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Second World War (1939-1945)

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Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 2738 Collections and/or Records:

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(Untitled), 27 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/46-47
Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC expressing his concern over plans to limit shipments of supplies to the Soviet Union: asks WSC to review the size of immediate convoys; hopes that Anthony Eden [Foreign Secretary, later 1st Lord Avon] will avoid giving the Soviet Ambassador [Ivan Maisky] any flat statement about the limit to the number of ships that can be convoyed; "It seems to me that any word reaching [Joseph] Stalin at this time that our...
Dates: 27 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 27 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/50a-b
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC explaining his reasons for asking the War Office to clarify "special information" [? Enigma] regarding the number of Axis tanks serviceable on 21 April.

Dates: 27 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 28 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/52
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Viceroy [and Governor- General] of India [2nd Lord Linlithgow, earlier Lord Hopetoun] expressing concern over poor progress in the construction of aerodromes in India and asking the Viceroy to look into the civil aspects of the question.

Dates: 28 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 27 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/53
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Sir Walter Monckton [Director General of British Propaganda and Information Services, Cairo, Egypt] to WSC regarding his decision to recommend a change of Governor in Malta and explaining his actions between 13 April and 20 April.

Dates: 27 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 28 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/54-55
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding shipments of supplies to the Soviet Union: comments on logistics of convoy sizes and tonnage; makes a recommendation for working off the present accumulation held in Iceland; "We are at our utmost strain for convoy escorts.".

Dates: 28 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 27 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/56-58
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander- in-Chief, India] to WSC outlining the situation in India, Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and Burma [later Myanmar]: comments on air strength; comments on the naval situation; comments on the defence of Ceylon; comments on difficulties in Burma and implications with regard to China; "Our tails are well up but not wagging very much as yet.".

Dates: 27 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 28 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/59-60
Scope and Contents Telegram from John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia to WSC supporting a request by General Douglas MacArthur [Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces, South West Pacific] for reinforcements; comments on the levels of forces from the United States in the South West Pacific; supports the request of General MacArthur for the temporary diversion to Australia of British forces rounding the Cape in late April and early May; supports the request of General MacArthur for an aircraft carrier and an...
Dates: 28 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 29 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/64-66
Scope and Contents Telegram from Franklin Roosevelt [President of the United States] to WSC regarding "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar]: encloses text of that night's speech referring to the recent change of power in Vichy France and stating that "The United Nations will take measures if necessary to prevent the use of French territory in any part of the world for military purposes by the Axis powers"; states that he fully approves WSC's third and fourth suggestions [of...
Dates: 29 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 29 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/70-72
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: thanks Roosevelt for his telegram about "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar] and for the use of USS Wasp; comments on the arrival of General Henri Giraud at Vichy [France]; comments on "desperate attacks" on the Tirpitz at Trondheim [Norway] and German retaliation against British towns near the coast; gives details of recent German aircraft losses over Norwich [Norfolk] and York;...
Dates: 29 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 30 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/73
Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC regarding convoys to the Soviet Union: states that Admiral Ernest King [Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations] is communicating with Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound [1st Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff] regarding a further convoy in May; expresses his anxiety that ships should not be unloaded and reloaded in Britain; comments on the problem of moving 107 ships from Britain...
Dates: 30 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 30 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/75
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] regarding the figures for strength of the German Afrika Army contained in the latest most secret information.

Dates: 30 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 01 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/79-80
Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt to WSC commenting on the Australian request for British divisions and additional marine assistance and also stating that he has had no official information concerning General Henri Giraud's alleged escape; states that John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] has probably made the request on his own responsibility based upon conversations with General Douglas MacArthur [Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces in the South West...
Dates: 01 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 30 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/81
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India] explaining why claims for reinforcements in the Far East cannot be met; comments on his subsequent telegram containing an appreciation by the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet [Admiral Sir John Tovey] [on the naval situation, see CHAR 20/74/82-83]; comments on a request by John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] for the diversion of two British divisions to Australia; comments on a proposed attempt to relieve Malta;...
Dates: 30 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 30 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/84-85
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, reciting the text of a telegram of 28 Apr 1942 from John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] to WSC requesting reinforcements [see CHAR 20/74/59-60].

Dates: 30 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 01 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/91-92
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar]: outlines the terms that the Force Commander [Rear-Admiral (Edward) Neville Syfret] should put to the Governor of Madagascar [Armand Annet]; states that he is including a statement that the operation has the full support of the United States; comments on arrangements for delivering a message from Roosevelt to Marshal Philippe Petain [Head...
Dates: 01 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 01 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/93-94
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, regarding the effect of "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar] on troop reinforcements for India.

Dates: 01 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 02 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/96-97
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] opposing American proposals for increasing convoys to the Soviet Union: argues that a reduction in transatlantic escorts might have "disastrous consequences"; argues that the difficulty of Soviet convoys cannot be solved merely by anti-submarine craft and describes recent loss and damage to British ships; states that six ships from Iceland have already arrived at the Clyde [Scotland] and that three convoys every two...
Dates: 02 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 03 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/98
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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, stating that General Harold Alexander [General Officer Commanding, Burma, later Myanmar] should be ordered to return to India as soon as his command falls below the level of a division.

Dates: 03 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 02 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/99-100
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander- in-Chief, India] to WSC complaining that he is not being kept sufficiently informed about decisions affecting India; comments on the inability of R class battleships to face the Japanese fleet; states that he was not consulted about "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar] and comments on the need for the 5th Division in India.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/101-104
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Admiral Geoffrey Layton [Commander-in- Chief, Ceylon] reporting on progress in Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] since 5 April 1942: outlines reinforcements and withdrawals; describes defensive works and reports on the RDF [Radio Direction Finder] situation; comments on aerodrome facilities and the likely zone of the main enemy landing; reports present airforce and army dispositions.

Dates: 02 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 03 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/105
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC agreeing to acquiesce to British views regarding Soviet convoys; hopes that Britain will be able to keep convoys at a strength of thirty five ships and proposes to press the Soviet Union to reduce requirements as "Bolero" [codename for preparations for the main invasion of France] will require all possible munitions and shipping.

Dates: 03 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 28 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/102
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, with minutes of a meeting held at 10 Downing Street at 11am on Friday 22 May between representatives of the British Government and Vyacheslav Molotov [Soviet Commissar for Foreign] and his advisers concerning the opening of a second front in Europe by Britain and the United States.

Dates: 28 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 28 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/106
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC regarding the situation in Madagascar and suggesting the reduction of Tamatave and Majunga using African and South African troops.

Dates: 28 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 29 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/114-116
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "most secret" commenting on the difficulties of increasing the proportion of fighting manpower within the total strength of the army in the Middle East: states that the matter has already received considerable attention; comments on problems of geography, lack of industrial development and distance from sources of production which necessitate large support services; discusses the possibility of diluting...
Dates: 29 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 31 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/120
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief Middle East] marked "most secret" expressing pleasure at the way the battle has gone so far, referring to the "Special Intelligence" [? Enigma decrypts] which he is sending Auchinleck, and stating that he will have to make a statement at noon on Tuesday [2 June] and requires anything publishable by 8am on that day.

Dates: 31 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open