Coal Vesting Day
On 1 January 1947 the National Coal Board took over coal mines under the nationalisation programme overseen by the Labour government.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1947 in Great Britain
Explore 165 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1947.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1947
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 165 unique records.
165Unique records
1 of 5Page
37Named events on this page
22Named people on this page
10Places on this page
January
Nationalisation of Cable and Wireless
Cable and Wireless enters public ownership under the postwar nationalisation programme.
Nationalisation of Coal
The National Coal Board assumes ownership of Britain's coal mines on Vesting Day.
Nationalised Pits Open
Nationalisation transferred the principal coal mines into a single publicly owned organisation managed by the National Coal Board.
Nationalization
The coal industry is nationalised
Occupation
The American and British occupation zones in Germany are economically joined together
Birth of David Robert Jones
Birth of David Robert Jones, later known professionally as David Bowie.
Birth of David Byron
Birth of David Byron
February
Departs on HMS Vanguard for South Africa to help Jan Smuts against
Departs on HMS Vanguard for South Africa to help Jan Smuts against the Nationalist Party
Visit to Portsmouth
Embarks on the HMS Vanguard for royal state visit to South Africa & Rhodesia. Elizabeth IIs 1st trip outside the British Isles
Great Britain Football Team
Great Britain joins together to form a football team, which Hardwick captained and led to victory (61) against the rest of Europe
Birth of David Russell Gordon Davies
Birth of David Russell Gordon Davies
Visit to Cape Town
Arrives at Duncan Dock received by the Governor of General, Prime Minister & the Cabinet. 1st time a reigning British Sovereign had step foot on South African soil
Independence of Great Britain
Agrees to grant Indian independence no later than 1948
Independence of India
Agrees to grant Indian independence no later than 1948
Withdrawal Negotiations
Informs the US Britain cannot afford to keep troops in Greece and will withdraw by April
Citizenship
Takes the oath of allegiance & becomes a British subject
Normanton By-Election
Contests the Normanton by-election as a Conservative candidate but is not elected.
Offers to return to Britain from the tour of South Africa
Offers to return to Britain from the tour of South Africa, but Attlee refuses
Opens the new session of Parliament in Cape Town
Opens the new session of Parliament in Cape Town
March
Alliance Clement Richard Attlee Attlee, 1st and France
A treaty of alliance, the Treaty of Dunkirk, is signed with France
Treaty of Dunkirk
A treaty of alliance, the Treaty of Dunkirk, is signed with France
Leaves Paymaster General
Leaves the office of Paymaster General and is succeeded by Hilary Marquand.
Citizenship
Becomes Lieutenant Philip Mountbaten, RN
CEPS
Founds the Central Economic Planning Staff
Lear Tolstoy and the Fool
Publishes Lear, Tolstoy and the Fool.
April
Birth of Stephen James Howe
Birth of Stephen James Howe, later Yes guitarist and key progressive rock figure.
Birth of Lee Kirslake
Birth of Lee Kirslake
Minister without Portfolio
Moves from the office of Lord Privy Seal to serve again as Minister without Portfolio.
JPS
Appointed as Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries
Parliamentary Private Secretary
Appointed PPS for Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Dalton
May
NHS Scotland Act
Secures Scottish legislation for the new health service.
Debut
Mortensen makes his full England debut against Portugal and scores four goals in a 100 win
June
Birth of Ronnie Wood
Birth of Ronnie Wood, later guitarist of the Rolling Stones.
UEM
Launches the United Europe Movement
July
Marriage
George VI makes public his consent for Elizabrth to marry Prince Philip
Marriage
Philips engagement to Princess Elizabeth is announced from Buckingham Palace
Marriage
Philips engagement to Princess Elizabeth is announced from Buckingham Palace
Death of Sidney James Webb
Death of Sidney James Webb
Birth of Peter William Brockbanks
Birth of Peter William Brockbanks, later known as Peter Banks, original Yes guitarist.
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.