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5 Return to Parliament: May to October 1940
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2009
Extract
Friday 10 May 1940 Neville Chamberlain announced his resignation on the wireless tonight: a dignified effort — Winston is to rule in his stead — so at last that man has gained his ambition: I never thought he would — well — let us hope that he makes good. I have never believed in him: I only hope that my judgement of the man will be proved wrong. He certainly possesses courage, imagination and drive[,] and age and experience and responsibility may give him judgement — then all should be well. One is sorry for Neville but I should imagine that he has only himself (and David Margesson) to blame for his fall: he should long ago have cut the dead wood out of his administration. The Germans invaded Holland and Belgium early this morning — troops dropped from the air appeared to be very busy in both countries. … No doubt we were ready for this coup. The war has now really begun and we are in for a period of strain and tension.
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References
1 The Chief Whip since 1931; a disciplinary martinet who was unswervingly loyal to the Party leader, he dismissed or contained signs of concern amongst M.P.s rather than acting as a channel of communication upwards.
2 Arthur Greenwood (1880–1954), Lab. M.P. Nelson & Colne 1922–31, Wakefield 1932–54; P.S. Health 1924; Min. of Health 1929–31; Min. without Portfolio & member of War Cabinet 1940–42; Lord Privy Seal 1945–47; Paymaster-Gen. 1946–47; Min. without Portfolio Apr.-Sep. 1947; Lab. Dep. Leader 1935–45, Treasurer 1943–54; Acting-Leader, P.L.P. 1942–45; Chairman, Lab. N.E.C. 1952–53.
3 Albert Victor Alexander (1885–1965), Lab. M.P. Sheffield Hillsborough 1922–31, 1935–50; P.S. Trade 1924; 1st Lord of Admiralty 1929–31, 1940–45, 1945–6; Min. without Portfolio 1946; Min. of Defence 1946–50; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1950–51; Lab. Leader in the Lords 1955–64; cr. Viscount Alexander of Hillsborough 1950, Earl 1963, K.G. 1964.
4 Archibald Henry MacDonald Sinclair (1890–1970), Lib. M.P. Caithness & Sutherland 1922–45; Scottish Sec. 1931–32; Sec. for Air 1940–45; Liberal Party leader 1935–45; sue. 4th Bart. 1912, cr. Viscount Thurso 1952, K.T. 1941.
5 The normal Whit Monday bank holiday had been cancelled.
6 The name was changed to Home Guard in July.
7 Henry Hampton Vick, member of Newcastle City Council, St. Nicholas' Ward 1935–40; Chairman, North Newcastle (1940) Con. Assoc., May-Dec. 1940; and then briefly Chairman of the amalgamated North Newcastle CA, Jan. 1941 (see chapter 6).
8 Henry George Alan Percy (1912–1940), P.P.S. to Lord Londonderry 1935, to Lord Swinton 1936; sue. 9th Duke of Northumberland 1930.
9 Deputy Chief Whip, and a friend of Headlam's since they entered the Commons together as new M.P.s in 1924.
10 George Balfour (1872–1941), Con. M.P. Hampstead 1918–41; founder & Chairman of Balfour, Beatty & Co. Though not a particular political or personal friend, Balfour felt that Headlam had been treated poorly by Baldwin and Central Office, and in May 1938 secured for him a directorship in the Jerusalem Electric & Public Service Corporation which paid £250 p.a.: Headlam diary, 25 May 1938.
11 Hastings Bertrand Lees-Smith (1878–1941), Lib. M.P. Northampton 1910–18, Lab. M.P. Keighley 1922–23, 1924–31, 1935–41; Postmaster-Gen. 1929–31; Pres. Bd. of Educ. Mar.-Aug. 1931; Acting Chairman, P.L.P. 1940–41.
12 Herbert Geraint Williams (1884–1954), Con. M.P. Reading 1924–29, Croydon S. 1932–45, Croydon E. 1950–54; P.S. Trade 1928–29; Chairman, London Area 1939–48; Dir., E.I.A. 1926–28, 1931–41; kt. 1939, cr. Bart. 1953.
13 Harold George Nicolson (1886–1968), diplomatic service 1909–30; New Party cand. English Univ. 1931; Nat. Lab. M.P. Leicester W. 1935–45; P.S. Information 1940–41; joined Labour Party 1947, Lab. cand. Croydon N. 1948.
14 The meaning of ‘F.O.’ is unclear: it does not fit any particular person, and is not likely to mean the Foreign Office as a whole; it might however be a reference to Anthony Eden, a former Foreign Secretary and prominent ‘anti-appeaser’.
15 James Maxton (1885–1946), M.P. Glasgow Bridgeton 1922–46 (Lab. to 1931, then I.L.P.); Chairman, I.L.P. 1926–31, 1933–39.
16 translation: before the public.
17 Edward Algernon Fitzroy (1869–1943), Con. M.P. Northants. S. 1900–06, 1910–18, Daventry 1918–43; Dep. Chairman of Ways & Means 1922–23, 1924–28; Speaker 1928–43; after his death his widow was cr. Viscountess Daventry 1943.
18 (Edward) Leslie Burgin (1887–1945), Lib. M.P. Luton 1929–45 (Lib. Nat. from 1931); P.S. Trade 1932–37; Min. of Transport 1937–39; Min. of Supply 1939–40.
19 Henri Philippe Pétain (1856–1951), entered French army 1876, comm. French forces at Verdun 1916; C. in C. French armies Western Front 1917; Marshal of France 1918; Vice-Pres., Higher Counc. of War 1920–30; Min. of War 1934; P.M. 1940–42, absorbed Presidential powers as Chief of State, July 1940; head of state, Vichy regime 1942–44; sentence of death for treason, commuted to life imprisonment 1945.
20 James Arthur Joicey (1880–1940), suc. 2nd Baron Joicey 1936.
21 Josiah Clement Wedgwood (1872–1943), M.P. Newcastle-under-Lyme 1906–42 (Lib. to 1919, Lab. 1919–31, Ind. Lab. 1931–42); Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1924; Vice-Chairman, P.L.P. 1922–24; cr. Baron Wedgwood 1942; Chairman of Ctte. on House of Commons Records 1929, and principal promoter of resulting History of Parliament project.
22 Reginald Hugh Dorman-Smith (1899–1977), Con. M.P. Petersfield 1935–41; Min. Agric. 1939–40; Pres., N.F.U. 1936–37; rejoined army 1940–41; Gov. of Burma 1941–46; kt. 1937.
23 After being dropped from office in May 1940, several former Ministers sought useful war work by joining the armed forces; most had previous experience from serving in the First World War, but were now too old for front-line duties.
24 translation: lightning war. Originally used to describe the tactics of rapid advance by armoured units with close air support used by Germany in the invasions of Poland and France, the shorter form blitz was used by the British public to refer to the German bombing of cities (especially London) in 1940–41.
25 Archibald Percival Wavell (1883–1950), army career; G.O.C. Palestine & Trans-jordan 1937–38; C. in C., Southern Command 1938–39, Middle East 1939–41, India 1941–43; Supreme Comm., S.W. Pacific 1942; Viceroy of India 1943–17; kt. 1939, cr. Viscount Wavell 1943, Earl 1947.
26 Maurice Gustave Gamelin (1872–1958), French army career; served on staff of C. in C. 1911–17; Military Ass. to High Comm., Syria 1925–28; Chief of Staff 1931; Inspector-Gen. 1935–37; Chief of Gen. Staff 1938–39; C. in C. 1939–40; tried by Vichy govt. 1941, imprisoned at Buchenwald Concentration Camp 1943–45.
27 Nancy Witcher Astor (1879–1964), Con. M.P. Plymouth Sutton 1919–45; married 1906 Waldorf Astor, suc. 2nd Viscount Astor 1919; the first woman to sit in the House of Commons.
28 Thelma Cazalet (1899–1989), Con. M.P. Islington E. 1931–45; P.P.S. to K. Lindsay 1937–40; P.S. Educ. 1945; adopted surname Cazalet-Keir after marriage 1939.
29 Ellen Cicely Wilkinson (1891–1947), Lab. M.P. Middlesborough E. 1924–31, Jarrow 1935–47; P.P.S. to Susan Lawrence 1929–31; P.S. Pensions 1940; P.S. Home Security 1940–45; Min. of Educ. 1945–47; Chairman, Lab. Party N.E.C. 1944–45.
30 Eleanor Florence Rathbone (1872–1946), Ind. M.P. English Univ. 1929–46; member of Liverpool City Council 1909–35; Pres., Nat. Union of Societies for Equal Ctizenship 1919–29.
31 Victor Alexander Cazalet (1896–1943), Con. M.P. Chippenham 1924–43; P.P.S. to P. Cunliffe-Lister 1924–27, to J.H. Thomas 1931; Liason Officer with Polish Forces 1940–43.
32 Campbell Stephen (1884–1947), Minister in United Free Church, 1911–18; I.L.P. M.P. Glasgow Camlachie 1922–31, 1935–47; rejoined P.L.P. 21 Oct. 1947, died 25 Oct. 1947
33 Hugh Montague Trenchard (1873–1956), army career; Chief of Air Staff 1918, 1919–29; Commissioner of Metropolitan Police 1931–35; kt. 1918, cr. Baron Trenchard 1930, Viscount 1936; the founding father of the Royal Air Force.
34 translation: coolness, unconcern; literally: cold blood.
35 Malcolm Arnold Robertson (1877–1951), diplomatic career; British High Comm. to Inter-Allied Rhineland Commission 1920–21; Consul-Gen., Tangier 1921–25; Min., Buenos Aires 1925–27, Amb. 1927–29; Chairman, Spillers Ltd. 1930–47; Chairman, British Council 1941–45; Con. M.P. Mitcham 1940–45; kt. 1924.
36 Oliver Lyttelton (1893–1972), business career; Controller of Non-Ferrous Metals 1939–40; Con. M.P. Aldershot 1940–54; Pres. Bd. of Trade 1940–41, 1945; Min. Res. Cairo 1941–42; Min. of Production 1942–45; member of War Cabinet 1941–45; Colonial Sec. 1951–54; Pres., Institute of Directors 1948–51, 1954–63; cr. Viscount Chandos 1954; a friend of Headlam's since the First World War.
37 John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon (1884–1964), Con. M.P. Chatham 1918–29, Wallasey 1931–42; P.S. Transport 1923–24, 1924–27; Min. of Transport 1940–41; Min. of Aircraft Production 1941–42; cr. Baron Brabazon of Tara 1942.
38 Andrew Rae Duncan (1884–1952), business career; Coal Controller 1919–20; Vice-Pres., Shipbuilding Employers' Fed. 1920–27; Dir., Bank of England 1929–40; Chairman, Central Electricity Bd. 1927–35, British Iron & Steel Fed. 1935–40; Nat. M.P. City of London 1940–50; Pres. Bd. of Trade Jan-Oct. 1940, 1941–42; Min. of Supply 1940–41, 1942–45; kt. 1921.
39 Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil (1893–1972), Con. M.P. Dorset S. 1929–41; U.S. For. Office 1935–38; Paymaster-Gen. 1940; Dominions Sec. 1940–42, 1943–45; Lord Privy Seal 1942–43, 1951–52; Commonwealth Sec. 1952; Lord Pres. 1952–57; Con. Leader in the Lords 1942–57; styled Viscount Cranborne 1903–47, summoned to the Lords as Baron Cecil of Essendon 1941, suc. 5th Marquess of Salisbury 1947, K.G. 1946.
40 Cranborne was appointed Dominions Secretary, not Colonial Secretary.
41 John Helias Finnie McEwen (1894–1962), Con. M.P. Berwick & Haddington 1931–45; P.P.S. to R.A. Butler 1933–36, to W. Elliot 1936–38; Ass. Whip 1939; U.S. Scotland 1939–40: Whip, 1942–44; Chairman, Con. Foreign Affairs Ctte. 1938–39; Chairman, 1922 Ctte. 1944–45; Pres., Scottish Unionist Ass. 1949–50; cr. Bart. 1953.
42 Headlam's club; at this time, he normally slept there when staying in London.