1941 in the United Kingdom
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 1941 in the United Kingdom: |
| Other years |
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 |
| World War II |
| UK during World War II |
Events from the year 1941 in the United Kingdom.
Contents |
[edit] Incumbents
- Monarch - George VI of the United Kingdom
- Prime Minister - Winston Churchill, coalition
[edit] Events
- 19 January - British troops attack Italian-held Eritrea.
- 21 January
- World War II: Australian and British forces attack Tobruk, Libya.
- the British communist newspaper Daily Worker suppressed.[1]
- 22 January - British troops capture Tobruk from the Italians.
- 1 February - Air Training Corps formed.[1]
- 19 February - The start of the "three nights' Blitz" over Swansea, South Wales.
- 11 March - Britain agrees the Lend-Lease Act with the USA.[2]
- 13 March - Clydebank Blitz: bombing of Clydebank.
- 20 March - Plymouth Blitz: bombing of Plymouth.[3]
- 29 March - Battle of Cape Matapan - Off the Peloponnesus coast in the Mediterranean, British naval forces defeat those of Italy sinking five warships. Battle started on March 27.
- 15 April - Belfast Blitz: Belfast is heavily bombed.
- 18 April - Heaviest air-raid of the year on London.[2]
- 21 April - Greece capitulates. British troops withdraw to Crete.
- May - Greenock Blitz: Greenock in Scotland intensively bombed.
- 2 May to 8 May - the 'May Week Raids'; sustained heavy bombing on Merseyside.[2]
- 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.[1]
- 24 May - In the North Atlantic, the German battleship Bismarck sinks HMS Hood killing all but three crewman on what was the pride of the Royal Navy.
- 26 May - World War II: In the North Atlantic, Fairey Swordfish aircraft from the carrier HMS Ark Royal fatally cripple the German battleship Bismarck in torpedo attack.
- 1 June - Clothes rationing introduced.[2]
- 4 June - Britain invades Iraq, the pro-Axis government there is overthrown.
- 9 August
- Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet at NS Argentia, Newfoundland. The Atlantic Charter is created as a result.
- RAF pilot Douglas Bader taken prisoner by the Germans after a mid-air collision over France.[1]
- 18 August - National Fire Service established.[1]
- 13 November - The aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal is hit by German U-boat U-81, she capsizes and sinks the next day.[1]
- 8 December - Declaration of war on Japan following invasion of Hong Kong and Malaya.[2]
- 10 December- Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse- Two Royal Navy capital ships, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse are sunk by Japanese aircraft.
- 18 December - National Service extended to unmarried women under the age of 30.[2]
- 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 Hitler to reinforce the garrison and defenses.
[edit] Publications
- Agatha Christie's novels Evil Under the Sun (featuring Hercule Poirot) and N or M?.
- Rebecca West's book Black Lamb and Grey Falcon.
[edit] 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 British singer (died 2005)
- 26 January - Henry Jaglom, English director
- 27 January - Beatrice Tinsley, English astronomer
- 5 February - Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn, politician
- 10 February - Michael Apted, English film director
- 26 February - Tony Ray-Jones, British photographer (died 1972)
- 27 February - Paddy Ashdown, British Liberal Democrat politician
- 4 March - Adrian Lyne, English film director
- 26 March - Richard Dawkins, British scientist
- 12 April - Bobby Moore, English football player and World Cup winning captain (died 1993)
- 14 April - Julie Christie, British actress
- 23 April - Ed Stewart, English disc jockey
- 8 June - Robert Bradford, Northern Irish footballer and politician (died 1981)
- 14 June - Mike Yarwood, impressionist and comedian
- 11 July - Tommy Vance, English disc jockey (died 2005)
- 4 August - Martin Jarvis, actor
- 22 August - Barry Jackson, English track and field athlete
- 10 September - Christopher Hogwood, English conductor
- 4 October - Jackie Collins, British writer
- 20 October - Anneke Wills, British actress
- 31 October - Elizabeth Grieveson, British track and field athlete
- 18 November - David Hemmings, English actor (died 2003)
- 5 December - Sheridan Morley, theatre critic (died 2007)
- 18 December - Prince William of Gloucester
- 24 December - John Levene, British actor
- 31 December - Alex Ferguson, footballer and football manager
[edit] Deaths
- 5 January - Amy Johnson, English aviator (born 1903)
- 8 January - Lord Robert Baden-Powell, English soldier and founder of the Boy Scouts (born 1847)
- 10 January - Frank Bridge, English composer (born 1879)
- 28 March - Virginia Woolf, English writer (born 1882)
- 23 May - Herbert Austin, 1st Baron Austin, car designer (born 1866)
- 1 June - Hugh Walpole, novelist (born 1884)
- 11 July - Arthur Evans, English archaeologist (born 1851)
