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Second World War (1939-1945)

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Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 2737 Collections and/or Records:

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(Untitled), 19 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/23-25
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC transmitting observations of the Australian Chiefs of Staff on the appreciation of the situation in the Far East prepared by the British Chiefs of Staff: comments on the need for more offensive policy; suggests action against Rabaul [New Britain] and the strengthening of forces at Port Darwin [Australia]; comments on the need for a more offensive naval policy involving the formation of joint British and United States naval...
Dates: 19 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/27
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India, to WSC regarding the latest situation in Burma [later Myanmar] and north-east India: believes that Upper Burma cannot be held for long against determined Japanese attack and lists reasons; suggests it may become necessary to withdraw into China as it is important to keep in touch with Chinese at all costs; states that he is putting everything possible into the defence of north-east India and comments on the vital...
Dates: 19 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/28-30
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt to WSC regarding command in Burma [later Myanmar] and the relationship between General Harold Alexander [General Officer Commanding, Burma] and Lieutenant-General Joseph Stilwell [Commander of United States forces, China, Burma and India]; believes that Alexander and Stilwell can work together, and emphasises the suitability of Stilwell for the command of Chinese forces in Burma.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/36-37
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: accepts Roosevelt's proposals [on British and American commands in Burma, see CHAR 20/72/28-30] and has sent instructions to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India] and General Harold Alexander [General Officer Commanding, Burma, later Myanmar]; comments on plans for bombing U-boat construction yards, which has been held back by the weather; refers to the possibility of attack by long range...
Dates: 20 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/39
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC: states that WSC will be advised as soon as possible about the [Australian] 9th Division; thanks WSC for assurances of support in the event of invasion; comments on the aircraft position in Australia.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/40
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin]: acknowledges receipt of Curtin's telegram regarding proposed arrangements for air co-operation between Australia and the United States [see CHAR 20/72/20-21]; comments on his telegram calling for a more offensive naval policy [see CHAR 20/72/23-25] and explains the objections to moving aircraft carriers from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/51
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] to WSC regarding the question of personnel in Egypt, Syria and Palestine: states that the base establishment has been built up on a definite basis and cannot be much reduced so long as the geographical premises remain the same.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/55-57
Scope and Contents Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] to WSC reciting his conclusions on the situation in the Middle East: states that "at present time neither our strength in tanks nor in air is such as to give any chance worth considering of a successful offensive"; gives details of tank and air strength; comments on the need for heavy bombers; comments on the view of General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] that there can be no offensive before mid-May; states that...
Dates: 21 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/58-59
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] responding to reports of an interview by Curtin with the British United Press, in which Curtin commented on the campaign in Greece and the reinforcements "pouring into the British Isles".

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/60
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: comments on his loan of American shipping and release of the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth and the Aquitania for British use; suggests that a further 9000 American troops be sent to Iceland; expresses pleasure at the level of shipping of American personnel; expresses anxiety at the level of air provision for the Levant-Caspian front and asks for American light bombers and fighters to be diverted to the Middle...
Dates: 21 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/61
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] to WSC reporting on his visit to Cairo [Egypt]: expresses satisfaction with the atmosphere after talks; expresses confidence in the offensive determination of General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East], and suggests that WSC send Auchinleck a friendly telegram.

Dates: 21 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 22 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/66
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps]: states that he is not convinced by his telegrams from Cairo [Egypt], and that there is no question of his approving passivity in the army at the present stage; expresses grief at the news of the death of Cripps's mother-in-law [? Amy Swithinbank].

Dates: 22 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 22 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/67
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Lieutenant-General Archibald Nye [Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff] (Cairo [Egypt]) stating his dissatisfaction with the talks in Cairo: asks Nye to go into the questions of tank serviceability, armament, and the use of manpower in the Middle East, and to form an opinion about the possibility of an enemy offensive from the west or across the sea from Greece.

Dates: 22 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 22 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/68
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] to WSC stating the view that the new Naval Commander- in-Chief in the Mediterranean [Admiral Sir Henry Harwood] should be stationed at Cairo [Egypt] and not Alexandria [Egypt] and should not be a sea-going Admiral.

Dates: 22 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 22 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/74
Scope and Contents

Telegram from [Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton], Commander- in-Chief, Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] to WSC explaining that his intention had been to give a definite ruling regarding evacuation and regretting that he had omitted to take precautions with censorship. [See CHAR 20/71B/141 for WSC's telegram].

Dates: 22 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 24 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/89-91
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] informing him of the decision to storm and occupy Diego Suarez [Madagascar]: comments on the background to the operation [codenamed "Ironclad"] and asks for help should it become necessary to intercept French reinforcements from Dakar [Senegal] at the Cape.

Dates: 24 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 24 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/94-95
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC accepting proposals for the direction of war in the Pacific, but commenting on some areas which may require further clarification. Received 23 March 1942 British Time.

Dates: 24 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 25 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/100
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean [Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham] expressing his admiration for Rear-Admiral Philip Vian and all who sailed with him for the "resolute and brilliant action by which the Malta convoy was saved" [the battle of Sirte]. Annotated by WSC: "I.L. I shall be obliged if you will make this signal at once.".

Dates: 25 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/104-105
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (India) to WSC regarding the defence of North Eastern India: states that the next few weeks will be critical for morale; warns that the result may be disastrous if Calcutta is bombed without any effective defence; comments on the desperate need for up-to-date fighters and suggests alternative means of obtaining these from Britain or the Middle East or Ceylon [later Sri Lanka].

Dates: 26 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/106
Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt to WSC regarding the anxiety of John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] at leaving the Australian Third Division in the Middle East: states that he has advised the Australian Minister [? Richard Casey, Australian Minister to the United States] that an additional division will be sent from the United States to Australia as soon as possible, and that he has expressed the opinion that the final Australian division should...
Dates: Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/107-108
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (India) regarding fighters for the defence of India: comments on the numbers of Hurricanes in India; states that nothing sent from Britain could affect the situation for at least two months; comments on suggestions for diverting fighters from Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] or the Middle East; refers to remarks by General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India] regarding the inability of the Eastern Fleet to respond to a sea-borne...
Dates: 26 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/109-110
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, to WSC regarding the need for air reinforcements in India: states that the Japanese are likely to seize Burma [later Myanmar] air bases and will then be able to attack Calcutta and industrial Bengal [parts of Bangladesh and India] and stresses the need for a bombing force capable of attacking a sea-borne expedition against India; comments on existing reinforcement flow and suggests that consideration be given to the...
Dates: 26 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/111
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Peter Fraser [Prime Minister of New Zealand] to WSC regarding the opposition of the New Zealand Government to plans by the United States to create separate command areas for Australia and New Zealand.

Dates: 26 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/114
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Lord Halifax [British Ambassador to the United States, earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin] to WSC reporting on his meeting with the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] and Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to Roosevelt] late last night regarding Australian representation in the Pacific area and the Australian division in the Middle East.

Dates: 26 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 27 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/116-117
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding the project to send supplies from the United States to French North Africa: comments on the value of contacts between the United States and Vichy France but asks that nothing should interfere with operation "IRONCLAD" [operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar]; comments on the operation and proposes dropping leaflets suggesting the attack was Anglo-American.

Dates: 27 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open