Second World War (1939-1945)
Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus
Found in 2737 Collections and/or Records:
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 22 Jan 1941 - 07 May 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/146A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (22 January) entitled "A dark and deadly valley" on the structure of government during wartime, the roles of the Minister of Defence and the Minister for Reconstruction, the needs of the army and military production. Also includes copy of Hansard containing the text of WSC's speech and others in the debate on production, supply and manpower. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6331-8. Hansard copy of the debate on the conduct of Robert Boothby (28 January) including...
Dates:
22 Jan 1941 - 07 May 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 20 May 1941 - 25 Jun 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/147A-B
Scope and Contents
Hansard copies of WSC's statements (20 May) on victory in Abyssinia [Ethiopia], action at Sollum [Egypt], and the German attack on Crete [Greece]. Also includes cuttings from the Daily Telegraph and the Times reporting WSC's statements. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6401-3.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (21 May) on the attack on Crete.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (22 May) on heavy fighting in the battle for Crete. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6403-4.Hansard copy of WSC's...
Dates:
20 May 1941 - 25 Jun 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 09 Jul 1941 - 01 Oct 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/148A-B
Scope and Contents
Hansard copies of WSC's statements (9 July) on the occupation of Iceland by United States troops, the appeal for arms from Eire (Southern Ireland [Ireland]) to the United States, and British losses in Syria. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6446-7.Notes for WSC's statement (15 July) on the production debate, the Anglo-Soviet Agreement against Germany, its effect on Poland, and the end of the Syrian campaign. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Part published: Complete Speeches...
Dates:
09 Jul 1941 - 01 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
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Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 21 Oct 1941 - 11 Dec 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/149A-B
Scope and Contents
Hansard copy of a debate on visits to Ireland (21 October) including WSC's statement on Defence Regulation 18b [giving the Home Secretary powers to detain people without charge]. Part published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6497-8.Notes for WSC's speech (12 November) on the parliamentary address, wartime speeches by Ministers, shipping losses, food and rations, food production, fuel and production of munitions. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard and cutting from the Times reporting...
Dates:
21 Oct 1941 - 11 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 23 May 1940 - 19 Jun 1940
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/172
Scope and Contents
Statement by WSC (23 May) on fighting in France. Published: Complete Speeches VI p 6223.Statement by WSC (28 May) on the fall of Belgium. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6223-4.Speech notes for WSC's speech (4 June) entitled "Wars are not won by evacuations" on the fall of Belgium, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France] and the successes of the RAF. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the beaches . . . We shall never surrender". Source material...
Dates:
23 May 1940 - 19 Jun 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 25 Jun 1940 - 21 Nov 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/173A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (25 June) entitled "The fall of France" on the capitulation of France, the surrender of the French fleet to Germany and his visit to see [Paul] Reynaud [Prime Minister of France]. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6239-41.Statement by WSC (4 July) on the British destruction of the French fleet at Oran [Algeria]. Source material includes notes on the co-ordination of intelligence, the role of the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces [General Sir Alan Brooke,...
Dates:
25 Jun 1940 - 21 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 05 Sep 1940 - 08 Oct 1940
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/174A-C
Scope and Contents
Statement by WSC (5 September) on the war situation and an agreement with the United States over destroyers and defence bases, events in Romania, the achievements of the RAF, damage through bombing and the insurance scheme, evacuation, air raid warnings and other Home Front issues. Source material includes: notes and correspondence from Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse [Vice-Chief of Air Staff], Norman Brook [later 1st Lord Normanbrook] (2), Arthur Cary [Assistant Principal, Air Ministry] (4),...
Dates:
05 Sep 1940 - 08 Oct 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 05 Nov 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/175
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on the war situation including the air battles, the bombing of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, the threat posed by U Boats, the possibility of invasion by Germany, civil defence and the Home Guard, affairs in Egypt and the Middle East, and the Italian invasion of Greece. Source material includes correspondence from 1st Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Max Aitken, Minister for Aircraft Production], Henry Strutt [Assistant Under-Secretary of...
Dates:
05 Nov 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 22 Jan 1941 - 22 Apr 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/177A-D
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (22 January) entitled "A dark and deadly valley" on the structure of government during wartime, the roles of the Minister of Defence and the Minister for Reconstruction, the needs of the army and military production. Source material includes correspondence from: Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the Cabinet] (5), Charles Hendriks, Clement Attlee [Lord Privy Seal], William Beveridge, Ernest Bevin [Minister of Labour and National Service] and notes from Eric Seal...
Dates:
22 Jan 1941 - 22 Apr 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 30 Apr 1941 - 10 Jun 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/178A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for statement by WSC (30 April) on the evacuation of Empire forces from Greece, giving details of casualties. Published: Complete Speeches VI, p 6385.Speech notes for WSC's speech (7 May) on the war situation including: a Vote of Confidence in parliament; events and operations in Greece, the Balkans, and Libya including the defence of Tobruk against forces under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel; a comparison of Hitler with Napoleon; production of tanks; the Battle of the Atlantic and...
Dates:
30 Apr 1941 - 10 Jun 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 25 Jun 1941 - 09 Sep 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/179A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (25 June) in a secret session debate on shipping, the Battle of the Atlantic, merchant shipping losses, imports and the threat posed by U-Boats. Source material includes correspondence from Sir Andrew Hardinge [Private Secretary to King George VI] (2), Eric Speed (2), Percy Cudlipp, editor of the Daily Herald, and Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet] (2); copies of correspondence from Leslie Rowan [Principal Private Secretary to WSC]; and an extract...
Dates:
25 Jun 1941 - 09 Sep 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 30 Sep 1941 - 11 Dec 1941
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/180A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for statement by WSC (30 September) on the war situation including: the threat posed by Hitler, WSC's intention not to publish shipping losses to U-Boats, food and rations, the strength of the United States and the Soviet Union, Germany's attack on the Soviet Union, the army and Bomber Command, and events and operations in Persia [Iran]. Also includes correspondence from 1st Lord Woolton [earlier Frederick Marquis] Minister of Food, Frank Wood, and Major-General Bernard Paget,...
Dates:
30 Sep 1941 - 11 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 27 Jan 1942 - 13 Apr 1942
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/183A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (29 January) winding up a debate on the war situation and responding to parliamentary questions on subjects including: the vote of confidence in the government; general policy in the Far East; the defence of Singapore and Malaya [later Malaysia]; the scorched earth policy at Penang; the conduct of the war; and troops and supplies in India. Also includes correspondence from Oliver Locker-Lampson; Percy Harris; Sir Arnold Gridley; Colin Thornley [Principal Private...
Dates:
27 Jan 1942 - 13 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 23 Apr 1942 - 02 Jun 1942
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/184A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (23 April) in secret session on the war situation including: Japan's entry into the war; setbacks including battleship losses; defence of the Admiralty over the escape of the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau; events and operations in the Far East, the Middle East and the Soviet Union; air battles including the bombing of Germany; and aircraft and ship production. Also includes correspondence from: Maurice Dean [Assistant Under Secretary of State,...
Dates:
23 Apr 1942 - 02 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 06 May 1942 - 02 Jul 1942
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/185A-D
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (2 July) on the central direction of the war including: setbacks in Egypt and Cyrenaica [Libya] including the fall of Tobruk to forces under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and WSC's confidence in General Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief Middle East]; press coverage of the war and the freedom of war correspondents; his meeting with President Roosevelt and the strength of the alliance with the United States; ship-building and the production and deployment of...
Dates:
06 May 1942 - 02 Jul 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 08 Sep 1942 - 11 Sep 1942
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/186A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (8 September) on the war situation including: his position as Prime Minister; the success of getting supplies to Malta; successes of United States and Australian troops against Japan in Pacific; the U Boat war; the United States mission of Harry Hopkins [Aide to President Roosevelt], General George Marshall [Chief of Staff, United States Army] and Admiral Ernest King [Commander in Chief United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations] to Great Britain; WSC's...
Dates:
08 Sep 1942 - 11 Sep 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 08 Nov 1942 - 10 Dec 1942
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/187A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (11 November) on the war situation including: successes in Egypt and the second battle of El Alamein; armaments supplied by the United States; agreements with Stalin; operations in the Mediterranean and changes in command in the Middle East; instructions to General Sir Harold Alexander [Commander in Chief Middle East] and General Sir Bernard Montgomery [General Officer Commanding the 8th Army]; tank tactics and the successes of the RAF. Also includes...
Dates:
08 Nov 1942 - 10 Dec 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 10 Aug 1942 - 17 Feb 1943
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/190A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (11 February) on the war situation including: the U Boat war; losses on all fronts; ship-building in the United States; decisions made at the Casablanca [Morocco] with President Roosevelt; a tribute to the achievements of General Sir Harold Alexander as Commander in Chief Middle East and General Sir Bernard Montgomery as General Officer commanding the 8th Army; support for Turkey; his visit to Cyprus, Cairo [Egypt] and Tripoli [Italy]; events and operations in...
Dates:
10 Aug 1942 - 17 Feb 1943
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 30 Mar 1943 - 08 Jun 1943
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/191A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for a speech by WSC (not used) and part of a broadcast about India on calls for Indian independence, the achievements of the Indian army, Gandhi's fast and WSC's illness. Part of the notes form an unused section of WSC's broadcast of 21 March 1943 [see CHAR 9/193]. Source material includes correspondence from Leo Amery, Secretary of State for India and Burma [later Myanmar] (3), Francis Turnbull [Principal Private Secretary to Secretary of State for India] (2); a pamphlet on...
Dates:
30 Mar 1943 - 08 Jun 1943
Conditions Governing Access:
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 27 Jul 1943 - 13 Oct 1943
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/192A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (27 July) on the fall of Mussolini including an assessment of his regime and the principles to be used in negotiations with Italy; and also on events and operations in the Soviet Union and the bombing of Germany. Also includes correspondence from 1st Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin, British Ambassador to the United States]; Francis Keenlyside [Assistant Secretary in charge of Shipping Policy]; Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the Cabinet]; and...
Dates:
27 Jul 1943 - 13 Oct 1943
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 18 Feb 1944 - 22 Mar 1944
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/197A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (22 February) on the progress of the war and the international situation including: the strength of the forces of Germany; successes in the Soviet Union and through bombing attacks on Germany; the importance of the role played by the Royal Navy and the RAF; a prediction of increased attack in 1944; events and operations in Italy, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia] and Greece; the...
Dates:
18 Feb 1944 - 22 Mar 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 03 May 1944 - 06 Jul 1944
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/199A-D
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (24 May) on the foreign affairs debate entitled "The world situation" including: a meeting of the Dominion Prime Ministers; the unity of empire; discontinuation of arms to Turkey; the fall of Mussolini and the position of Italy; relations with and events in Spain, Greece, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia], the Soviet Union and Poland. Also includes correspondence from: Anthony Eden...
Dates:
03 May 1944 - 06 Jul 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 19 Jul 1944 - 08 Aug 1944
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/200A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's statement (2 August) on the war situation including: successes against Germany and Japan world-wide including the Far East; decisions made at the Quebec [Canada] conference; the Normandy landings; RAF losses; the tanks supplied by the United States and praise for the Sherman and Churchill tanks; the progress of General Sir Harold Alexander [Commander in Chief of the Allied Armies in Italy]; his hopes of victory; flying bombs and the evacuation of London; improved...
Dates:
19 Jul 1944 - 08 Aug 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 28 Aug 1944 - 18 Oct 1944
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/201A-D
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (28 September) on the war situation including: successes in France, the liberation of Paris, and landings in the South of France; fighting in Italy; a tribute to the achievements of the British and United States armies; casualty figures; the campaign in Burma [later Myanmar] and progress against Japan; the use of DDT; setbacks in China; the modernisation of the British fleet; the position of Eastern European countries; and the presidential elections in the...
Dates:
28 Aug 1944 - 18 Oct 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
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Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 31 Oct 1944 - 30 Nov 1944
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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/202A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (31 October) on the death of Princess Beatrice. Also includes Hansard report of speech. Published: Complete Speeches VII, pp 7019.Speech notes for WSC's speech (31 October) on the prolongation of Parliament in which he stresses the need to maintain the coalition government until the end of the war. Also includes: Hansard report of the speech; correspondence and source material from "Archie" [Sir Archibald Sinclair, later 1st Lord Thurso] Secretary of State for...
Dates:
31 Oct 1944 - 30 Nov 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open