Second World War (1939-1945)
Found in 2728 Collections and/or Records:
(Untitled), 08 Dec 1941
Telegram from WSC to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek "British Empire and United States have been attacked by Japan - always we have been friends: now we face a common enemy".
(Untitled), 08 Dec 1941
Telegram from the Prime Minister of Canada [Mackenzie King] to WSC advising that Canada has declared war on Japan.
(Untitled), 08 Dec 1941
Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] on wording of bulletin concerning General Alan Cunningham's replacement [as commander of the 8th Army] and general statement on progress of battle.
(Untitled), 08 Dec 1941
Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC on battle in Libyan desert, Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa]; Allies advancing, New Zealand casualty figures.
(Untitled), 09 Dec 1941
Telegram from WSC to [Alfred] Duff Cooper [later 1st Lord Norwich], Resident Cabinet Minister at Singapore for Far Eastern affairs, authorising him to form a War Council, and detailing principle tasks.
(Untitled), 09 Dec 1941
Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Canada [Mackenzie King], the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin], Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] and Prime Minister of South Africa [General Jan Smuts] with statement on the battle of Libya for House of Commons.
(Untitled), 10 Dec 1941
Telegram from WSC to Anthony Eden [Foreign Secretary, later 1st Lord Avon] on Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor [United States], and aggression towards Malaya [later Malaysia]; Germany and Italy about to declare war on the United States; Soviet success along Leningrad and Moscow front [Soviet Union]; success in Libya.
(Untitled), 09 Dec 1941
Telegrams from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC on battle in Libyan desert, Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa]; "Enemy is apparently in full retreat towards the west".
(Untitled), 10 Dec 1941
Telegram from the Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC advising he act upon enclosed message from General Bernard Freyberg [Commander of New Zealand forces, Middle East] to Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] criticising tactics in battle for Libya.
(Untitled), 11 Dec 1941
Telegram from [Alfred] Duff Cooper [Resident Cabinet Minister at Singapore for Far Eastern affairs, later 1st Lord Norwich] to WSC suggesting composition of War Council to meet every morning.
(Untitled), 11 Dec 1941
Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC with news of battle in western desert; enemy congregating around Gazala [? Libya]; prisoner of war figures.
(Untitled), 12 Dec 1941
Telegrams from [Alfred] Duff Cooper [Resident Cabinet Minister at Singapore for Far Eastern affairs, later 1st Lord Norwich] to WSC requesting that Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall [Commander-in-Chief, Far East] be transferred from Cairo [Egypt] to Singapore; also urgent need or reinforcements.
(Untitled), 12 Dec 1941
Telegram from WSC to Anthony Eden [Foreign Secretary, later 1st Lord Avon] on effect of the entry into the war of Japan and the United States; loss of the Prince of Wales and Repulse, and United States fleet at Pearl Harbor giving Japan control of the Pacific.
(Untitled), 12 Dec 1941
(Untitled), 12 Dec 1941
Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India] giving him command of Burma [later Myanmar]; Iraq and Persia [Iran] to come under Cairo [Egypt] command.
(Untitled), 25 Apr 1945
Telegram from WSC to Marshal Stalin marked "Personal and Top Secret" repeating the text of a telegram [from the British Minister in Sweden, Sir Victor Mallet] to WSC reporting a meeting between Count Folke Bernadotte [Vice-Chairman of the Swedish Red Cross] and Heinrich Himmler [Head of the SS] in which Himmler offered German surrender in Western Europe while continuing the war against the Soviet Union and asserted that Hitler was "desperately ill".
(Untitled), 01 May 1945
(Untitled), 01 May 1945
(Untitled), 09 May 1945
Telegram from WSC to Lord Louis Mountbatten [Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia] congratulating him on victory at Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar] and the end of the Burmese campaign despite the reduced strength of his forces; and informing him of the creation of the "Burma Star" decoration.
(Untitled), 14 May 1945
(Untitled), 06 May 1945
Telegram from AMSSO to 21 Army Group, Forward, passing on a "Personal and Top Secret" message from WSC to Field Marshal [Sir Bernard] Montgomery [Commander 21st Army Group] expressing his concern at delays in the passing of armoured forces into Denmark, asserting the importance of "forestalling" Soviet attempts to gain control of any part of Denmark, and mentioning a "public telegram" of congratulations for Montgomery.
(Untitled), 03 May [1945]
Telegram from War Office to TAC HQ 21 Army Group passing on a "Personal and Secret, also Private" message from WSC to Field Marshal [Sir Bernard] Montgomery [Commander 21st Army Group] stating his pleasure at Montgomery's advance to Lubeck [Germany] and the news that he is to receive the surrender of General Gunther Blumentritt's Army Group and mentioning sending a message of public appreciation.
Various correspondence, 1941-c 1956
View from roof of Flamsteed House showing the following domes: Astrographic, 28-inch (perforated during war), Altazimuth and Thompson, 1948
War-damage visible.
View of 28-inch (Great Equatorial) Dome from Greenwich Park, 1948
Photograph showing 1) the war damaged dome and 2) the repaired brickwork around the double doors onto balcony which was breached in December 1947 when the telescope was being removed for transportation to Herstmonceux.