Second World War (1939-1945)
Found in 2737 Collections and/or Records:
(Untitled), 08 Oct 1939
Letter from WSC (Admiralty) to Sir Samuel Hoare [later 1st Lord Templewood, Lord Privy Seal] with suggestions for the reorganisation of the Home Front and rationing. [see CHAR 19/2C/311-313 for draft].
(Untitled), 13 Jan [1940]
Letter from Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin, Foreign Secretary] (Foreign Office) to WSC on their different attitudes to the Narvik [Norway] project.
(Untitled), 16 Mar 1940
Letter and report from [5th Lord] Munster [earlier Geoffrey FitzClarence, ADC to 6th Lord Gort, earlier John Vereker, Commander-in-Chief of the British Field Force], to WSC on the German raid on Hartbusch.
(Untitled), 01 Apr 1940
Letter from WSC to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on creation of an Economic Minister, refers to Sir Kingsley Wood [Secretary of State for Air], Henry Page Croft and Sam [Sir Samuel Hoare, later 1st Lord Templewood, Lord Privy Seal], and to his desire to visit Edouard Daladier [French Minister of War] to talk about the British mining operation in Norwegian waters. [manuscript copy, not in WSC's hand].
(Untitled), 06 Apr 1940
(Untitled), 15 Apr 1940
Letter from WSC (Admiralty) to King George VI thanking him for his encouragement and describing plans for the Scandinavian campaign.
(Untitled), 11 Apr 1940
Letter from [Eric] Seal, Private Secretary to WSC, to [Arthur] Rucker [Principal], Private Secretary to Prime Minster, asking for the enclosed memorandum by WSC on military action in Scandinavia to be passed to [Neville] Chamberlain and Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin, Foreign Secretary]. [carbon with manuscript annotations by WSC; 2 pages extant, subsequent pages not in file].
(Untitled), 09 Apr 1940
Telegram from WSC to Admiral Sir Charles Forbes, Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, asking for clarification of decisions in Norwegian waters and offering information on rapidly changing events. [copy; for draft see CHAR 19/2C/291].
(Untitled), 29 Apr 1940
Letter from [Rear-]Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser [Controller of the Navy] to WSC, criticising the evacuation of Central Norway and giving advice on future Scandinavian movements [annotated "First Lord saw Controller 30/4/40"]; with covering letter from "E A S" [Eric Seal, Principal Private Secretary to First Lord of the Admiralty] to [Arthur] Rucker, [Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain]. [annotated "recalled before it was shown to the Prime Minister"].
(Untitled), 29 Apr 1940
Letter from [1st] Lord Hankey [Minister without Portfolio] to WSC on Norwegian developments, which they both feel have not gone far enough, enclosing memorandum on the situation and further developments.
(Untitled), 21 Apr 1940
Letter from the Admiral [of the Fleet, 12th] Lord Cork [and Orrery] to WSC on the situation in Scandinavia, particularly Narvik [Norway].
(Untitled), 26 Apr 1940
Letter from Admiral [Sir Roger] Keyes to WSC pressing for action in Norway, asking for authority to lead a Royal Marine assault on Trondheim [Norway].
(Untitled), Apr 1940-May 1940
Letters from [Sir Roger] Keyes to WSC and [Prime Minister] Neville Chamberlain on widespread dissatisfaction with the waging of the naval war, and the recent lack of success at Trondheim fjord and Steinkjer [Norway], mentions previous disasters in the World War I, and intrigue in the intervening years by [Admirals Sir Reginald] Bacon, [1st Lord] Jellicoe, [1st Lord] Beatty, [Sir Charles] Madden and especially [Sir Dudley] Pound [1st Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff].
(Untitled), 10 Sep 1939
Letter from WSC to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain with thoughts on future action relating to Germany, advising against immediate bombing raids, commenting on supplies of artillery and munitions, and offering suggestions for the development of the Navy and Army. [carbon, with manuscript annotations by WSC].
(Untitled), 12 Jul 1945 - 13 Jul 1945
Telegram from Prime Minister of Canada [Mackenzie King] to WSC marked "Top Secret and Personal" reporting on information received from the Canadian Ambassador to China [Victor Odlum] concerning China's attitude to negotiations with the Soviet Union over conditions for Soviet entry into the war against Japan. [received 13 July].
(Untitled), 14 Jul 1945
Telegram from Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC marked "Top Secret and Personal" offering New Zealand air and sea forces for the British Commonwealth Force in the war against Japan, but stating that he is unable to definitely offer land forces until he has discussed the position with the leader of the opposition, [Sidney] Holland.
(Untitled), 16 Jul 1945 - 17 Jul 1945
Telegram from Prime Minister of Canada [Mackenzie King] to WSC marked "Top Secret" passing on a message from the Canadian Ambassador to China [Victor Odlum] on Soviet conditions for entry into the war against Japan, and Chinese and Soviet differences over the independence of Mongolia. [Received 17 July].
(Untitled), 20 Jul 1945
Telegram from Prime Minister of Australia [Joseph Chifley] to WSC marked "Top Secret" emphasising the importance of Australia being allowed to participate fully in the main offensive against Japan; and outlining Australia's desired input into a British Commonwealth Command in a reorganised South West Pacific Area.
(Untitled), 26 Jul 1945
Telegram from WSC to President Harry Truman [Berlin, Germany] marked "Terminal" and "Personal and Top Secret" emphasising the importance of issuing a document [to the Japanese on unconditional surrender] as soon as possible, in view of a statement by Zacharias.
(Untitled), 26 Jul 1945
(Untitled), 26 Jul 1945
Telegram from Prime Minister of Australia [Joseph Chifley] to WSC marked "Top Secret" informing him that he will need to make a parliamentary statement on the release of long service men and Australia's role in the South West Pacific.
(Untitled), 03 May 1945
Telegram from the Australian Government to [Dominions Office] passing on message from Acting Prime Minister of Australia [Joseph Chifley] to WSC rejoicing at the Allied victory in the Italian campaign and asking WSC to convey Australian appreciation to [Field Marshal Sir Harold] Alexander [later 1st Lord Alexander of Tunis, Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean Theatre], his commanders and troops.
(Untitled), 05 May 1945
Telegram from [Admiral] P Voulgaris, Prime Minister of Greece, (Athens) to WSC (10 Downing Street) congratulating the armies under the command of Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander [later 1st Lord Alexander of Tunis, Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean Theatre] on behalf of the people of Greece on the Allied victory in Italy and commenting on Greece's involvement.
(Untitled), 05 May 1945
Telegram from [Admiral] P Voulgaris, Prime Minister of Greece, to WSC (10 Downing Street) congratulating the armies under the command of Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander [later 1st Lord Alexander of Tunis, Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean Theatre] on behalf of the people of Greece on the Allied victory in Italy and commenting on Greece's involvement. [Carbon copy].
(Untitled), [May] [1945]
Telegram from George Kyriakos, a member of the Academy of Athens [Greece], to WSC congratulating him on victory in Europe and commenting on Greece's role in the conflict against Germany and Italy. [Carbon copy].