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Education and Politics in the British Armed Forces in the Second World War*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

Penelope Summerfield
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Several eminent Conservatives, including Winston Churchill, believed that wartime schemes of education in the Armed Forces caused servicemen to vote Labour at the Election of 1945. For instance, R. A. Butler wrote: “The Forces' vote in particular had been virtually won over by the left-wing influence of the Army Bureau of Current Affairs.” So frequently was this view stated that ABCA became a scapegoat for Tory defeat.

Type
Research Article
Information
International Review of Social History , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , August 1981 , pp. 133 - 158
Copyright
Copyright © Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis 1981

Footnotes

*

I should like to thank all those who were kind enough to talk to me about their experiences on active service or in the War Office, some of which have been quoted, but all of which have been helpful in writing this paper. I should also like to thank Stephen Yeo, John Harrison, the History Work in Progress Seminar at Sussex University, and John Walton of Lancaster University for constructive criticisms and suggestions.

References

1 Butler, R. A., The Art of the Possible (London, 1973), pp. 126–27.Google Scholar

2 See, for example. The Memoirs of the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Woolton (London, 1959), pp. 299ff.Google Scholar

3 McCallum, R. B. and Alison, Readman, The British General Election of 1945 (Oxford, 1947), p. 258.Google Scholar

4 Interview with I. Mikardo, 1975, kindly made available to the author by P. Young. “What made an enormous difference […] was the current affairs education programme in the services. ABCA, the Cairo Parliament etc. […] I saw the separate count in my constituency and it was way over 90% in a marginal seat.”

5 See Mass-Observation, First Year's Work 1937–38 (London, 1938).Google Scholar

6 Hawkins, T. H. and Brimble, L. J. F., Adult Education: The Record of the British Army (London, 1947), P. 51.Google Scholar

7 Ibid., p. 66.

8 T. J. Cash DF to Director of Recruiting and Organisation. 12 February 1940, War Office Papers 32/4725, Public Record Office. London (hereafter WO). Cash srote that “there is no place for organised ‘Army Education’ in wartime in an Army composed of all classes, from highly educated to illiterate, engaged in fighting or preparing to fight, and that what is wanted is mainly mental and physical relaxation rather than systematic education.”

9 See correspondence in The Times, 13 January and 9 February 1940.

10 Henson, H. H., Retrospect of an Unimportant Life (London, 1942–1950). III, p. 85.Google Scholar

11 G. W. Lambert to General Officers Commanding in Chief, 1 April 1940, WO 32/4725.

12 Ibid.

13 Army Council Instruction 1138, 25 September 1940, WO 32/9429.

14 Education in the War-Time Army. Army Council Instruction 1415. 21 November 1940, WO 32/9429.

15 For a record of its establishment see Appendix A to ECAC/P (43) 98, 10 September 1943, WO 32/10462.

16 Education in the Army, 13 January 1941, WO 32/9429.

17 M-O asked its Service contacts for letters about Army Education in April 1941 and had replies from 16, 10 of whom knew of no scheme in their units. Most blamed the Army rather than the soldier for lack of take-up, and some suggested that education on the objects and course of the war would be popular. File 1650. April 1941, Box 214. M-O. M-O material is available at M-O Archive. University of Sussex.

18 See letters from servicemen in File 1667, 1940–41, Box 214, M-O.

19 Interview with Sir Ronald Adam, June 1975.

20 Airmen, Morale and Attitudes, 8 February 1941, Report 569, M-O.

21 Files 1664 and 1660, letters dated 1 March, 31 March and 12 June 1941. Box 214, M-O.

22 Report dated 15 March 1941, Box 214, M-O.

23 Edelman, M., The Mirror: A Political History (London, 1966), pp. 103–08.Google Scholar

24 George, Orwell, “London Letter to Partisan Review” and “The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius”, in The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters, ed. by Orwell, S. and Angus, I. (London, 1968), II, pp. 49–109.Google Scholar

25 Calder, A., “The Common Wealth Party 1942–5” (D.Phil. thesis, Sussex University, 1967), pp. 42–64.Google Scholar

26 Hart, B. H. Liddell, Dynamic Defence (London, 1940), P. 55.Google Scholar

27 Wintringham, T., New Ways of War (London, 1940). p. 5.Google Scholar

28 Education in the Wartime Army, Memorandum by Major General H. Willans, DGWE, 4 June 1941. WO 32/9735.

29 Ibid.

30 Minute, 4 June 1941, and AC/M (41), 8th Meeting, 17 June 1941, WO 32/9735.

31 Report 686. Appendix 1, 5 May 1941. M-O: interview with G.G., ex-Leading Aircraftman RAF. May 1975.

32 Minute. 4 June 1941, WO 32/9735.

33 AC/M (41), 8th Meeting.

34 Board of Education Consultative Committee. Report on Secondary Education (London, 1938), p. 88.Google Scholar

35 Current Affairs in the Army: The Outline of a New Plan. 21 July 1941, WO 32/9735.

36 Current Affairs. No 2 (11 October 1941); No 23 (1 August 1942); No 27(26 September 1942); No 29(24 October 1942); No 61(29 January 1944).

37 A Theatre at War, Transcript of BBC Radio 3 broadcast. 13 March 1975, researched and kindly made available by Professor Arnold Goldman.

38 Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War, 17 April 1943, in Churchill, W. S., The Second World War (London, 1948–1954), IV, p. 847.Google Scholar

39 Derracot, J. and Loftus, B., Second World War Posters (London, 1972), pp. 30–31.Google Scholar

40 House of Commons Debates, Fifth Series, CCCLXXXVI. cc. 10–14 (19 01 1943).Google Scholar

41 Butler, , The Art of the Possible, op. cit., pp. 126–27.Google Scholar

42 E.g., Prime Minister to Lord President of the Council. 2 August 1943, in Churchill, , The Second World War, V, p. 581: “Every effort should be used to prevent extra time, money, and military personnel being absorbed in these activities”.Google Scholar

43 See note 40.

44 Grigg, P. J., Prejudice and Judgement (London, 1948), P. 325.Google Scholar

45 The Winter Scheme of Education, 7 September 1942, WO 32/10455. References 46–65 are from this piece unless otherwise stated.

46 ECAC/P (42) 101,24 July 1942.

47 See for example Paget to the Executive Committee of the Army Council, 17 August 1942.

48 Minute to Secretary of State, 25 August 1942.

49 The Winter Scheme of Education.

50 Under-Secretary of State to Secretary of State, 5 January 1943, enclosing proofs of BWP 2. For the BWP booklets see Directorate of Army Education, The British Way and Purpose, Consolidated Edition (1944).

51 Permanent Under-Secretary to Director of Army Education, 20 February 1943.

52 Minutes of Executive Committee of the Army Council meeting, 5 February 1943.

53 Minute, 28 January 1943.

54 Secretary of State to Adjutant General, 21 May 1943.

55 Minute by Secretary of State, 30 January 1943.

56 Minute, 18 March 1944.

57 Under-Secretary of State to Secretary of State, 5 January 1943.

58 Secretary of State to Adjutant General, 21 May 1943.

59 The British Way and Purpose, op. cit., p. 217.Google Scholar

60 Smith, A. C. H. et al., Paper Voices: The Popular Press and Social Change 1935–1965 (London, 1975), pp. 114–42.Google Scholar

61 Commander-in-Chief Home Forces to all Army Commanders, 28 March 1943.

62 See note 57.

63 See note 55.

64 Adjutant General to Secretary of State, 18 August 1943.

65 Memorandum about Winter Scheme 1943–4, Adjutant General for the Executive Committee of the Army Council, 17 August 1943. In the end the social services were dealt with in an ABCA pamphlet and not by the “ordinary Army Education scheme”.

66 Adam alleged that Churchill tried direct suppression at about this time. “The Secretary of State P. J. Grigg sent for me and showed me a slip from the P.M. in which Sir Winston Churchill stated ‘Stop all this ABCA nonsense at once’. P.J. put it in his drawer and said ‘I wonder if the Old Man remembers all the slips he sends out. Let's forget about it.’ Letter from Sir Ronald Adam to the author, 26 May 1975.

67 Prime Minister to Lord President of the Council, 2 August 1943. loc. cit. See also Sir Williams, W. E., “The truth about ABCA”, in: Sunday Telegraph, 11 10 1970.Google Scholar

68 Memorandum for the Executive Committee of the Army Council. 10 September 1943. WO 32/10462. Emphasis in original.

69 Executive Committee of the Army Council minutes. 10 September 1943. WO 32/10462.

70 Ibid.

71 Letter from Sir Ronald Adam to the author, 26 May 1975.

72 Angus, Calder, The People's War: Britain 1939–1945 (London, 1969), p. 251.Google Scholar

73 Thompson, E. P., “A question of manners”, in: New Society, XXIX (1974), p. 92.Google Scholar

74 Interview with Sir Ronald Adam, June 1975.

75 Letter from J.S.M. to the author, 25 May 1976: Report 963 ABCA scheme, 16 November 1941, M-O.

76 See Memorandum about Winter Scheme 1943–4.

77 Central Statistical Office, Statistical Digest of the War (London, 1951), p. 9.Google Scholar

78 Hawkins, and Brimble, , Adult Education, op. cit., pp. 152–53.Google Scholar

79 Mass-Observation, The Journey Home (London, 1944), pp. 59–61.Google Scholar

80 Interview with W.A.E., ex-Officer AEC, February 1976.

81 Thompson, “A question of manners”, loc. cit.

82 Electoral Register and Forces, File 1636, July-November 1944, Box 215. M-O.

83 Interview with R.D.Mc., ex-Sergeant RTR. April 1975.

84 Kimble, P., Newspaper Reading in the Third Year of the War (London, 1942).Google Scholar

85 Smith, et al., Paper Voices, op. cit., p. 63.Google Scholar

86 Interview with R.D.Mc.

87 Interview with W.A.E.

88 Interview with R.D.Mc.

89 Interview with N.K., ex-Corporal RTR, January 1976.

90 Current Affairs in the Army. 21 July 1941, WO 32/9735.

91 Interview with R.H.H., ex-fitter RAF, January 1976.

92 Air Force News, 21 September 1943.

93 Coventry Evening Telegraph. 29 April 1944.

94 Pritt, D. N., Brasshats and Bureaucrats (London, 1966). pp. 116–17.Google Scholar

95 Eyptian Mail, 29 April 1944.

96 Interview with N.K.