Second World War

Churchill Archives Centre looks after many collections relating to all aspects of the Second World War. Highlighted here are notes on War Cabinet and Supreme War Council Meetings and private diaries from the papers of Ian Jacob (Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet), and Admiral Somerville’s account of a trip to Calais in 1940.
Family papers
Reference Code:
BRME 14/5
Description:
Including a typescript autobiography; an outline, synopsis and drafts of "Spunyarn", reminiscences from Jackie Broome's life and family history; a chronology giving details of the lives of Louis Egerton Broome and Clara Kathleen (Aimée) Lake (parents) and Frederick Napier Broome (grandfather); and other research notes for "Spunyarn".
Collection:
The Papers of Jackie Broome


Admiralty diary of Commander Michael G. Goodenough, 1939-1941
Reference Code:
MISC 117
Date:
2023-01-24 (creation)
Description:
Commander Michael Grant Goodenough RN joined Admiralty Plans Division on 28 August 1939. Within barely a week, Britain had declared war on Germany and Winston Churchill had become First Lord of the Admiralty, returning to the position he had been forced to relinquish in 1915.In October 1939, having served for a few weeks at the Admiralty, Michael Goodenough bought a large, soft-back foolscap notebook in which he started a diary that he kept until June 1941. The original manuscript is held by the Goodenough family. This transcript was prepared in 2020 by his eldest son, Sir Anthony Goodenough (born in 1941, a month after the diary ends). Sir Anthony’s brother Simon (born in 1945) contributed to this work. The diary has been edited to remove most family material as well as a few personal remarks on colleagues.
This is a full PDF copy of the diary. A published hard copy exists in the Roskill Library at Churchill College.
Collection:
Churchill Archives Centre Miscellaneous Holdings


Account of a trip to Calais
Reference Code:
SMVL 7/1
Date:
1940-05 (creation)
Collection:
The Papers of Admiral Sir James Somerville


Draft broadcasts
Reference Code:
SMVL 12/4
Collection:
The Papers of Admiral Sir James Somerville