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Second World War (1939-1945)

 Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 2737 Collections and/or Records:

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(Untitled), 31 Dec 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68A/6
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in- Chief, Middle East, to WSC on subjects including a tank encounter to the south of Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya], the accuracy of RAF bombing and the movement of enemy ships from Ras el Aali.

Dates: 31 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 12 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68A/60-66
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC reviewing recent developments, including: an anticipated German attack in North Africa; the feeling that Britain is less concerned with the Pacific than with Europe; WSC's discussions with the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt; the definition of South West Pacific; the division of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean into different theatres; the need for naval supremacy against Japan which has already...
Dates: 12 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 11 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68A/67-68
Scope and Contents Telegram from [Alfred] Duff Cooper [Resident Cabinet Minister at Singapore for Far Eastern affairs and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, later 1st Lord Norwich] to WSC and the Secretary of State for the Colonies [1st Lord Moyne, earlier Walter Guinness] on a lack of confidence in the local administration: suggests Major-General Keith Simmons, Fortress Commander, be appointed as military governor, supported by Brigadier Simson, Director General of Civil Defence, and that Hugh Fraser...
Dates: 11 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 12 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68A/69-70
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC with impressions of personalities in Batavia [later Djakarta, Java, Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia]: Hart, [Admiral Thomas Hart, United States Admiral in the Pacific], Palliser [? Rear-Admiral Arthur Palliser, Chief of Staff to Commander- in-Chief, Eastern Fleet], Brett [Lieutenant-General George Brett, Commander of Allied air forces, Dutch East Indies], General Hein ter Poorten [Commander-in-Chief,...
Dates: 12 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 31 Dec 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68A/7
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, requesting a quick finish in the Bardia [Libya], Sollum and Halfaya regions [Egypt].

Dates: 31 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 12 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68A/72-73
Scope and Contents Telegrams from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on subjects including: the disorganisation of the enemy; Germans and Italians have retreated to Marsa el Brega [Qasr al Burayqah, Libya], Maatex Giofen and Agheila; development of Benghazi hindered by bad weather; enemy weakness and remaining troop numbers; Auchinleck wants to accelerate pressure in Libya and proceed with "Acrobat" [codename for operation against Tripoli] as news from Russian front is...
Dates: 12 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 02 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68A/8
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC asking for confirmation of press statement that General Sir Archibald Wavell will command United States and British land operations in the Pacific whilst Admiral King [? Admiral Ernest King, United States Navy] will command the combined navies.

Dates: 02 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 02 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68A/9-10
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on subjects including: activity in Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya]; RAF bombing of Ras Aali; prisoner-of-war figures; fighter planes over Agedabia; news from Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie [Commander of 8th Army] on the Allied capture of Bardia, and release of British prisoners-of-war.

Dates: 02 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 16 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/100
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC on defence of Batavia [later Djakarta, Java, Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] against Japanese attack across Johore Straits.

Dates: 16 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/101-102
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on the surrender of Halfaya [Libya] and prisoners-of-war and supplies captures; Allied prisoners liberated; commends Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie [Commander, 8th Army], Lieutenant-General [Charles] Willoughby Norrie [General Officer Commanding 30th Corps (Middle East)] and Major-General Isaac de Villiers.

Dates: 17 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/105-106
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] sympathising with his complaints about lack of support [see telegram T 42/2, CHAR 20/68A/60-66] and explaining developments for defence of the Anzac [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] area, especially a representative council in London, and the scope of the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area.

Dates: 17 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/107-108
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin, to WSC on disagreements over the defence of Malaya [later Malaysia] and the speed of Japanese advance and vulnerability of Australia if Singapore falls.

Dates: 18 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/109-110
Scope and Contents Telegrams from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, on redeployment of troops: Australians to move from Middle East to Far East; United States forces to Northern Ireland (codenamed "Magnet"), the Levant and Caspian Sea, and to Iceland for training; United States contribution to "Gymnast" [codename for the plans for the British occupation of North West Africa] will be "Super- Gymnast" [codename for a combined landing by British and United States forces], and...
Dates: 18 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/115
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] on confusion among the United States Chiefs of Staff over defence of the Philippines.

Dates: 19 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/116-119
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] on subjects including: denying personal responsibility for lack of preparation for war; relating the threat in the Middle East to European and Japanese campaigns; the development of military strategy; details of ships lost and the future build-up of naval power in the Indian Ocean and Pacific.

Dates: 19 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/120
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC on plans for the defence of Singapore; Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival [General Officer Commanding, Malaya, later Malaysia] to fight Japanese at Johore, but if he fails Singapore will fall.

Dates: 19 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/122-123
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] and to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] with a proposal for a Far Eastern council in London to co-ordinate the governments of Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands in the conduct of war against Japan.

Dates: 19 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/124
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Supreme Commander, South West Pacific, insisting that Singapore be defended until the city is ruined and all equipment destroyed to prevent its capture.

Dates: 19 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/126-128
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Chiefs of Staff to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] with detailed suggestions for the defence of Johore [Malaya, later Malaysia] and Singapore.

Dates: 19 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/130-132
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC on subjects including: congratulating him on his trip [to Washington, United States]; commending the defence of the Far East but insisting on the Middle East and North Africa as the theatre of prime importance; Soviet success against Germany and Hitler's intentions towards Turkey and the Caucasus; making political concessions in India to secure support; improving tanks to German standards.

Dates: 20 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/133
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall [Chief of Staff, ABDA (Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian) Command] to WSC advising that the situation around Singapore is worsening.

Dates: 20 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/134-135
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC acknowledging the new arrangements for the ABDA area [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian], suggesting that the United States, which has naval responsibility for the Pacific and Anzac [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] areas should be on the consultative committee and asking for improved communications with General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific].

Dates: 20 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/137-138
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC advising that as communication has been established with General Douglas MacArthur [Commanding General, United States Army Forces in the Far East] and Sharpe [Major-General William Sharpe], he will take over command of the Philippines; Singapore defences were aimed solely at seaward attack; reinforcements for Singapore, Java [part of Indonesia] and Sumatra.

Dates: 21 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 08 May 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 19/7/80
Scope and Contents

Incomplete minute [from ?F A Lindemann, later 1st Lord Cherwell, WSC's Personal Assistant] to WSC on shipping for the British Expeditionary Force to France.

Dates: 08 May 1940
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 13 Aug 1940

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/2A/42-43
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to Anthony Eden [Secretary of State for War, later 1st Lord Avon] on General Sir Archibald Wavell and [?] General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson [General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command], and changes to the situation in the Middle East.

Dates: 13 Aug 1940
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open