1941 in the United Kingdom
Events from the year 1941 in the United Kingdom. The year was dominated by the Second World War.
| 1941 in the United Kingdom |
| Other years |
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 |
| Constituent countries of the United Kingdom |
| England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales |
| Popular culture |
Incumbents
- Monarch – George VI
- Prime Minister – Winston Churchill (Coalition)
- Parliament – 37th
Events
- 9 January – the Avro Manchester Mark III BT308, prototype of the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber, first flies, from RAF Ringway.[1]
- 19 January – World War II: British troops attack Italian-held Eritrea.
- 20 January – firewatching mandatory for business premises, to limit incendiary damage.
- 21 January – the Daily Worker, newspaper of the Communist Party of Great Britain, is suppressed by the (Labour) Home Secretary in the Churchill war ministry, Herbert Morrison[2][3] (until September 1942) in view of its continuing pro-Soviet stance.
- 21–22 January – Battle of Tobruk: Australian and British forces attack and capture Tobruk (Libya) from the Italians.
- 31 January – Josef Jakobs a German spy, parachutes into the village of Ramsey, Cambridgeshire; he breaks his ankle on landing and is immediately arrested.[4]
- 5 February – Air Training Corps formed.[2]
- 11 February – RMS Queen Elizabeth begins her first voyage as a troopship, from Singapore.
- 12 February – Reserve Constable Albert Alexander, a patient at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford, becomes the first person treated with penicillin intravenously, by Howard Florey’s team. He reacts positively but there is insufficient supply of the drug to reverse his terminal infection. A successful treatment is achieved during May.[5]
- 19 February – the start of the "three nights' Blitz" over Swansea, South Wales. 230 are killed and 409 injured.
- 2 March – John Gilbert Winant takes up post as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom in succession to Joseph P. Kennedy; he will serve for 5 years.
- 11 March
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act into United States law, allowing the country to supply military equipment to Britain.[6]
- Luftwaffe air raids on Manchester cause extensive damage to the city, a notable casualty being Old Trafford football stadium, home of Manchester United, which is severely damaged.[7]
- 13 March – Clydebank Blitz: bombing of Clydebank. 528 people die, 617 more were seriously injured, and hundreds more were injured by blast debris. Another 35,000 people were made homeless.
- 15 March – Plymouth Blitz: bombing of Plymouth. 336 people lose their lives.[8]
- 27–29 March – Battle of Cape Matapan: Off the Peloponnesus coast in the Mediterranean, British naval forces defeat those of Italy sinking five warships.
- 15 April – Belfast Blitz: Belfast is heavily bombed, killing 900 and injuring 1,500.
- 18 April – heaviest air-raid of the year on London.[6]
- 21 April – Greece capitulates. British troops withdraw to Crete.
- May – The Ministry of Information issues more than 14 million copies of a leaflet Beating the Invader, with a preface from Churchill, giving advice on what to do "if invasion comes".[9]
- 2–8 May – the 'May Week Raids'; sustained heavy bombing on Merseyside result in over 1,700 deaths and well over 1,000 injuries.[6]
- 6–7 May – Greenock Blitz: Greenock in Scotland is intensively bombed. 280 people are killed, and 1,200 more injured.
- 9 May – the German submarine U-110 is captured by the Royal Navy in the North Atlantic with its Enigma cryptography machine and codebooks intact.[10]
The Gloster E.28/39, the first British aircraft to fly with a turbojet engine
- 10 May
- The House of Commons is damaged by the Luftwaffe in an air raid.
- Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland claiming to be on a peace mission.
- 15 May – first British jet aircraft, the Gloster E.28/39, is flown[2] at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.
- 17 May – Tipton, near Dudley in the midlands, is bombed by the Luftwaffe for the second time in six months, with a further six civilian deaths.
- 24 May – in the North Atlantic, the German battleship Bismarck sinks HMS Hood killing all but three crewmen on what was the pride of the Royal Navy.
- 26 May – in the North Atlantic, Fairey Swordfish biplanes from the carrier HMS Ark Royal fatally cripple the German battleship Bismarck in torpedo attack.
- May – meatless Woolton pie introduced.[11]
- 1 June – clothes rationing introduced.[6]
- 4 June – Britain invades Iraq, the pro-Axis government there is overthrown.
- June – Noël Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit is premiered at Manchester Opera House. Opening in London on 2 July,[12] its run of 1,997 consecutive performances sets a record for non-musical plays in the West End theatre which will not be surpassed for more than twenty years.
- 12 July – Anglo-Soviet Agreement signed.
- August – Political Warfare Executive is formed to disseminate information to Germany and its Occupied countries.
- 9 August
- Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet onboard ship at Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland. The Atlantic Charter (released 14 August), setting goals for postwar international cooperation, is agreed as a result.
- RAF pilot Douglas Bader taken prisoner by the Germans after a mid-air collision over France.[2]
- 12 August – Dudley, which suffered 10 fatalities in a landmine attack in November last year, suffers five more fatalities when a second landmine is dropped in the town.
- 15 August – Josef Jakobs becomes the last person executed at the Tower of London when he faces execution by firing squad following conviction for an offence under the Treachery Act 1940.[13]
- 16 August – HMS Mercury Royal Navy Signals School and Combined Signals School opens at Leydene, near Petersfield, Hampshire.
- 18 August – National Fire Service established.[2]
- 30 August – first official 'Shetland bus' clandestine mission using Norwegian fishing boats between Shetland and German-occupied Norway.
- October – the first Ronald Searle cartoon to feature St Trinian's School is published, in the magazine Lilliput.[14]
- End October – President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt approves US$1bn in Lend-Lease aid to Britain.
- 1 November – announcement that radical politician Sir Charles Trevelyan is donating his family home, Wallington Hall, Northumberland, to the National Trust, its first such stately home acquisition.[15]
- 13 November – the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal is hit by the German submarine U-81 off Gibraltar; she capsizes and sinks under tow the next day.[2]
- 27 November – Tobruk is relieved by the Eighth Army (which has controlled British and other Allied ground forces in the Western Desert from September) in Operation Crusader.
- 5 December – Britain declares war on Finland, Hungary and Romania.[16]
- 8 December – the Battle of Hong Kong begins less than eight hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor when Imperial Japanese forces invade British Hong Kong. British Malaya is also attacked and there follows the declaration of war on Japan.[6]
- 10 December – sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse in the South China Sea: two Royal Navy capital ships, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, are sunk by Japanese aircraft.
- 13 December
- Battle of Cape Bon off Tunisia: two Italian cruisers are sunk without Allied losses.
- Britain declares war on Bulgaria.
- 18 December – National Service (No. 2) Act comes into effect: All men and women aged 18–60 are now liable to some form of national service, including military service for men under 51 and unmarried women between 20 and 30. The first military registration of 18½-year-olds takes place. The schedule of reserved occupations is abandoned.[6]
- 25 December
- The Battle of Hong Kong ends after 17 days with surrender of the Crown colony of Hong Kong to the Japanese.
- Sir Alan Brooke succeeds John Dill as Chief of the Imperial General Staff, an office he will hold until 1946.
- 27 December
- Winston Churchill becomes the first British Prime Minister to address a Joint session of the U.S. Congress.
- British Commandos raid the Norwegian port of Vaagso, causing the Germans to reinforce the garrison and defenses.
Undated
- Spring – Noël Coward composes the song London Pride.
- British Red Cross begins (in London) to open wartime charity shops.
- J. Arthur Rank purchases the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation, with its 251 cinemas and its subsidiary operations, Gainsborough Pictures and Lime Grove Studios.
Publications
- Joyce Carey's memoir A House of Children, novel Herself Surprised and pamphlet The Case for African Freedom.
- Agatha Christie's novels Evil Under the Sun (featuring Hercule Poirot) and N or M? (featuring Tommy and Tuppence working undercover in the war).
- T. S. Eliot's poem The Dry Salvages, third of the Four Quartets (in February New English Weekly).
- Patrick Hamilton’s novel Hangover Square.[17]
- James Hilton's novel Random Harvest.
- John Gillespie Magee, Jr.'s sonnet "High Flight".
- The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.
- John Pudney's poem "For Johnny".
- Rebecca West's book Black Lamb and Grey Falcon.
Births
- 5 January – Kevin Keelan, English footballer
- 7 January
- Iona Brown, British violinist and conductor (died 2004)
- John E. Walker, English chemist, Nobel Prize laureate
- 8 January – Graham Chapman, British comedian (died 1989)
- 12 January – Long John Baldry singer (died 2005)
- 26 January – Henry Jaglom, English-born director
- 27 January – Beatrice Tinsley, English-born astronomer (died 1981)
- 5 February – Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn, Labour politician, Leader of the House of Lords, Lord President of the Council
- 10 February – Michael Apted, English film director
- 26 February – Tony Ray-Jones, British photographer (died 1972)
- 27 February – Paddy Ashdown, Liberal Democrat politician, born in the British Raj (died 2018)
- 28 February – Tristan Garel-Jones, Welsh-born Conservative politician (died 2020)
- 4 March – Adrian Lyne, English film director
- 26 March – Richard Dawkins, British scientist
- 28 March – Jack Simmons, English cricketer
- 5 April – Dave Swarbrick, folk rock fiddle player (died 2016)
- 7 April – Gorden Kaye, comic actor (died 2017)
- 12 April – Bobby Moore, English football player and World Cup winning captain (died 1993)
- 14 April – Julie Christie, actress
- 23 April – Ed Stewart, English disc jockey (died 2016)
- 26 April – Robin Jacob, English academic and judge
- 10 May – Chris Denning, English radio presenter and convicted sex offender[18]
- 11 May – Graham Miles, snooker player (died 2014)
- 13 May – Miles Kington, journalist and humorist (died 2008)
- 26 May – Ron Wallwork, English race walker
- 8 June – Robert Bradford, Northern Irish footballer and politician (assassinated 1981)
- 14 June – Mike Yarwood, impressionist and comedian
- 25 June – Eddie Large, born Edward McGinnis, Scottish-born comedian (died 2020)
- 4 August – Martin Jarvis, actor
- 22 August – Barry Jackson, English track and field athlete
- 23 August – Onora O'Neill, philosopher
- 26 August – Chris Curtis, drummer (The Searchers) (died 2005)
- 10 September – Christopher Hogwood, English conductor (died 2014)
- 17 September – Marit Allen, film costume designer (died 2007)
- 27 September – Peter Bonetti, England football goalkeeper (died 2020)
- 29 September – Fred West, English serial killer (suicide 1995)
- 4 October – Jackie Collins, English-born novelist (died 2015)
- 5 October – Stephanie Cole, English actress
- 19 October – Peter Thornley, English professional wrestler best known for the ring character Kendo Nagasaki[19]
- 20 October – Anneke Wills, British actress
- 28 October
- John Hallam, English actor (died 2006)
- Hank Marvin, born Brian Rankin, English guitarist
- 31 October – Joy Grieveson, British sprinter
- 2 November – Bruce Welch, born Bruce Cripps, English guitarist
- 18 November – David Hemmings, English actor (died 2003)
- 5 December – Sheridan Morley, theatre critic (died 2007)
- 17 December – Alan Sinfield, English academic (died 2017)
- 18 December – Prince William of Gloucester
- 24 December
- Michael Billington, English actor (died 2005)
- John Levene, British actor
- 31 December – Alex Ferguson, Scottish footballer and football manager
Deaths
- 5 January – Amy Johnson, aviator (born 1903; aviation accident)
- 8 January – Lord Robert Baden-Powell, soldier and founder of the Boy Scouts (born 1847)
- 10 January – Frank Bridge, composer (born 1879)
- 12 February – Charles Voysey, Arts and Crafts designer and domestic architect (born 1857)
- 11 March – Sir Walford Davies, composer (Royal Air Force March Past) (born 1869)
- 28 March – Virginia Woolf, writer (born 1882; suicide)
- 5 April – Sir Nigel Gresley, railway engineer and steam locomotive designer (Flying Scotsman and Mallard) (born 1876)
- 16 April – Josiah Stamp, 1st Baron Stamp, economist (born 1880; enemy action)
- 23 May – Herbert Austin, 1st Baron Austin, car designer and manufacturer (born 1866)
- 1 June – Sir Hugh Walpole, New Zealand-born novelist (born 1884)
- 11 July – Sir Arthur Evans, archaeologist (born 1851)
- 13 October – David Devant, stage magician (born 1868)
- 7 November – Frank Pick, transport administrator and promoter of industrial design (born 1878)
References
- Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. New York: Barnes & Noble Books. p. 82. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
- Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 2006. ISBN 0-14-102715-0.
- "The Daily Worker". Manchester Guardian. 22 January 1941.
- "Josef Jakobs". Stephen's Study Room: British Military & Criminal History in the period 1900 to 1999. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- Robertson, Patrick (1974). The Shell Book of Firsts. London: Ebury Press. pp. 124–5.
- Palmer, Alan; Veronica (1992). The Chronology of British History. London: Century Ltd. pp. 388–389. ISBN 0-7126-5616-2.
- Stone, Simon (16 February 2010). "Old Trafford: 100 years of the iconic Manchester United stadium". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- Moseley, Brian (11 August 2007). "The Plymouth Blitz – The March Raids". The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History. Archived from the original on 16 September 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- Cohen, Ronald I. (Summer 2018). "Preparing for an Invasion of Britain… In Writing". Finest Hour. International Churchill Society (181): 38. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- Sebag-Montefiore, Hugh (2000). Enigma: the Battle for the Code. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 0-7538-1130-8.
- "Woolton Pie". World Carrot Museum. Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
- "Piccadilly Theatre: Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward". The Times (48968). London. 3 July 1941. p. 2.
- "Aug 15 1941 – The last execution in the Tower of London". World War II Today. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- Gosling, Ju (1998). "Ronald Searle & the St Trinian's Cartoons". Virtual Worlds of Girls. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- "Sir C. Trevelyan Gives His Estate To National Trust For The People". Newcastle Journal. Newcastle upon Tyne. 1 November 1941. p. 3.
- "WW2 People's War". Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- Keating, H. R. F. (1982). Whodunit? – a guide to crime, suspense and spy fiction. London: Windward. ISBN 0-7112-0249-4.
- "Denning: Going against social norms". The Prague Post. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013.
- The Eighth Wonder of the World: The True Story of André the Giant - Bertrand Hébert, Pat Laprade, Tony Stabile - Google Books
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