Minister of Munitions

The Minister of Munitions was a British government position created during the First World War to oversee and co-ordinate the production and distribution of munitions for the war effort. The position was created in response to the Shell Crisis of 1915 when there was much public criticism of the shortage of shells available.

Most Ministers appointed were senior politicians, starting with David Lloyd George. The position was abolished in 1921 as part of a cutback of government and as a delayed result of the end of WWI in 1918.

Ministers of Munitions, 1915–1921

Name Entered office Left office
David Lloyd George 25 May 1915 9 July 1916
Hon. Edwin Samuel Montagu 9 July 1916 10 December 1916
Christopher Addison 10 December 1916 17 July 1917
Winston Churchill 17 July 1917 10 January 1919
The Lord Inverforth 10 January 1919 21 March 1921

Parliamentary Secretaries to the Ministry of Munitions, 1916–1919

Name Entered office Left office
Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, Bt 14 December 1916 30 January 1918
F. G. Kellaway 14 December 1916 1 April 1920
J. E. B. Seely 10 July 1918 10 January 1919
John Baird 10 January 1919 29 April 1919

Parliamentary and Financial Secretaries to the Ministry of Munitions, 1918–1921

Name Entered office Left office
Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, Bt 30 January 1918 18 July 1918
James Hope 27 January 1919 31 March 1921
Minister of Munitions of the United Kingdom