Alamein Breakthrough Achieved
Eighth Army breaks the Axis front and begins the pursuit westward across Egypt and Libya.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1942 in Great Britain — Page 5
Explore 306 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1942.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1942
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 306 unique records.
306Unique records
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31Named events on this page
19Named people on this page
11Places on this page
November
Battle of Alamein, 2nd
The British armoured formations break through the Axis front as the Second Battle of El Alamein nears its decision.
Mersa Matruh Pursuit Maintained
Continues the pursuit as withdrawing Axis forces abandon positions around Mersa Matruh.
Pursuit after Alamein
Orders the pursuit westward after the Axis army abandons the El Alamein position.
Invasion of Africa
Plans the naval landings for British & American forces at Algiers, Oran & Casablance
Operation Torch
Allied forces land in Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch)
Battle of Alamein, 2nd
Describes El Alamein as a turning point after news of the Axis retreat reaches Britain.
Speech
"it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning"
Capture of Tobruk
Montgomerys forces enter Tobruk which was never again to fall under German control
Tobruk Reoccupied during Pursuit
Eighth Army re-enters Tobruk while the Axis retreat continues westward.
Capture of Derna
Helps capture Derna
Capture of Tobruk
Orders Church bells to be rung throughout England after the capture of Tobruk
Benghazi Reoccupied during Pursuit
Eighth Army enters Benghazi as Montgomery sustains pressure on the retreating Axis army.
Capture of Benghazi
Commands the Eighth Army in the recapture of Benghazi
Eighth Army
Commands the Eighth Army in the recapture of Benghazi
Minister of Aircraft Production
Appointed Minister of Aircraft Production
Resignation of Stafford Cripps
Resigns as Leader of the House
War Cabinet
Appointed Member of War Cabinet
El Agheila Position Reached
Eighth Army reaches the El Agheila region after the rapid advance across Cyrenaica.
Air Marshal
Leigh-Mallory replaces Sholto Douglas as head of Fighter Command and is promoted to Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Leigh-Mallory replaces Sholto Douglas as head of Fighter Command and is promoted to Air Marshal
Cabinet
Herbert Morrison replaces Sir Stafford Cripps
Enigma Machine
Works on the specialised Abwehr-Enigma Bombe Funf, installed at Bletchley Park in November.
December
Beveridge Report
Supports ambitious implementation of postwar social reform.
Beveridge Report
Publishes Social Insurance and Allied Services.
Beveridge Report
Beveridge proposes comprehensive social insurance against major causes of poverty.
Comprehensive Health Proposal
Calls for comprehensive health services in postwar reconstruction.
Five Giants
Frames Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness as postwar challenges.
Report
The Beveridge scheme for compulsory social insurance is announced
Birth of David Dave Clark
Birth of David Dave Clark
Enigma Machine
Helps restore reading of four-rotor U-boat Enigma as Hut 8 breaks Shark again in December.
Enigma Machine
Works in the Naval Section's U-boat watch as renewed Enigma decrypts begin arriving after the December Shark break.
Enigma Machine
Contributes to the December recovery of four-rotor Shark, ending a prolonged Naval Enigma blackout.
Health Reform
The Beveridge scheme for compulsory social insurance is announced
Reform of Government
The Beveridge scheme for compulsory social insurance is announced
United States Cryptographic Mission
Leaves Britain for the United States to assist cooperation on high-speed Bombe development and secure communications.
Other events (month unknown)
Battle of the Atlantic
Commands Western Approaches during the Battle of the Atlantic from Liverpool.
Battle of the Atlantic
Leads escort operations connected with Liverpool and the Western Approaches command.
Bletchley Park
Works in wartime intelligence after earlier service in the Royal Artillery.
Board of Trade
Appointed President of the Board of Trade
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.