposition by the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps] for co-operation between the Services through an overall commander. [See CHAR 20/56B/129-134 for Cripps's proposition].
Dates:
[Aug 1942]
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 24 Jan 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/33-34
Scope and Contents
Telegram from Commanders in Chief (Middle East) to WSC giving details of German and Allied army strengths at the beginning of "Crusader" [codename for British North African operation], including details of losses on both sides and reasons for Allied success.
Dates:
24 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 01 Jul 1943 - 31 Jul 1943
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/104/1
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, July 1943.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; "C" [Major General Sir Stewart Menzies, Head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service].Subjects covered by the minutes...
Dates:
01 Jul 1943 - 31 Jul 1943
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 02 Oct 1942 - 31 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/67/8
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, October 1942.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; the Chiefs of Staff; Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Jacob [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet].Subjects covered by the minutes include:...
Dates:
02 Oct 1942 - 31 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 19 Apr 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/73/128-130
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India: comments on fighter and bomber strengths in India and Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and details reinforcements; comments on plans to build up a powerful naval force in the Indian Ocean under Admiral Sir James Somerville [Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet]; comments on the strategic importance of holding Colombo [Ceylon] and preserving the link with China; states that he is sending Wavell extracts of a telegram from...
Dates:
19 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 29 Apr 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/70-72
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: thanks Roosevelt for his telegram about "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar] and for the use of USS Wasp; comments on the arrival of General Henri Giraud at Vichy [France]; comments on "desperate attacks" on the Tirpitz at Trondheim [Norway] and German retaliation against British towns near the coast; gives details of recent German aircraft losses over Norwich [Norfolk] and York;...
Dates:
29 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 29 Jun 1945
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/232/33
Scope and Contents
Cabinet memorandum by Chancellor of the Exchequer [Sir John Anderson, later 1st Lord Waverley] on man-power in the second half of 1945, including as an appendix a memorandum by the Minister of Labour and National Service [R A Butler].
Dates:
29 Jun 1945
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), Jun 1945
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/237/2
Scope and Contents
"Table 1" giving the "estimated strengths of imperial armed forces (white troops)" at approximately 1 May or 1 June 1945 and analysing the imperial army and air force by theatre at approximately 1 June 1945.
Dates:
Jun 1945
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 17 Sep 1944
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/257/21-22
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC [in North America] to Deputy Prime Minister [Clement Attlee] and others concerned marked "From: Octagon" and "Gunfire No. 231" and "Personal and Top Secret" referring to "Cordite 159" and commenting on arrangements for the release of service personnel, drawing particular attention to the problem of men serving in the Far East and their probability of reemployment in the labour market, and the imprecise nature of the benefits to be given to personnel not serving in the...
Dates:
17 Sep 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
/
The Papers of Sir Winston Churchill
/
Chartwell Papers
/
Official: Prime Minister
/
Official: Prime Minister: WSC's Personal Telegrams from Quebec [Canada] ("Octagon"). [arranged in reverse chronological order; with some later notes by WSC and his literary assistant Denis Kelly from the time of the production of WSC's "Second World War"].
Item
(Untitled), 20 Oct 1941
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/20/43-57
Scope and Contents
Letter from WSC to President [Franklin Roosevelt] outlining various plans and proposals concerning: attacking the German and Italian armies in Libya; French North Africa; Norway; British contributions to the Soviet war effort; defending Great Britain from a possible German invasion; placing United States forces in Northern Ireland [Ulster]; the command structure in the Middle East and the roles of the Air Force and Navy; the effect of victory in Libya on Italy and Turkey; landing tanks; the...
Dates:
20 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Unknown
"War Cabinet: Chiefs of Staff Committee: Weekly Resume (no.56) of the naval, military and air situation from 12 noon September to 12 noon September 26th, 1940", 27 Sep 1940
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/6/86-99
Scope and Contents
Summary of events including: attempted landing at Dakar by General [Charles] de Gaulle; U boat activity in the North Atlantic and shipping losses; operations by German raiders; information about the disposition of German and Italian troops; events in Greece, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia], Bulgaria, the Mediterranean and the Middle East; air attacks on Germany (including Berlin) and on invasion ports in France and...
Dates:
27 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Unknown
"Wars are not won by evacuations", 04 Jun 1940
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/140A/9-28
Scope and Contents
Typescript copy of notes for WSC's speech on the fall of Belgium and surrender of King [Leopold] of Belgium; the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France]; the successes of the RAF; losses of men and weaponry; military development and the possibility of German invasion. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the beaches . . . We shall never surrender".Carbon typescript copy with some manuscript annotations in ink [not by WSC] laid out in "psalm style" apart...
Dates:
04 Jun 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open