During the Second World War, The London Gazette served as the official journal of record for the British government, publishing despatches submitted by senior military commanders from various theatres of war. These despatches provided detailed accounts of military operations, troop movements, and notable actions, offering a unique insight into the strategy, challenges, and heroism of the armed forces.

Often written under immense pressure in the midst of conflict, these reports chronicled key battles, campaigns, and the contributions of British and Allied forces across Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond. As well as celebrating acts of gallantry, the despatches reflect the complexities and sacrifices of global war, making them a vital historical resource for understanding the events and experiences of 1939–1945.

Now preserved as an enduring record, these documents stand as a testament to the bravery and dedication of those who served during one of the most defining periods in modern history.

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Despatches by Publication Date

1941

• Despatches from General Viscount Gort, France and Belgium 1939-40
• Notification of state of war with Finland/Hungary/Romania
• Notification of state of war with Japan
• Notification of state of war with Bulgaria

1946

• Operations of the British Expeditionary Force, France, from 12 June 1940 to 19 June 1940
• Operations in Central Norway,1940
• Operations in the Somaliland Protectorate, 1939-1940
• Operations in the Middle East from August 1939 to November 1940
• Operations in the Western Desert, 7 December 1940 to 7 February 1941
• Operations in the Middle East from 7 February 1941 to I5 July 1941
• Operations in East Africa, November 1940 to July 1941
• Operations of East Africa Command, 12 July 1941 to 8 January 1943
• Despatch on operations in Iraq, East Syria and Iran, from 10 April 1941 to 12 January
• Operations in the Middle East, 5 July 1941 to 31 October 1941
• Despatch on the Persia and Iraq Command covering 21 August 1942 to 17 February, 1943
• Operations in the North-west Europe from 6 June 1944 to 5 May 1945
• The Battle of Britain, September 1946
• Operation in Eastern Theatre, based on India, from March 1942 to 31 December 1942
• Air operations in the Middle East from January 1 1941, to May 3 1941
• Operations in North West Africa from 8 November 1942 to 13 May 1943
• Operations in the Middle East from 16 February 1943, to 8 January 1944
• Air operations by the Allied Expeditionary Air Force in NW Europe from 15 November 1943 to 30 September 1944

1947

• Air operations in Greece 1940 to 1941
• The River Plate battle, 30 December 1939
• First and second Battles of Narvik, 10 and 13 April 1940
• Norway campaign 17 July 1940
• The evacuation of the Allied Armies from Dunkirk and neighbouring beaches, 18 June 1940
• Fleet Air Arm Operations against Taranto on 11 November 1940
• Battle of Matapan, 11 November 1941
• Sinking of the German battlecruiser Schartnhorst, 26 December 1943
• The Dieppe Raid, 30 August 1942
• The Battle of Sirte, 22 March 1942
• The Attack on St Nazaire, 1942
• Sinking of the German battleship Bismarck on 27 May 1941
• The Assault Phase of the Normandy Landings, 16 October 1944
• Liberation of Europe (Operation "Overlord") operations of Coastal Command, Royal Air Force, May to August 1944
• The Anti-aircraft defence of the United Kingdom from 28 July 1939 to 15 April 1945

1948

• The final stages of the naval war in north-west Europe, December 1945
• Operations in the Middle East from 1 November 1941 to 15 August 1942
• Operations in the Far East from 17 October 1940 to 27 December 1941
• Operations in Hong Kong from 8 to 25 December 1941
• The African Campaign from El Alamein to Tunis, from 10 August 1942 to 13 May 1943
• The attack on the Tirpitz by Midget submarines on 22 September 1943
• The conquest of Sicily from 10 July 1943 to 17 August 1943
• Loss of HM Ships Prince of Wales and Repulse December 1941
• Operations of Malaya Command, from 8 December 1941, to 15 February 1942
• Report on the air operations during the campaigns in Malaya and Netherland East Indies, from 8 December 1941 to 12 March 1942
• The capture of Diego Suarez, 16 June 1942
• Operations in Burma from 15 December 1941, to 20 May 1942
• Air operations in Burma and Bay of Bengal, 1 January to 22 May 1942
• Operations in the India Command from 1 January 1943 to 20 June 1943
• Naval operations in Ramree Island area 19 January to 22 February 1945
• Report of an action with the Italian fleet off Calabria, 9 July 1940
• Operations in the Indo-Burma theatre based on India, 21 June 1943 to 15 November 1943
• Action between British and Italian forces off Cape Spartivento on 27 November, 1940
• Report of an action against an Italian convoy on the night of the 15/16 April, 1941
• Transportation of the Army to Greece and evacuation of the army from Greece, 1941
• The Battle of Crete, 4 August 1941
• The carrier born aircraft attack on Kirkenes and Petsamo, Sept 1941
• The contribution of the British Pacific fleet to the Assault on Okinawa 1945
• Raid on military and economic objectives in the Lofoten Islands 1941
• Raid on military and economic objectives in the vicinity of Vaagso Island, 7 Jan 1942
• Battle of the Java Sea, 27 February 1942
• Report of the destruction Enemy Raider No 16 by HMS Devonshire, 8 Dec 1941
• Mediterranean convoy operations, 19 March 1941
• Air operations by fighter command from 25 November 1940 to 31 December 1941
• Control of the Sicilian Straits during the final stages of the North African Campaign, 13 November 1943
• Naval operations in the Aegean between 7 September 1943 and 28 November 1943
• Coastal Force actions, 13 March 1943
• Air operations by Air Defence of Great Britain Fighter Command in connection with the German Flying Bomb and Rocket Offensives 1944 to 1945

1949

• The landings in North Africa, 1943

1950

• The invasion of Sicily, 1 January 1944
• Operations in connection with the landings in the Gulf of Salerno on 9 September 1943
• The Allied Armies in Italy from 3 September 1943 to 12 December 1944
• Convoys to North Russia 1942

1951

• Operations in Burma and North-East India from 16 November 1943 to 22 June 1944
• Air operations in South East Asia 16 November 1943, to 31 May 1944
• Operations in Assam and Burma from 23 June 1944 to 12 November 1944
• The carrier-borne aircraft attacks on oil refineries in the Palembang (Sumatra) area, January 1945
• Operations in Burma from 12 November to 15 August 1945
• Air operations in South East Asia from 1 June 1944 to the occupation of Rangoon, 2 May 1945
• Operations in Burma from 12 November 1944 to 15 August 1945
• Air operations in South East Asia, 3 May 1945 to 12 September 1945
• The part played by the Allied forces in the final defeat of the enemy in the Mediterranean theatre, March to May 1945