1 January 1942Atlantic CharterWinston Leonard Spencer Churchill
Reaffirms the Atlantic Charter and a pledge against separate peace.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1942, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
Reaffirms the Atlantic Charter and a pledge against separate peace.
Signs the Declaration by United Nations in Washington.
Declaration 26 not to conclude a separate armistice, becomes the basis for the foundation of the United Nations
Declaration 26 not to conclude a separate armistice, becomes the basis for the foundation of the United Nations. 26 Allied countries sign the United Nations Declaration following the principles of the Atlantic Charter
Britain, the USA, China & 22 Allies agree not to make a separate peace with Germany
Birth of John Edward Thaw
Birth of Stephen William Hawking
Answers Commons questions on the committee examining social insurance and allied services.
Driven out of Moulmein by the Japanese & forced to withdraw across the Salween
The Alliance is confirmed, British Chiefs of Staff confirm their role
Leaves Hut 8 to become deputy to Dilly Knox in the section attacking Abwehr Enigma.
Appointed Flotilla Leader
Appointed Flotilla Leader
Studies plans written by the British & USA Combined-Chiefs of Staff
Sent by Churchill to persuade Auchinleck to capture Cyrenaica but Cripps fails
Rommel drives the Eighth Army back to Gazala, only 25 miles outside Tobruk
Sets out proposals for central planning machinery as reconstruction responsibilities are reorganised.
Churchill goes on the air to rally morale & reorganises his Cabinet
Singapore surrenders to the Japanese
Escapes across the Sittang after an attack by the Japanese but loses heavy equipment
Appointed Supreme Commander of Allied forces in India & Burma
Appointed Supreme Commander of Allied forces in India & Burma
British airborne planning supports the Bruneval radar raid.
Dismantles Wurzburg radar components during the raid.
Commands paratroopers in the Bruneval radar raid.
Seeks intelligence on German Wurzburg radar capabilities.
Combined Operations supports the Bruneval radar raid.
Birth of Brian Jones, founder and multi-instrumentalist of the Rolling Stones.
Birth of Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones
The Bruneval raid brings Wurzburg radar parts back to Britain.
British paratroops seize components from a German Wurzburg radar.
Faces the loss of readable U-boat traffic when four-rotor Naval Enigma creates the Shark blackout.
The Eighth Army reaches Agheila but it cannot be captured from Rommel
Replaced by Lieutenant General Alexander
US and Britain agree to cooperate in strategic planning in the event the US enters the war, during the ABC-1 talks, the US agree in principal that the defeat of Germany would be the first priority in the event of a two-theatre conflict
Appointed Commander of the Burma Corps
Appointed Commander of the Burma Corps
Begins to defend the Prome-Toungoo Line
Establishes a defensive line from Prome to Toungoo & east to the Salween River
Birth of Neil Kinnock
A naval and commando raid on the St Nazaire (Operation Chariot) succeeds at badly damaging the ports dry dock and denying it German navy capital ships
A naval and commando raid on the St Nazaire (Operation Chariot) succeeds at badly damaging the ports dry dock and denying it German navy capital ships
Leads the Eighth Armys to victory at Wadi Akarit
US and British military commanders discuss the build-up of US forces in the UK for an eventual invasion of German-occupied Europe, the build-up phase is codenamed Bolero
Registers for national service
Takes responsibility for Army planning connected with the proposed Dieppe raid before leaving home command.
Visits U.S. Navy cryptanalysts and argues for closer sharing of Enigma results and methods.
Made responsible for the Army planning for the raid on Dieppe
Gets his remaining troops across the Chindwin River & into the border region
Birth of Ian Dury
Birth of Jeff Astle
An Anglo-Soviet Treaty of alliance is signed in London
1st meets Eisenhower, disagrees with him about how to defend the British coast
Visits Bath
Withdraws to India with his Burmese Corps
Is promoted to major after assuming responsibilities normally associated with more senior intelligence officers.
Speaks during Commons consideration of the Anglo-Soviet treaty of alliance.
Birth of Paul McCartney, born in Walton General Hospital in Liverpool, England, where his mother, Mary, had previously worked as a nursing sister in the maternity ward
Birth of Paul McCartney at Walton Hospital in Liverpool.
An allied pact becomes the United Nations
Molotov receives military assistance & economic aid. A second front is established & atomic research is intensified. An allied pact becomes the United Nations
Churchill and Roosevelt meet and agree to attack German forces in North Africa (Operation Torch) before launching invasion of Continental Europe, Torch serves to stall Bolero troop build-up in UK
Churchill and Roosevelt meet and agree to attack German forces in North Africa (Operation Torch) before launching invasion of Continental Europe, Torch serves to stall Bolero troop build-up in UK
Dies during airborne radar testing after major electronics work.
Holds the Axis advance at El Alamein, preventing Rommel from breaking through toward Alexandria and the Suez Canal.
Auchinleck halts Rommel's advance at the First Battle of El Alamein, gaining time for the defence of Egypt.
Opinion polls show half the population is dissatisfied with the conduct of the war
Opinion polls show half the population is dissatisfied with the conduct of the war. Churchill wins a resounding victory of 476 votes to 25 on the conduct of the War
The raid on Dieppe is postponed because of bad weather
Troops cannot embark for the raid on Dieppe because of bad weather, it is postponed
The British propose "Operation Gymnast," the invasion of French North Africa
The Americans wish to launch Operation Sledgehammer in France directly against Germany. Sledgehammer is dropped in favour of Operation Torch, preferred by the British. General Marshall, Admiral King & Harry Hopkins discuss "Sledgehammer" at Chequers. Churchill refuses to co-operate & inisists on an invasion of North Africa instead
Stalin informs Churchill he cannot agree to the postponement of a 2nd front until 1943
The First Battle of El Alamein ends with the Axis advance checked and the Allied line intact.
Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army after the fall of Tobruk
Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army after the fall of Tobruk
Appointed Lieutenant
Appointed Lieutenant
Churchill visits Auchinleck at the Eighth Army HQ in the Egyptian desert. Agrees to appoint a new Commander for the Eighth Army. Advised he cannot be C-in-C Middle East & Command the Eighth Army
Auchinleck agrees Brookes proposal to make Montgomery Comander of the Eighth Army
Churchill visits Auchinleck at the Eighth Army HQ in the Egyptian desert
Advises the War Cabinet to split-off Persia & Irak from the Middle East Command. Advises the War Cabinet to replace Auchinleck by Alexander. Advises the War Cabinet to appoint Gott as the Commander of the Eighth Army
Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army
Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army
Death of Edward William Gott, plane shot down. Aircraft shot down the day after Churchill advises appointing him Eighth Army Commander
Appointed Lieutenant General
Appointed Lieutenant General
Advised that he is being relieved of his command of the Eighth Army
Leaves Britain to take command of the Eighth Army
Arrives at Cairo to take command of the Eighth Army
Arrives at Cairo to take command of the Eighth Army
Takes over Middle East Command and works with Montgomery to rebuild the Eighth Army before the El Alamein battles.
Takes command of the Eighth Army and prepares the defence of Egypt against any renewed Axis push toward Suez.
Takes over active command of the Eighth Army
Takes over active command of the Eighth Army
Churchill visits Moscow to discuss second front issues with Stalin, Soviets suspicious over Allied strategy in Mediterranean, demand action in NW Europe
New weapons & methods of amphibious assault are tested which are used during D-Day. Much is learnt for Normandy landings in 1944. Ends in disaster with over 3,000 killed & 2,000 captured out of 6,000
Keeps British armour concentrated rather than allowing it to be drawn into Rommel's preferred mobile battle.
Auchinleck foresees Axis intentions and his defensive preparations help frustrate Rommel at Alam Halfa.
Commands XIII Corps on the southern flank during the Battle of Alam Halfa.
Defeats Rommel's attack at Alam Halfa, protecting the approaches to Cairo and the Suez Canal.
Rommel attacks the Alam Halfa Ridge
Strengthens the Alam Halfa position and prepares a defence designed to absorb Rommel's armoured attack.
Visits the Eighth Army in north Africa. Auchenlick is dismissed & replaced by Montgomery
Begins rebuilding Eighth Army morale and confidence immediately after arriving in Egypt.
Churchill meets Stalin at the Kremlin
Is promoted to lieutenant colonel during his service in Middle East military intelligence.
Rejects preparations for further retreat and orders Eighth Army to hold the Alamein position.
Assumes Middle East command and oversees the defence of Egypt and the Suez Canal before the El Alamein offensive.
Helps defeat Rommels attack on Alam Halfa Ridge
Rommels attack is turned back, Cairo & Alexandra are safeguarded
Appointed Commander of XXX Corps in the Eighth Army by Montgomery
Appointed Commander of XXX Corps in the Eighth Army by Montgomery
Eighth Army stops the Axis attack and preserves the defensive position protecting Egypt.
Churchill agrees to send Stalin Arctic convoys
Appointed Commander of 10 Corps of the Eighth Army by Montgomery
Appointed Commander of 10 Corps of the Eighth Army by Montgomery
Builds up tanks, artillery, ammunition and transport before the planned offensive at El Alamein.
Refuses pressure for an early offensive while Eighth Army is still training and accumulating supplies.
Montgomery issues final plans for the Eighth Army's offensive before the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Directs Desert Air Force support for Montgomery's offensive at El Alamein, helping secure the canal route.
Commands XIII Corps in the southern diversion during the opening of the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Leese's XXX Corps leads the infantry assault in the northern sector at the opening of the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Launches an attack at El Alamein to stop the Axis advance toward the Suez Canal.
Launches the El Alamein offensive that turns back the Axis threat to Egypt and the Suez Canal.
Montgomery launches a diversionary attack in the southern sector on the opening night of the battle.
Montgomery launches the Second Battle of El Alamein with coordinated attacks by XXX Corps and XIII Corps.
Operation Lightfoot is launched to recapture north Africa
Orders the principal infantry assault in the north to open routes through Axis defensive belts.
Begins Operation Lightfoot, the infantry and artillery opening phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Maintains pressure in the south to hold Axis formations away from the decisive northern sector.
Montgomery confirms that the breakout effort must continue despite stubborn Axis resistance.
Axis tankers Proserpina and Tergeste are sunk, worsening fuel shortages during the battle.
The loss of Axis supply tankers deprives Panzer Army Africa of fuel during the battle.
Birth of Robert William "Bob" Hoskins, Jr
Continues the battle despite slow progress, using artillery and infantry to wear down Axis reserves.
Decides to launch the break-out Supercharge as far north as possible
Chooses a more northerly sector for the final breakout operation against the weakened Axis line.
Carries captured U-559 codebooks and Enigma material from the sinking submarine to the British boarding party.
Boards sinking U-559 and retrieves Enigma key material before drowning when the submarine founders.
Enters U-559 with Fasson and helps recover documents vital to renewed attacks on four-rotor Naval Enigma.
Germany bombs Canterbury in the biggest daylight raid since the Battle of Britain
Masses artillery to support infantry corridors through the Axis minefields at the start of the offensive.
Churchill broadcasts to Italy appealing to them to oust their leaders
Appointed SOE Commander of the Independent French
Appointed SOE Commander of the Independent French
Contributes intelligence assessment and planning to British operations culminating in the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Travels to Washington and helps negotiate full collaboration with the U.S. Navy on communications intelligence.
Joins Birch in Washington negotiations that strengthen British-American cooperation against Naval Enigma.
Supports deception measures intended to disguise the timing and main direction of the coming Alamein offensive.
Commands Mediterranean naval forces while the El Alamein campaign protects Alexandria and the Suez Canal.
Coordinates air support and interdiction during the decisive armoured breakout at El Alamein.
Leads 7th Armoured Division during the breakout phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Leese's XXX Corps supports the breakout during the closing phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Commands X Corps armoured formations during Operation Supercharge at the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Montgomery's offensive forces Rommel's army into retreat during the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Launches Operation Supercharge to break through the Axis position west of El Alamein.
151st & 152nd brigades launch Operation Supercharge & reach their objectives
Presses the offensive as Axis armoured strength falls to a fraction of its original level.
Montgomery's offensive reduces the Axis armoured reserve to a small number of serviceable tanks.
Eighth Army breaks the Axis front and begins the pursuit westward across Egypt and Libya.
The British armoured formations break through the Axis front as the Second Battle of El Alamein nears its decision.
Continues the pursuit as withdrawing Axis forces abandon positions around Mersa Matruh.
Orders the pursuit westward after the Axis army abandons the El Alamein position.
Plans the naval landings for British & American forces at Algiers, Oran & Casablance
Allied forces land in Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch)
Describes El Alamein as a turning point after news of the Axis retreat reaches Britain.
"it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning"
Montgomerys forces enter Tobruk which was never again to fall under German control
Eighth Army re-enters Tobruk while the Axis retreat continues westward.
Helps capture Derna
Orders Church bells to be rung throughout England after the capture of Tobruk
Eighth Army enters Benghazi as Montgomery sustains pressure on the retreating Axis army.
Commands the Eighth Army in the recapture of Benghazi
Commands the Eighth Army in the recapture of Benghazi
Appointed Minister of Aircraft Production
Resigns as Leader of the House
Appointed Member of War Cabinet
Eighth Army reaches the El Agheila region after the rapid advance across Cyrenaica.
Leigh-Mallory replaces Sholto Douglas as head of Fighter Command and is promoted to Air Marshal
Leigh-Mallory replaces Sholto Douglas as head of Fighter Command and is promoted to Air Marshal
Herbert Morrison replaces Sir Stafford Cripps
Works on the specialised Abwehr-Enigma Bombe Funf, installed at Bletchley Park in November.
Supports ambitious implementation of postwar social reform.
Publishes Social Insurance and Allied Services.
Beveridge proposes comprehensive social insurance against major causes of poverty.
Calls for comprehensive health services in postwar reconstruction.
Frames Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness as postwar challenges.
The Beveridge scheme for compulsory social insurance is announced
Birth of David Dave Clark
Helps restore reading of four-rotor U-boat Enigma as Hut 8 breaks Shark again in December.
Works in the Naval Section's U-boat watch as renewed Enigma decrypts begin arriving after the December Shark break.
Contributes to the December recovery of four-rotor Shark, ending a prolonged Naval Enigma blackout.
The Beveridge scheme for compulsory social insurance is announced
The Beveridge scheme for compulsory social insurance is announced
Leaves Britain for the United States to assist cooperation on high-speed Bombe development and secure communications.
Commands Western Approaches during the Battle of the Atlantic from Liverpool.
Leads escort operations connected with Liverpool and the Western Approaches command.
Produces cultural and political broadcasts for Indian audiences.
Works in wartime intelligence after earlier service in the Royal Artillery.
Appointed President of the Board of Trade
Launches an operation to mislead the Germans about the Allied Invasion Plans
Cologne is bombed at night by over 1,000 bombers
Leads the Eighth Armys advance across the Mareth Line
Leads the Eighth Armys advance along the coast road from Benghazi to Tripoli
Appointed Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
Appointed Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
Appointed Chief of Staff to Field Marshal Montgomery
Appointed Chief of Staff to Field Marshal Montgomery
Appointed Member of Combined-Chiefs of Staff
Appointed Member of Combined-Chiefs of Staff
Appointed Commander in Chief, Western Approaches
Appointed Commander in Chief, Western Approaches
Appointed Commander of Air forces in India
Appointed Commander of Air forces in India
Appointed Commander in Chief of Malta
Appointed Commander in Chief of Malta
Commands forces in Persia & Iraq
Commands forces in Persia & Iraq
Defends press freedom after government pressure against the Daily Mirror during wartime.
Appointed Deputy Prime Minister, serves under Winston Churchill
Healey serves in North Africa during the Allied campaign against Axis forces.
Fighter Command operated 50 squadrons in close cover and six in close support. Losses during the ill-fated raid were again heavy, partly because of the superiority of the new German fighter, the Fw 190, over RAFs Spitfire Mark Vs. Apppointed air commander for the Dieppe Raid
Releived of Command of the Eighth Army by Auchinleck after the fall of Tobruk
Beaverbrook appoints Foot editor of the Evening Standard at the age of 28.
Leads Hut 8 work on the four-rotor Naval Enigma problem during the Shark blackout.
Works in Hut 8 on German Naval Enigma and contributes to the attack on four-rotor Shark traffic.
Leigh-Mallory replaces Sholto Douglas as head of Fighter Command and is promoted to Air Marshal
Fighter Command operated 50 squadrons in close cover and six in close support. Losses during the ill-fated raid were again heavy, partly because of the superiority of the new German fighter, the Fw 190, over RAFs Spitfire Mark Vs
Applies statistical analysis to the Fish cipher problem, influencing later mechanised attacks on Lorenz traffic.
Awards the George Cross to the Island of Malta
Works on airborne radar for navigation and bombing.
Stars with Deborah Kerr and Robert Newton in Hatters Castle
Co-directs In Which We Serve with Noel Coward, moving from film editing into feature direction.
Appears in In Which We Serve
Joins British signals intelligence as a captain in the Intelligence Corps.
Agrees with Roosevelt that it will be impossible to open a 2nd Front in Europe in 1943
Japanese invasion, "The greatest disaster in the history of the British Empire"
Chiang Kai-Shek sends Stilwell to join up with Alexander at Maymyo
Agrees with Roosevelt, it will be impossible to open a 2nd Front in Europe in 1943
Captures the Western beachead in the Eighth Armys landind in Sicily
Appointed Member of Joint Chiefs-of-Sraff
Appointed Member of Joint Chiefs-of-Sraff
Appointed Member of Joint Chiefs-of-Sraff
Appointed Member of Joint Chiefs-of-Sraff
Appointed Member of Joint Chiefs-of-Sraff
Appointed Member of Joint Chiefs-of-Sraff
Appointed Member of Joint-Staff-Mission
Appointed Member of Joint-Staff-Mission
Appointed Member of Joint-Staff-Mission
Appointed Member of Joint-Staff-Mission
Appointed Member of Joint-Staff-Mission
Appointed Member of Joint-Staff-Mission
Appointed Leader of the House of Commons
Appointed Leader of the House of Lords, 1st term
Appointed Lieutenant Colonel
Appointed Lieutenant Colonel
Appointed Lord Privy Seal
Works on intelligence derived from the German Lorenz high-command teleprinter cipher.
Simon and Kurti develop gaseous-diffusion methods for separating uranium-235.
Simon and Kurti develop gaseous-diffusion methods for separating uranium-235.
Simon and Kurti develop gaseous-diffusion methods for separating uranium-235.
Simon and Kurti develop gaseous-diffusion methods for separating uranium-235.
Appointed Member of National Independents
Appointed Minister of Production
Appointed Minister of Supply, 2nd term
Hoyle contributed mathematical and theoretical work to British naval radar development.
Healey sees active service in the North African campaign against Axis forces.
Churchill unofficially informs the Soviets in a memorandum handed to Soviet Foreign Secretary Vyacheslav Molotov that the resources necessary for an invasion were lacking in 1942
In a joint statement with Soviet Union Communist Party General Secretary Joseph Stalin and United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Churchill had announces a "full understanding" with regard to the urgent tasks of creating a Second Front in Europe.
The planning process was started in earnest after the Casablanca and Tehran Conferences with the appointment of British Lieutenant General Frederick E. Morgan as Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander.
Two preliminary proposals were drawn up: Operation Sledgehammer, for an invasion in 1942, and Operation Roundup, for a larger attack in 1943, which was adopted and became Operation Overlord, although it was delayed until 1944.
The planning process was started in earnest after the Casablanca and Tehran Conferences with the appointment of British Lieutenant General Frederick E. Morgan as Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander
Two preliminary proposals were drawn up: Operation Sledgehammer, for an invasion in 1942, and Operation Roundup, for a larger attack in 1943, which was adopted and became Operation Overlord, although it was delayed until 1944
Two preliminary proposals were drawn up: Operation Sledgehammer, for an invasion in 1942, and Operation Roundup, for a larger attack in 1943, which was adopted and became Operation Overlord, although it was delayed until 1944
Simon and Kurti develop gaseous-diffusion methods for separating uranium-235.
Simon and Kurti develop gaseous-diffusion methods for separating uranium-235.
Simon and Kurti develop gaseous-diffusion methods for separating uranium-235.
Simon and Kurti develop gaseous-diffusion methods for separating uranium-235.
Creates a "pathfinder force" that flies ahead of bombing raids to mark targets
Created Baron Dowding of Bentley Priory
Persuades Roosevelt to invade North Africa rather than France. Informs Stalin there will be no 2nd front in Europe this year. Informs Stalin that there should be an attack in South East Europe in 1943
Publication of "Phoenix"
Appointed President of the Board of Trade
Develops radio material intended to weaken confidence in the Nazi regime.
Retires drom the RAF
After Tobruk falls to Axis forces, Ritchie's Eighth Army retreats eastward toward El Alamein.
Professor Douglas Young, leader of the Scottish National Party from 1942 to 1945 campaigns for the Scottish people to refuse conscription and his activities were vilified as undermining the British war effort against the Axis powers, Young is imprisoned for refusing to be conscripted
Appointed Dominions Secretary
Fighter Command operated 50 squadrons in close cover and six in close support. Losses during the ill-fated raid were again heavy, partly because of the superiority of the new German fighter, the Fw 190, over RAFs Spitfire Mark Vs. Apppointed air commander for the Dieppe Raid
Abandons Rangoon to the Japanese
Helps plan the raid of St Nazaire
Appointed Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific
Appointed Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific
Joins the Testery research team in Block F at Bletchley Park.
Publication of "The Truth About Soviet Russia"
Taylor appears in her first motion picture at the age of nine in Theres One Born Every Minute
Develops a statistical technique later called Turingery for attacking German Lorenz teleprinter cipher traffic.
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