Churchill war ministry

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Churchill war ministry
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government, 1837-1952).svg
1940–1945
Sir Winston Churchill - 19086236948.jpg
Churchill, The Roaring Lion , 1941
Date formed10 May 1940 (1940-05-10)
Date dissolved23 May 1945 (1945-05-23)
People and organisations
Monarch George VI
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Deputy Prime Minister Clement Attlee (1942–1945)
Total no. of members223 appointments
Member parties
Status in legislature Supermajority (unity government)
604 / 615(98%)
History
Legislature term 1935–1945
Incoming formation Norway Debate
Predecessor Chamberlain war ministry
Successor Churchill caretaker ministry

The Churchill war ministry was the United Kingdom's coalition government for most of the Second World War from 10 May 1940 to 23 May 1945. It was led by Winston Churchill, who was appointed prime minister of the United Kingdom by King George VI following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain in the aftermath of the Norway Debate.

Contents

At the outset, Churchill formed a five-man war cabinet which included Chamberlain as Lord President of the Council, Clement Attlee as Lord Privy Seal and later as Deputy Prime Minister, Viscount Halifax as Foreign Secretary, and Arthur Greenwood as a minister without portfolio. Although the original war cabinet was limited to five members, in practice they were augmented by the service chiefs and ministers who attended the majority of meetings. The cabinet changed in size and membership as the war progressed but there were significant additions later in 1940 when it was increased to eight after Churchill, Attlee, and Greenwood were joined by Ernest Bevin as Minister of Labour and National Service; Anthony Eden as Foreign Secretary, replacing Halifax who was sent to Washington as Ambassador to the United States; Lord Beaverbrook as Minister of Aircraft Production; Sir Kingsley Wood as Chancellor of the Exchequer; and Sir John Anderson as Lord President of the Council, replacing Chamberlain who died in November (Anderson later became chancellor after Wood's death in September 1943).

The coalition was dissolved in May 1945, following the final defeat of Germany, when the Labour Party decided to withdraw in order to prepare for a general election. Churchill, who was the leader of the Conservative Party, was asked by the King to form a new, essentially Conservative, government. It was known as the Churchill caretaker ministry and managed the country's affairs until the completion of the general election on 26 July that year.

Background

Neville Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain by Walter Stoneman.jpg
Neville Chamberlain

The 1935 general election had resulted in a Conservative victory with a substantial majority and Stanley Baldwin became prime minister. In May 1937, Baldwin retired and was succeeded by Neville Chamberlain who continued Baldwin's foreign policy of appeasement in the face of German, Italian and Japanese aggression. Having signed the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler in 1938, Chamberlain became alarmed by the dictator's continuing aggression and, in March 1939, signed the Anglo-Polish military alliance which supposedly guaranteed British support for Poland if attacked. Chamberlain issued the declaration of war against Germany on 3 September 1939 and formed a war cabinet which included Winston Churchill (out of office since June 1929) as First Lord of the Admiralty. [1]

Dissatisfaction with Chamberlain's leadership became widespread in the spring of 1940 after Germany successfully invaded Norway. In response, the House of Commons held the Norway Debate from 7 to 9 May. At the end of the second day, the Labour opposition forced a division which was in effect a motion of no confidence in Chamberlain. The government's majority of 213 was reduced to 81, still a victory but nevertheless a shattering blow for Chamberlain. [2]

9–31 May 1940: Creation of a new government

9 May – Chamberlain considers his options

On Thursday, 9 May, Chamberlain attempted to form a National Coalition Government. In talks at Downing Street with Viscount Halifax and Churchill, he indicated that he was quite ready to resign if that was necessary for Labour to enter such a government. Labour's leader Clement Attlee and his deputy Arthur Greenwood then joined the meeting, and when asked, they indicated that they must first consult their party's National Executive Committee (then in Bournemouth to prepare for the annual conference), but it was unlikely they could serve in a government led by Chamberlain; they probably would be able to serve under some other Conservative. [3]

Viscount Halifax 1st Earl of Halifax 1947.jpg
Viscount Halifax

After Attlee and Greenwood left, Chamberlain asked whom he should recommend to the King as his successor. The version of events given by Churchill is that Chamberlain's preference for Halifax was obvious (Churchill implies that the spat between Churchill and the Labour benches the previous night had something to do with that); there was a long silence which Halifax eventually broke by saying he did not believe he could lead the government effectively as a member of the House of Lords instead of the House of Commons. [4] Churchill's version gets the date wrong, and he fails to mention the presence of David Margesson, the government Chief Whip. [4] [5] [6]

Halifax's account omits the dramatic pause and gives an additional reason: "PM said I was the man mentioned as most acceptable. I said it would be hopeless position. If I was not in charge of the war (operations) and if I didn't lead in the House, I should be a cypher. I thought Winston was a better choice. Winston did not demur." [3] According to Halifax, Margesson then confirmed that the House of Commons had been veering to Churchill.[ citation needed ]

In a letter to Churchill written that night, [7] Bob Boothby asserted that parliamentary opinion was hardening against Halifax, claiming in a postscript that according to Liberal MP Clement Davies, "Attlee & Greenwood are unable to distinguish between the PM & Halifax and are not prepared to serve under the latter". Davies (who thought Chamberlain should go, and be replaced by Churchill) had lunched with Attlee and Greenwood (and argued his case) shortly before they saw Chamberlain. [8] Labour's Hugh Dalton, however, noted in his diary entry for 9 May that he had spoken with Attlee, who "agrees with my preference for Halifax over Churchill, but we both think either would be tolerable". [9]

10 May – Churchill succeeds Chamberlain

On the morning of Friday, 10 May, Germany invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Chamberlain initially felt that a change of government at such a time would be inappropriate, but upon being given confirmation that Labour would not serve under him, he announced to the war cabinet his intention to resign. [10] Scarcely more than three days after he had opened the debate, Chamberlain went to Buckingham Palace to resign as prime minister. Despite resigning as PM, however, he continued to be the leader of the Conservative Party. He explained to the King why Halifax, whom the King thought the obvious candidate, [11] did not want to become prime minister. The King then sent for Churchill and asked him to form a new government; according to Churchill, there was no stipulation that it must be a coalition government. [12]

At 21:00 on 10 May, Chamberlain announced the change of prime minister over the BBC. Churchill's first act as prime minister was to ask Attlee and Greenwood to come and see him at Admiralty House. Next, he wrote to Chamberlain to thank him for his promised support. He then began to construct his coalition cabinet with the assistance of Attlee and Greenwood. Their conference went on into the early hours of Saturday and they reached a broad agreement on the composition of the new war cabinet, subject to Labour Party confirmation. Attlee and Greenwood were confident of securing this on Saturday after Churchill promised that more than a third of government positions would be offered to Labour members, including some of the key posts. [13] [14]

11/12 May – formation of the national government

Clement Attlee Person attlee2.jpg
Clement Attlee
Anthony Eden Anthony Eden (retouched).jpg
Anthony Eden
Sir Archibald Sinclair The Air Ministry, 1939-1945. CH10270 - Edit 1.jpg
Sir Archibald Sinclair
Ernest Bevin Ernest Bevin MP.jpg
Ernest Bevin
Lord Woolton 1st Earl of Woolton 1947.jpg
Lord Woolton
General Sir Hastings Ismay The Lord Ismay.jpg
General Sir Hastings Ismay
Ellen Wilkinson Ellen Cicely Wilkinson.jpg
Ellen Wilkinson

On Saturday, 11 May, the Labour Party agreed to join a national government under Churchill's leadership and he was able to confirm his war cabinet. In his biography of Churchill, Roy Jenkins described the Churchill cabinet as one "for winning", while the former Chamberlain cabinet was one "for losing". [15] Labour leader Clement Attlee relinquished his official role as Leader of the Opposition to become Lord Privy Seal (until 19 February 1942 when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister). Arthur Greenwood, Labour's deputy leader, was appointed a minister without portfolio. [16]

There was no de facto Leader of the Opposition from 11 May 1940 until Attlee resumed the role on 23 May 1945. The Labour Party appointed an acting Leader of the Opposition whose job, although he was in effect a member of the national government, was to ensure the continued functionality of the House of Commons. Due process in the Commons requires someone, even a member of the government, to fill the role even if there is no actual opposition. [17] The first acting leader was Hastings Lees-Smith, the MP for Keighley, who died in office on 18 December 1941. He was briefly succeeded by Frederick Pethick-Lawrence and then by Arthur Greenwood, who had left the war cabinet, from 22 February 1942 until 23 May 1945. [18]

The main problem for Churchill as he became prime minister was that he was not the leader of the majority Conservative Party and, needing its support, was obliged to include Chamberlain in the war cabinet, but this was not to Labour's liking. Initially, Churchill proposed to appoint Chamberlain as both Leader of the House of Commons and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Attlee objected and Churchill decided to appoint Chamberlain as Lord President of the Council. The fifth member of the war cabinet was Halifax, who retained his position as Foreign Secretary. [19] Instead of Chamberlain, Sir Kingsley Wood became Chancellor but, until 3 October 1940, he was not a member of the war cabinet. [20]

Churchill appointed himself as Leader of the House of Commons (it was normal procedure until 1942 for a prime minister in the Commons to lead the House) and created for himself the new role of Minister of Defence, so that he would be permanent chair of the Cabinet Defence Committee (CDC), Operations, which included the three service ministers, the three Chiefs of Staff (CoS) and other ministers, especially Attlee, and experts as and when required. [21] [22] The CDC was established by Churchill as soon as he took office. It was the key organisation through which the government prosecuted the war, especially in 1940 and 1941. From 1942, as the tide of war began to turn in favour of the Allies, the importance of the CDC was reduced and its meetings became fewer as its work was increasingly delegated or raised at conferences.[ citation needed ]

Anthony Eden became Secretary of State for War (until December 1940); Labour's A. V. Alexander succeeded Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty; and the Liberal Party leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair, became Secretary of State for Air. [23] The CoS at this time were Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, the First Sea Lord; Air Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, the Chief of the Air Staff; and Field Marshal Sir Edmund Ironside, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS). (On 27 May, Ironside was replaced at Churchill's request by his deputy Field Marshal Sir John Dill, and Ironside became Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces.) [24] The CoS continued to hold their own Chiefs of Staff Committee (CSC) meetings. The CDC enabled Churchill to have direct contact with them so that strategic concerns could be addressed with due regard to civil matters and foreign affairs.[ citation needed ]

In addition, for the ministry's whole term, both the war cabinet and the CDC were regularly attended by Sir Edward Bridges, the Cabinet Secretary; General Sir Hastings Ismay, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence; and Major General Sir Leslie Hollis, Secretary to the Chiefs of Staff Committee. [24] Bridges was rarely absent from war cabinet sessions. He was appointed by Chamberlain – as a senior civil servant, he was not a political appointee – in August 1938 and remained in situ until 1946. Churchill later described Bridges as "an extremely competent and tireless worker". [25] Ismay's role, technically, was Secretary of the CSC but he was in fact Churchill's chief staff officer and military adviser throughout the war.[ citation needed ] Hollis was Secretary to the CoS Committee, also for the duration, and he additionally served as senior assistant secretary to Bridges in the war cabinet office.[ citation needed ]

13 May – Churchill's first speech as Prime Minister

By Monday, 13 May, most of the senior government posts were filled. That day was Whit Monday, normally a bank holiday but cancelled by the incoming government. A specially convened sitting of the House of Commons was held and Churchill spoke for the first time as Prime Minister: [26]

I beg to move, that this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion.

He explained that a war cabinet of five members had been formed to represent the unity of the nation with all three main party leaders agreeing to serve either in the war cabinet or in high executive office. Churchill was hoping to complete all ministerial appointments by the end of the 14th. He announced an adjournment of Commons business until the 21st and apologised for making only a short address for the present. Even so, his speech has become one of his most famous because he concluded with his statement of intent: [27]

I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this Government: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat". We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength".

In reply, Hastings Lees-Smith as acting Leader of the Opposition announced that Labour would vote for the motion to assure the country of a unified political front. [28] After several other members had spoken, including David Lloyd George and Stafford Cripps, the House divided on the question: "That this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion". 381 members voted "aye" in favour of the motion and, apart from the two tellers for the "noes", the wartime coalition was endorsed unanimously. [29]

Meanwhile, the Labour Party's conference had gone ahead as planned. On the 13th, Attlee spoke to confirm that the party was now in coalition with the Conservatives and Liberals as a national government. He told the conference that: "We are trying to form a government that should rally all the nation and set forth the energies of the people". He added that he had "not the slightest doubt about our victory". [30]

14–17 May – completion of government membership

Apart from a handful of junior appointments such as royal household positions, Churchill completed the construction of his government by the end of his first week in office. Only two women were appointed to government positions – Florence Horsbrugh, who had previously been a Conservative backbench MP, became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health on 15 May; and Labour's Ellen Wilkinson, the most left-wing member of Churchill's ministry, became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions on the 17th. [31]

18 May to 4 June – war cabinet crisis

The war situation in Europe became increasingly critical for the Allies as the Wehrmacht overran northern France and the Low Countries through May, culminating in the siege of Dunkirk and the desperate need to evacuate the British Expeditionary Force by Operation Dynamo. In the war cabinet, Churchill faced a serious challenge by Halifax to his direction of the war. Halifax wanted to sue for peace by asking Benito Mussolini to broker a treaty between the British government and Hitler. Churchill wanted to continue the war. Attlee and Greenwood supported Churchill while Chamberlain, still the leader of the majority Conservative Parliamentary Party, remained neutral for several days until finally aligning himself with Churchill's resolve to fight on. [32] [33]

5 June 1940 to 30 April 1941

1 May 1941 to 30 April 1942

Churchill's ministers on 24 October 1941. Back row (l to r): Sinclair, Alexander, Cranborne, Morrison, Moyne, Margesson, Bracken. Front row (l to r): Bevin, Beaverbrook, Eden, Attlee, Churchill, Anderson, Greenwood, Wood. Churchill Coalition Government - 11 May 1940.jpg
Churchill's ministers on 24 October 1941. Back row (l to r): Sinclair, Alexander, Cranborne, Morrison, Moyne, Margesson, Bracken. Front row (l to r): Bevin, Beaverbrook, Eden, Attlee, Churchill, Anderson, Greenwood, Wood.

1 May 1942 to 30 April 1943

1 May 1943 to 30 April 1944

1 May 1944 to 22 May 1945

23 May 1945 – End of the ministry

In October 1944, Churchill had proposed to the Commons that the current Parliament, which had begun in 1935, should be extended by a further year. He correctly anticipated the defeat of Germany in the spring of 1945 but he did not expect the end of the Far East war until 1946. He therefore recommended that the end of the European war should be "a pointer (to) fix the date of the (next) General Election". [37]

Attlee, along with Eden, Horsbrugh, and Wilkinson, attended the San Francisco Conference and had returned to London by 18 May 1945 (ten days after V-E Day) when he met Churchill to discuss the future of the coalition. Attlee, in agreement with Churchill, wanted it to continue until after the Japanese surrender but he discovered that others in the Labour Party, especially Morrison and Bevin, wanted an election in October after Parliament ended. On 20 May, Attlee attended his party conference and found that opinion was against him so he informed Churchill that Labour must leave the coalition. [38]

On 23 May, Labour left the coalition to begin their general election campaign. Churchill resigned as prime minister but the King asked him to form a new government, known as the Churchill caretaker ministry, until the election was held in July. Churchill agreed and his new ministry, essentially a Conservative one, held office for the next two months until it was replaced by Attlee's Labour government after their election victory. [39] [40] [41] [42]

Government members

Ministers who held war cabinet membership, 10 May 1940 – 23 May 1945

A total of sixteen ministers held war cabinet membership at various times in Churchill's ministry. [43] There were five at the outset of whom two, Churchill and Attlee, served throughout the ministry's entire term. Bevin, Morrison and Wood were appointed to the war cabinet while retaining offices that had originally been outer cabinet portfolios. Anderson and Eden were promoted to the war cabinet from other offices after their predecessors, Chamberlain and Halifax, had left the government; similarly, Casey was brought in after Lyttelton switched portfolio and Moyne was appointed to replace Casey. Beaverbrook, Lyttelton and Woolton were brought in to fill new offices that were created to address current priorities. Greenwood was an original member with no portfolio and was not replaced when he assumed the acting leadership of the Opposition. Cripps was brought in as an extra member to reduce the workloads of Churchill and Attlee.

Senior government ministries and offices, 10 May 1940 – 23 May 1945

This table lists cabinet level ministries and offices during the Churchill administration. [43] Most of these were portfolios in the "outer cabinet" and outside the war cabinet, although some were temporarily included in the war cabinet, as indicated by bold highlighting of the ministers concerned. [43] Focus here is upon the ministerial offices. Some ministries, such as Foreign Secretary, were in the war cabinet throughout the entire administration whereas others like Lord Privy Seal, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Home Secretary were sometimes in the war cabinet and sometimes not, depending on priorities at the time. A number of ministries were created by Churchill in response to wartime needs. Some of the ministers retained offices that they held in former administrations and their notes include the date of their original appointment. For new appointments to existing offices, their predecessor's name is given.

PortfolioMinisterPartyTook officeLeft office
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury Winston Churchill Conservative 10 May 194023 May 1945
Deputy Prime Minister Clement Attlee Labour 19 February 194223 May 1945
Minister of Defence Winston Churchill Conservative10 May 194023 May 1945
Lord Chancellor Viscount Simon Liberal National 12 May 194023 May 1945
Lord President of the Council Neville Chamberlain Conservative10 May 194029 September 1940
Sir John Anderson National 3 October 194024 September 1943
Clement Attlee Labour24 September 194323 May 1945
Lord Privy Seal Clement Attlee Labour11 May 194015 February 1942
Sir Stafford Cripps Ind. Labour 19 February 194222 November 1942
Viscount Cranborne Conservative22 November 194224 September 1943
Lord Beaverbrook Conservative24 September 194323 May 1945
Minister without portfolio Arthur Greenwood Labour11 May 194022 February 1942
Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax Conservative10 May 194022 December 1940
Anthony Eden Conservative22 December 194023 May 1945
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Kingsley Wood Conservative12 May 194021 September 1943
Sir John Anderson National24 September 194323 May 1945
Home Secretary and Minister for Home Security Sir John Anderson National12 May 19403 October 1940
Herbert Morrison Labour2 October 194023 May 1945
Minister of Labour and National Service Ernest Bevin Labour13 May 194023 May 1945
Secretary of State for War Anthony Eden Conservative11 May 194022 December 1940
David Margesson Conservative22 December 194022 February 1942
Sir James Grigg National22 February 194223 May 1945
Secretary of State for Air Sir Archibald Sinclair Liberal 11 May 194023 May 1945
First Lord of the Admiralty A. V. Alexander Labour11 May 194023 May 1945
Leader of the House of Commons Winston Churchill Conservative10 May 194019 February 1942
Sir Stafford Cripps Ind. Labour19 February 194222 November 1942
Anthony Eden Conservative22 November 194223 May 1945
Leader of the House of Lords Viscount Caldecote Conservative10 May 19403 October 1940
Viscount Halifax Conservative3 October 194022 December 1940
Lord Lloyd Conservative22 December 19404 February 1941
Lord Moyne Conservative8 February 194121 February 1942
Viscount Cranborne Conservative21 February 194223 May 1945
Minister of Aircraft Production Lord Beaverbrook Conservative2 August 194030 April 1941
John Moore-Brabazon Conservative1 May 194122 February 1942
John Llewellin Conservative22 February 194222 November 1942
Sir Stafford Cripps Ind. Labour (to Feb. 1945)22 November 194223 May 1945
Labour (Feb.–May 1945)
Minister of State Lord Beaverbrook Conservative1 May 194129 June 1941
Minister of Supply Herbert Morrison Labour12 May 19402 October 1940
Sir Andrew Rae Duncan National3 October 194029 June 1941
Lord Beaverbrook Conservative29 June 19414 February 1942
Sir Andrew Rae Duncan National4 February 194223 May 1945
Minister of (War) Production Lord Beaverbrook Conservative4 February 194219 February 1942
Oliver Lyttelton Conservative12 March 194223 May 1945
Minister of Reconstruction Lord Woolton National11 November 194323 May 1945
Minister-Resident for the Middle East Oliver Lyttelton Conservative29 June 194112 March 1942
Richard Casey National12 March 194214 January 1944
Lord Moyne Conservative14 January 19446 November 1944
Sir Edward Grigg Conservative21 November 194423 May 1945
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs Viscount Caldecote Conservative14 May 19403 October 1940
Viscount Cranborne Conservative3 October 194015 February 1942
Clement Attlee Labour15 February 194224 September 1943
Viscount Cranborne Conservative24 September 194323 May 1945
Minister of Information Duff Cooper Conservative12 May 194020 July 1941
Brendan Bracken Conservative20 July 194123 May 1945
Minister of Health Malcolm MacDonald National Labour 13 May 19408 February 1941
Ernest Brown Liberal National8 February 194111 November 1943
Henry Willink Conservative11 November 194323 May 1945
Minister of Food Lord Woolton Conservative13 May 194011 November 1943
John Llewellin Conservative11 November 194323 May 1945
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Robert Hudson Conservative14 May 194023 May 1945
Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton Labour15 May 194022 February 1942
Earl Selborne Conservative22 February 194223 May 1945
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Lord Hankey Independent14 May 194020 July 1941
Duff Cooper Conservative20 July 194111 November 1943
Ernest Brown Liberal National11 November 194323 May 1945
Attorney General Sir Donald Somervell Conservative15 May 194023 May 1945
Lord Advocate Thomas Cooper Conservative15 May 19405 June 1941
James Reid Conservative5 June 194123 May 1945
Solicitor General Sir William Jowitt Labour15 May 19404 March 1942
Sir David Maxwell Fyfe Conservative4 March 194223 May 1945
Solicitor General for Scotland James Reid Conservative15 May 194023 May 1945
David King Murray Conservative5 June 194123 May 1945
Paymaster General Viscount Cranborne Conservative15 May 19403 October 1940
Lord Hankey Independent20 July 19414 March 1942
Sir William Jowitt Labour4 March 194230 December 1942
Lord Cherwell Conservative30 December 194223 May 1945
Postmaster-General William Morrison Conservative15 May 19407 February 1943
Harry Crookshank Conservative7 February 194323 May 1945
President of the Board of Education Herwald Ramsbotham Conservative14 May 194020 July 1941
Rab Butler Conservative20 July 194123 May 1945
President of the Board of Trade Sir Andrew Rae Duncan National12 May 19403 October 1940
Oliver Lyttelton Conservative3 October 194029 June 1941
Sir Andrew Rae Duncan National29 June 19414 February 1942
John Llewellin Conservative4 February 194222 February 1942
Hugh Dalton Labour22 February 194223 May 1945
Secretary of State for India and Burma Leo Amery Conservative13 May 194023 May 1945
Secretary of State for Scotland Ernest Brown Liberal National14 May 19408 February 1941
Tom Johnston Labour8 February 194123 May 1945
Secretary of State for the Colonies Lord Lloyd Conservative12 May 19404 February 1941
Lord Moyne Conservative8 February 194122 February 1942
Viscount Cranborne Conservative22 February 194222 November 1942
Oliver Stanley Conservative22 November 194223 May 1945
Minister of Civil Aviation Viscount Swinton Conservative8 October 194423 May 1945
Minister of (War) Transport Sir John Reith National14 May 19403 October 1940
John Moore-Brabazon Conservative3 October 19401 May 1941
Lord Leathers Conservative1 May 194123 May 1945
Minister of Shipping Ronald Cross Conservative14 May 19401 May 1941
Minister of Pensions Sir Walter Womersley Conservative15 May 194023 May 1945
Minister of Social/National Insurance Sir William Jowitt Labour8 October 194423 May 1945
Minister of Fuel and Power Gwilym Lloyd George Liberal3 June 194223 May 1945
Minister of Town and Country Planning William Morrison Conservative7 February 194323 May 1945
Minister-Resident for North-West Africa Harold Macmillan Conservative30 December 194223 May 1945
Minister-Resident for West Africa Viscount Swinton Conservative8 June 19428 October 1944
Harold Balfour Conservative21 November 194423 May 1945
Minister without portfolio Sir William Jowitt Labour30 December 19428 October 1944
Minister of Works Lord Tryon Conservative18 May 19403 October 1940
Sir John Reith National3 October 194022 February 1942
Lord Portal Conservative22 February 194221 November 1944
Duncan Sandys Conservative21 November 194423 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Government Chief Whip) David Margesson Conservative17 May 194022 December 1940
Sir Charles Edwards Labour17 May 194012 March 1942
James Stuart Conservative14 January 194123 May 1945
William Whiteley Labour12 March 194223 May 1945

Financial and parliamentary secretaries, 10 May 1940 – 23 May 1945

This table lists the junior offices (often ministerial level 3) that held the title of Financial Secretary and/or Parliamentary Secretary. [43] None of these officials were ever in the war cabinet. Their offices have rarely, if ever, been recognised as cabinet-level, although some of the office holders here did, at need, occasionally attend cabinet meetings. Some of the appointees retained offices that they held in former administrations and these are marked in situ with the date of their original appointment.

PortfolioMinisterPartyTook officeLeft office
Financial Secretary to the Admiralty George Hall Labour 4 February 194225 September 1943
James Thomas Conservative 25 September 194323 May 1945
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Harry Crookshank Conservative15 May 19407 February 1943
Ralph Assheton Conservative7 February 194329 October 1944
Osbert Peake Conservative29 October 194423 May 1945
Financial Secretary to the War Office Richard Law Conservative17 May 194020 July 1941
Duncan Sandys Conservative20 July 19417 February 1943
Arthur Henderson Labour7 February 194323 May 1945
Lords Commissioners of the Treasury William Whytehead Boulton Conservative12 May 194013 March 1942
Patrick Buchan-Hepburn Conservative12 May 194026 June 1940
Stephen Furness Liberal National 12 May 194018 May 1940
Patrick Munro Conservative12 May 194013 March 1942
James Stuart Conservative12 May 194014 January 1941
Wilfred Paling Labour18 May 19408 February 1941
James Thomas Conservative26 June 194025 September 1943
Thomas Dugdale Conservative8 February 194123 February 1942
William Murdoch Adamson Labour1 March 19412 October 1944
Arthur Young Conservative23 February 19423 July 1944
Sir John McEwen Conservative13 March 19426 December 1944
Leslie Pym Conservative13 March 194223 May 1945
Alec Beechman Liberal National25 September 194323 May 1945
Cedric Drewe Conservative3 July 194423 May 1945
William John Labour2 October 194423 May 1945
Patrick Buchan-Hepburn Conservative6 December 194423 May 1945
Minister of State at the Foreign Office Richard Law Conservative25 September 194323 May 1945
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty Sir Victor Warrender, Bt Conservative17 May 194023 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary for India and Burma Duke of Devonshire Conservative17 May 19401 January 1943
Earl of Munster Conservative1 January 194331 October 1944
Earl of Listowel Labour31 October 194423 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary for the Home Department William Mabane Liberal National15 May 19403 June 1942
Ellen Wilkinson Labour8 October 194023 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education James Chuter Ede Labour15 May 194023 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade Gwilym Lloyd George Liberal 15 May 19408 February 1941
Charles Waterhouse Conservative8 February 194123 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Lord Moyne Conservative15 May 19408 February 1941
Tom Williams Labour15 May 194023 May 1945
Duke of Norfolk Conservative8 February 194123 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production John Llewellin Conservative15 May 19401 May 1941
Frederick Montague Labour1 May 19414 March 1942
Ben Smith Labour4 March 194211 November 1943
Alan Lennox-Boyd Conservative11 November 194323 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation Robert Perkins Conservative22 March 194523 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare Dingle Foot Liberal17 May 194023 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food Robert Boothby Conservative15 May 194022 October 1940
Gwilym Lloyd George Liberal22 October 19403 June 1942
William Mabane Liberal National3 June 194223 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power Geoffrey Lloyd Conservative3 June 194223 May 1945
Tom Smith Labour3 June 194223 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health Florence Horsbrugh Conservative15 May 194023 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information Harold Nicolson National Labour 17 May 194020 July 1941
Ernest Thurtle Labour20 July 194123 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour Ralph Assheton Conservative15 May 19404 February 1942
George Tomlinson Labour8 February 194123 May 1945
Malcolm McCorquodale Conservative4 February 194223 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Insurance Charles Peat Conservative22 March 194523 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions Ellen Wilkinson Labour17 May 19408 October 1940
Lord Tryon Conservative8 October 194024 November 1940
Wilfred Paling Labour8 February 194123 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Production George Garro-Jones Labour10 September 194223 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping Sir Arthur Salter Independent 15 May 194029 June 1941
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply Harold Macmillan Conservative15 May 19404 February 1942
Lord Portal Conservative4 September 194022 February 1942
Ralph Assheton Conservative4 February 19427 February 1943
Charles Peat Conservative4 March 194222 March 1945
Duncan Sandys Conservative7 February 194321 November 1944
John Wilmot Labour21 November 194423 May 1945
James de Rothschild Liberal22 March 194523 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning Henry Strauss Conservative30 December 194222 March 1945
Arthur Jenkins Labour22 March 194523 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport Frederick Montague Labour18 May 19401 May 1941
John Llewellin Conservative1 May 19414 February 1942
Sir Arthur Salter Independent29 June 194123 May 1945
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works George Hicks Labour19 November 194023 May 1945
Henry Strauss Conservative4 March 194230 December 1942

Other junior ministries, 10 May 1940 – 23 May 1945

This table lists the junior offices (often ministerial level 3) whose titles signify an assistant, deputy or under-secretary function. [43] It excludes financial and parliamentary secretaries who are in the table above. None of these officials were ever in the war cabinet. Their offices have rarely, if ever, been recognised as cabinet-level, although some of the office holders here did, at need, occasionally attend cabinet meetings. Some of the appointees retained offices that they held in former administrations and these are marked in situ with the date of their original appointment.

PortfolioMinisterPartyTook officeLeft office
Assistant Postmaster-General Charles Waterhouse Conservative 17 May 19401 March 1941
Allan Chapman Conservative1 March 19414 March 1942
Robert Grimston Conservative4 March 194223 May 1945
Civil Lord of the Admiralty Sir Austin Hudson, Bt Conservative15 May 19404 March 1942
Richard Pilkington Conservative4 March 194223 May 1945
Deputy Minister-Resident for the Middle East Lord Moyne Conservative27 August 194228 January 1944
Secretary for Mines David Grenfell Labour 15 May 194023 May 1945
Secretary for Petroleum Geoffrey Lloyd Conservative15 May 19403 June 1942
Secretary for Overseas Trade Harcourt Johnstone Liberal 15 May 19401 March 1945
Under-Secretary of State for Air Harold Balfour Conservative15 May 194021 November 1944
Hugh Seely, 1st Baron Sherwood Liberal20 July 194123 May 1945
Rupert Brabner Conservative21 November 194427 March 1945
Quintin Hogg Conservative12 April 194523 May 1945
Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs Geoffrey Shakespeare Liberal National 15 May 19404 March 1942
Paul Emrys-Evans Conservative4 March 194223 May 1945
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Rab Butler Conservative15 May 194020 July 1941
Richard Law Conservative20 July 194125 September 1943
George Hall Labour25 September 194323 May 1945
Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Joseph Westwood Labour17 May 194023 May 1945
Henry Wedderburn Conservative8 February 19414 March 1942
Allan Chapman Conservative4 March 194223 May 1945
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies George Hall Labour15 May 19404 February 1942
Harold Macmillan Conservative4 February 19421 January 1943
Duke of Devonshire Conservative1 January 194323 May 1945
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department Osbert Peake Conservative15 May 194031 October 1944
Earl of Munster Conservative31 October 194423 May 1945
Under-Secretary of State for War Sir Henry Page Croft Conservative17 May 194023 May 1945
Sir Edward Grigg Conservative17 May 19404 March 1942
Arthur Henderson Labour4 March 19427 February 1943

Royal household appointments, 10 May 1940 – 23 May 1945

This table lists the officers appointed to the royal household during the Churchill administration. [43]

PortfolioMinisterPartyTook officeLeft office
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms Lord Snell Labour 31 May 194021 April 1944
Earl Fortescue Conservative 22 March 194523 May 1945
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard Lord Templemore Conservative31 May 194023 May 1945
Comptroller of the Household William Whiteley Labour17 May 194012 March 1942
William John Labour12 March 19422 October 1944
George Mathers Labour2 October 194423 May 1945
Lords-in-Waiting Earl Fortescue Conservative10 May 194022 March 1945
Lord Alness Liberal National 31 May 194023 May 1945
Viscount Clifden Liberal 31 May 194023 May 1945
Marquess of Normanby Conservative22 March 194523 May 1945
Treasurer of the Household Robert Grimston Conservative17 May 19404 March 1942
Sir James Edmondson Conservative12 March 194223 May 1945
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Sir James Edmondson Conservative17 May 194012 March 1942
William Whytehead Boulton Conservative12 March 194213 July 1944
Arthur Young Conservative13 July 194423 May 1945

See also

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References

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  2. Jenkins 2001, pp. 576–582.
  3. 1 2 quoted in Gilbert, as from David Dilks, ed. (1971). The Diaries of Sir Alexander Cadogan O.M 1938–45. London: Cassel. p. 280 (diary entry for 9 May 1940). ISBN   978-03-04937-37-0.
  4. 1 2 Churchill 1968, pp. 523–524.
  5. Jenkins 2001, p. 583.
  6. Shakespeare 2017, p. 362.
  7. cited in Gilbert: "Letter of 9 May 1940, marked by Churchill 'secret, for dinner, in a box'; Churchill papers 2/392".
  8. Schneer, Jonathan (16 March 2015). Ministers at War. Oneworld Publications. p. 28. ISBN   978-17-80746-14-2.
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  10. war cabinet No. 119 of 1940, 4.30 p.m. (there were three war cabinet meetings that day): Cabinet papers 65/7 cited in Gilbert.
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  13. Gilbert 1983, pp. 299–314.
  14. Hermiston 2016, pp. 23–24.
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  17. "Ministers of the Crown Act 1937". Modern Law Review . 1 (2). Blackwell Publishing: 145–148. 1937. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2230.1937.tb00014.x . ISSN   0026-7961.
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  19. Jenkins 2001, pp. 587–588.
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  22. "war cabinet and Cabinet: Defence Committee (Operations): Minutes and Papers (DO Series)". Kew, Richmond: The National Archives. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
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  24. 1 2 Hastings 2009, p. 25.
  25. Churchill 1970a, pp. 17–18.
  26. "His Majesty's Government – Churchill". Hansard, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 360, col. 1501. 13 May 1940. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  27. "His Majesty's Government – Churchill". Hansard, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 360, col. 1502. 13 May 1940. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  28. "His Majesty's Government – Lees-Smith". Hansard, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 360, cols 1504–1505. 13 May 1940. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  29. "His Majesty's Government – Division". Hansard, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 360, col. 1525. 13 May 1940. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  30. Hermiston 2016, p. vii.
  31. Hermiston 2016, p. 40.
  32. Jenkins 2001, pp. 595–610.
  33. Owen 2016, pp. 128–244.
  34. Hermiston 2016, p. 182.
  35. Gilbert 1991, p. 718.
  36. Hermiston 2016, p. 358.
  37. Hermiston 2016, p. 356.
  38. Jenkins 2001, p. 790.
  39. Gilbert 1991, p. 855.
  40. Hermiston 2016, pp. 366–367.
  41. Jenkins 2001, pp. 798–799.
  42. Pelling 1980, p. 408.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Butler & Butler 1994, pp. 17–20.

Bibliography

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1940–1945
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