Macmillan Seeks IMF Quota Repayment
Harold Macmillan sought International Monetary Fund assistance to shore up British reserves amid the Suez financial crisis.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in Great Britain — Page 10
Explore 627 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1956.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1956
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November
Musketeer Advance Halted Before Canal Capture
Charles Keightley's forces stopped their southward advance as the ceasefire prevented the allies from occupying the entire Suez Canal.
Naval Gunfire Precedes Amphibious Beach Landings
British and French warships provided support as assault craft approached Port Said and the main seaborne operation began.
Naval Support Reduced after Ceasefire
Durnford-Slater curtails offensive naval support after the political decision to halt operations.
Parachute Brigade Links with Seaborne Force
Butler's airborne troops link with units arriving by sea as the Allied position around Port Said expands.
Paratroopers Link With Seaborne Assault Forces
Paul Crook's airborne troops operated alongside British troops arriving by sea as the assault on Port Said expanded.
Port Said Advance Continued
Butler directs paratroopers pushing deeper into Port Said before the ceasefire takes effect.
Port Said Assault
Commands ground forces as amphibious landings reinforce the airborne troops at Port Said
Port Said Beachheads Consolidated
Stockwell consolidates Anglo-French beachheads after the amphibious landings.
Prime Minister Announces Halt in Commons
Anthony Eden publicly announced the cessation of British military operations and associated plans for United Nations involvement.
Prime Minister Announces Suez Ceasefire
Anthony Eden announced that British and French military operations would stop after intense international diplomatic and financial pressure.
Royal Marines and Armour Integrated for Landing
Stockwell's land plan combines Royal Marine commandos with Centurion tanks during the seaborne assault on Port Said.
Royal Marines Land on Port Said Beaches
Hugh Stockwell's command put Royal Marine units ashore near Port Said with armored support after the airborne operation secured a foothold.
Royal Marines Landing
Commands Royal Marine Commando forces during the seaborne and helicopter-supported landing
Royal Marines Storm Port Said Waterfront
James Moulton's commandos came ashore near the city with amphibious vehicles and began moving against Egyptian defensive positions.
Southward Canal Advance Organised
Stockwell directs forces beyond the captured beachhead toward objectives farther south along the canal.
Sterling Crisis
Eden confronts severe pressure on sterling as American financial support is withheld during the Suez Crisis.
Sterling Crisis
Warns Cabinet of the worsening sterling crisis and the financial consequences of American pressure
Supporting Fire Restricted to Identified Defences
Moulton restricts supporting fire to known Egyptian defences and positions actively engaging the assault.
Trade Union Leaders Reinforce Antiwar Opposition
Frank Cousins joined Labour speakers in a subsequent anti-Suez meeting, reflecting the trade union movement's opposition to the intervention.
Warehouse Position Assaulted
Crossland joins an assault on an Egyptian-held warehouse during 40 Commando's fighting in Port Said.
Warehouse Position Held Alone
Crossland holds his position alone after casualties during the warehouse fight and continues engaging Egyptian defenders.
Warships Bombard Port Said Coastal Positions
Robin Durnford-Slater's naval force supported the seaborne landing with bombardment of Egyptian positions near the assault beaches.
Bevan Defends Political Opposition to Suez Assault
Aneurin Bevan remained a leading public opponent of the intervention after the government announced a ceasefire.
British Diplomacy Confronts Intervention Backlash
Selwyn Lloyd defended the British position while international criticism of the Anglo-French invasion reinforced demands for withdrawal.
British Government Faces Port Said Occupation Crisis
Anthony Eden's administration had to reconcile continued occupation of the city with international demands for a complete withdrawal.
British Parachutists Retain El Gamil Position
Paul Crook's battalion remained in the occupied area after the ceasefire while arrangements for the withdrawal were still unresolved.
Canal Blockage Intensifies British Oil Shortage
Britain faced more expensive oil deliveries and external payment pressure as tankers had to avoid the blocked shortcut through Egypt.
Ceasefire
Eden announces that military operations will cease and that United Nations forces will be used
Commons Discipline
Works to maintain Conservative support after the ceasefire announcement
Financial Emergency Persists Following Ceasefire
Harold Macmillan continued efforts to find external support because the pause in fighting did not immediately restore Britain's financial reserves.
Foreign Secretary Defends Ceasefire Reversal
Selwyn Lloyd's government had to explain the sudden change from a military drive along the canal to a negotiated end to fighting.
Naval Forces Shift to Ceasefire Posture
Durnford-Slater shifts naval forces from assault support to ceasefire and withdrawal duties.
Occupation Zone Stabilised
Keightley stabilises the limited Anglo-French occupation area while withdrawal terms are negotiated.
Sterling Crisis
Seeks American financial support as sterling comes under severe pressure
Suez Canal
Eden announces in the Commons United Nations forces will be used & military operations cease. Cease-fire commences after the Russian threat of rockets. Britain says she will evacuate her troops from Suez on the arrival of the United Nations forces
Suez Canal
Sent to Washington to gain support for a collapsing £
Allied Command Reviews Airfield Occupation
Charles Keightley's headquarters had to sustain the captured northern canal positions while governments negotiated a withdrawal.
Commons Attack
Attacks the Government over the financial and diplomatic consequences of the Suez adventure
Labour Maintains Pressure for Complete Withdrawal
Hugh Gaitskell continued to criticize the government's Suez policy and called for a political settlement rather than renewed fighting.
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.