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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), 13 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/86
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on contact with enemy front, air reconnaissance and German and Italian prisoners-of-war.

Dates: 13 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 11 Feb 1942 - 28 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/59/76-82
Scope and Contents Letter from Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond, Master, Downing College, Cambridge, to WSC on the threat to Trincomalee [Ceylon, later Sri Lanka] and need to improve its defences; also includes note to Richmond by John Peck [Assistant Private Secretary to WSC], notes by Colonel Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet] to John Martin [Private Secretary to WSC] and WSC, and draft reply from WSC explaining that Trincomalee must be defended by British troops rather than Dutch,...
Dates: 11 Feb 1942 - 28 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 14 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/87-89
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] with proposals agreed by the United States Naval Staff and the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] for establishing a new Anzac [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] naval area, including a definition of the area and allocation of forces.

Dates: 14 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 14 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/90-93
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from WSC to John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, on the safe arrival in Singapore of a convoy including the United States transport ship Mount Vernon; with proposals agreed by United States Naval Staff and the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] for establishing the new Anzac [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] naval area, including a definition of the area and allocation of forces.

Dates: 14 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/98
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC requesting improved communications with Britain, increased air services and more mail deliveries.

Dates: 15 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/68B/99
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] demanding tighter censorship in Singapore; enquires about defences, plans for retreat; comments on United States confidence in Wavell.

Dates: 15 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 23 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/18
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the implications of eastward movement by General Erwin Rommel [Commander, Afrika Corps] on 21 January and re-occupation of Jedabya [? Ajdabiyah, Libya], including: losses during withdrawal; Rommel likely to expose his eastwards flank; enemy penetration into Antelat by presumed commando column; delay to planned Allied offensive against Al 'Uqaylah; building up forces at Benghazi; Auchinleck is...
Dates: 23 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 24 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/19-21
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC regarding the situation in Malaya [later Malaysia] and New Guinea [later Papua New Guinea and part of Indonesia]: [As CHAR 20/69A/6 but also commenting on the war in the Pacific and requesting more aircraft; ms annotation "Presented as Cabinet Paper"].

Dates: 24 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 23 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/24-26
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] clarifying the proposal for a Far Eastern Defence Council in London and explaining that no decision can be taken either in Washington [United States] or in London which does not take full account of the views of the Australian, New Zealand and the Netherlands Governments.

Dates: 23 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 12 Feb 1942 - 18 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/60/126-128
Scope and Contents

Letter from Major-General Sir Ernest Swinton [former Colonel Commandant, Royal Tank Corps] to WSC on the campaign in Libya, proposing Major-General Percy Hobart to lead the mechanized forces of the 8th Army; with reply, annotated to express WSC's own belief in Hobart, but the violent opposition of many others to him, and covering note from Lieutenant- Commander M H Knott [Private Secretary to Deputy Secretary of the War Cabinet] on returning Swinton's letter.

Dates: 12 Feb 1942 - 18 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 24 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/30
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC giving figures of troops killed, wounded, and missing.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/33-34
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Commanders in Chief (Middle East) to WSC giving details of German and Allied army strengths at the beginning of "Crusader" [codename for British North African operation], including details of losses on both sides and reasons for Allied success.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/35
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, expressing his disturbance at the latest news of the evacuation of Benghazi and Derna [Libya]: "The kind of retirement now evidently envisaged by subordinate officers implies the failure of CRUSADER and the ruin of ACROBAT" [codenames for the British North African operation and operation against Tripoli].

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/36-37
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Government of New Zealand to WSC regarding their representation in the war against Japan, requiring confirmation that New Zealand would be entitled to make representations to the Far East Council, including affairs in the Anzac [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] and Pacific areas; also on the importance of direct contact with the United States and on the necessity for one co-ordinating authority for land, sea and air forces in the war against Japan.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/38
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Thomas Blamey [Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC, noting that a telegram from WSC has been sent to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] at Advance HQ 8th Army and that last reports indicate a tactical reverse in the Antelat area [Libya]; the 8th Army has not yet reported the evacuation of Benghazi.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/40
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on the position not being satisfactory, including British troops being pushed back and heavy installations and base establishments removed from Benghazi [Libya] as a precautionary measure.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/42-44
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] with details of the replies of the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand, John Curtin and Peter Fraser, to proposals for a Far Eastern Council in London: "I should be glad to know whether in your opinion these observations ... affect the view ... that co-ordination of the views of these two Governments with those of the Governments of Great Britain and the Netherlands should be effected in London".

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/49-50
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC pressing for the allotment of additional aircraft and giving details of operational strength, adding that Australia is left almost defenceless against its enemies.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/52-53
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] regarding arrangements for military co-operation within the Anzac [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] area.

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

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/54
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the latest situation in North Africa, including the premature action at Benghazi [Libya], positions as known on the evening of 26 January, concern over the condition of 1st Armoured division and the conclusion that British armoured forces have failed to compete with the enemy satisfactorily.

Dates: 27 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 29 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/58
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC regarding the deterioration of the situation in North Africa, including: his fear that it will be necessary to temporarily evacuate Benghazi [Libya]; 7th Indian Infantry Brigade threatened with envelopment and withdrawn; demolitions ordered to be carried out in Benghazi; a report of action in progress about 20 miles north of Masus; admitting that the enemy has succeeded beyond his expectations and...
Dates: 29 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 30 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/66
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] informing him of the danger of the withdrawal of the fighter squadrons of the American Volunteer Group from Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar] by Generalissimo Chiang Kai- shek [Chinese nationalist leader] prior to the arrival of Hurricanes.

Dates: 30 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 30 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/70-71
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Government of New Zealand to WSC requesting fighter aircraft to meet the likely Japanese attack from 1 division, 2 aircraft carriers and other naval units and to protect the main ports of Auckland and Wellington; provision is being made for a network of RDF [radar] air warning stations, the development of an air observer corps, and of new aerodromes with runways suitable for heavy United States bombers.

Dates: 30 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 31 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/81
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to [Oliver Lyttelton, later Lord Chandos], Minister of State, Middle East, in Cairo [Egypt] expressing disappointment at poor servicing of British tanks during the present battle, and concern over waste of manpower; "Surely you ought to try to grip this situation more closely".

Dates: 31 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 01 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/86
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] command: informs him that he had sent his [Wavell's] earlier telegram to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]; quotes from President Roosevelt's reply to WSC [see CHAR 20/69B/79-80]; surmises that the American idea is to pull General Douglas MacArthur [Commander in Chief, American Forces in the...
Dates: 01 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open