Dakar Failure
Accepts withdrawal from Dakar after Vichy resistance holds.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1940 in Great Britain — Page 12
Explore 642 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1940.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1940
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 642 unique records.
642Unique records
12 of 17Page
31Named events on this page
14Named people on this page
15Places on this page
September
Siege of Dakar
Churchill decides to abandon the attempt to capture the port of Dakar
Battle of Britain
Tells the country that invasion danger remains despite RAF success.
Battle of Britain
Buckingham Palace is hit by 6 bombs while George VI is in residence
Capture of Sidi Barrani
The Italian forces invade Egypt in September 1940, and advance some 60 miles (97 km) to occupy Sidi Barrani
Defence of Egypt
Directs British Middle East forces defending Egypt, the Nile Delta and the Suez Canal against Italian pressure from Libya.
Invasion of Egypt
The Italians invade Egypt
Invasion of Egypt
The Italian forces invade Egypt in September 1940, and advance some 60 miles (97 km) to occupy Sidi Barrani
Military Service
Serves in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War.
Radar Defence
Praises Fighter Command while radar remains vital to defence.
Tizard Mission
Brings radar knowledge and the cavity magnetron to America.
Tizard Mission
Carries British radar secrets to the United States.
October
Cabinet War Rooms
Uses underground war rooms as the Blitz makes central London dangerous.
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Churchill appoints Ernest Bevin as Minister of Labour
Bombing of London
Former Leader of the London County Council, useful during the blitz
Home Secretary of Great Britain
Appointed Home Secretary
Birth of John Lennon
Birth of John Lennon in Liverpool
Birth of John Lennon
Birth of John Lennon during wartime Liverpool.
Operation Sea Lion
Adolf Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion
GSO3 Intelligence Appointment
Serves as a temporary captain and General Staff Officer Grade Three in an intelligence role with an armoured formation.
Promotion to Wartime Lieutenant
Advances to wartime lieutenant while serving in military intelligence.
International Agreement
Britain and France agree not to sign a separate peace with Germany
Greek War
Promises support after Italy attacks Greece.
Battle of Britain
Commands Fighter Command through the official final day of the Battle of Britain.
Battle of Britain
The Luftwaffe has failed to gain the air superiority required for invasion.
Invasion Threat Reduced
Continues invasion precautions as the immediate German landing threat declines.
Fifth Corps Command Assumed
Takes command of V Corps and continues intensive preparations against a possible invasion.
November
Battle of the Atlantic
Focuses on convoy protection as U-boat losses increase.
Capture of Gallabat
Captures Gallabat from the Italians
Capture of Gallabat
The Italians recapture Gallabat
Death of Neville Chamberlain
Death of Neville Chamberlain, age 71
Bombing of London
London is bombed by 170 aircraft
Capture of Gallabat
The British recapture Gallabat from the Italians
Battle of Taranto
The British Mediterranean Fleet attacks the Italian base
Taranto Raid
Welcomes the Fleet Air Arm attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto.
Bombing of Berlin
British bombers conduct a night raid on Berlin
Bombing of Taranto
British bombers bomb the Italian naval base of Taranto
Bombing of Coventry
449 German planes bomb Coventry, killing 380 people and injuring 865
Coventry Blitz
Responds to the severe German bombing of Coventry.
Bombing of Hamburg
The Royal Air Force bomb Hamburg
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.