The Inter-War Years

World War II

At the outbreak of World War Two in 1939, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) was Lt Gen Henry Pownall. His stepson recalled the following story recounted by CIGS from the September day when, after the Prime Minister broadcast that Britain was at war with Germany, the sirens wailed over London.

"The War Office staff left their offices for the basement as the sirens sounded. The slamming of doors sounding down the lift shafts, convinced many in the basement that an air raid was in progress."

Subsequently with staff working around the clock, many of them ignored all but the closest bomb raids. The roof spotters would alert staff to such raids at which point staff would go to the shelters in the sub-basement which also housed an all night canteen. On 8 October 1940 a stick of four bombs did hit the War Office, fortunately causing only superficial damage but killing one person. Otherwise, despite a further seven hits, the building remained relatively unscathed, the damage mainly confined to its upper levels.

Reflecting the double role of the War Office as a department of state and a military headquarters, a young officer posted into the War Office in 1940 recalled how the then Director of Army Staff Duties, Major-General A E Nye told him that:

'In the last war there was friction between the 'frocks' (civil servants) and the 'uniforms'. This must not happen in this war. You must remember that every civil servant is not necessarily a fifth columnist.' ⁽³⁾

During the early part of the war, Leslie Hore-Belisha, now remembered mainly for his introduction of the Belisha Beacon while Minister of Transport, held the post of Secretary of State for War. He had been brought in by the Prime Minister as a "moderniser", with Basil Liddell-Hart as a private adviser.

1940 saw four holders of the post of Secretary of State with Hore-Belisha being replaced by Oliver Stanley, who in turn gave way to Anthony Eden. Eden, having resigned as Foreign Secretary in 1938, was appointed Secretary of State for War by Churchill in May 1940, before again becoming Foreign Secretary later in the year. The period from 1942-45 saw Sir Percy Grigg as Secretary of State. Unusually, before becoming an MP, he had served as the senior civil servant in the Department.

Post War

In the post-war period from 1945 the War Office, once again, reverted to peace-time routine. The experience of Viscount Slim, appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1948, when he first arrived to take up his appointment, is recorded as follows:

'One chilly November morning in 1948, in black overcoat and Homburg hat, I walked up the main steps of the War Office to be confronted by the tall frock coated Head Porter in his gold banded top hat. He looked down at me and I looked up at him; there could be no question which of us was the more impressive figure. He asked me civilly but without cordiality, what was my business and was about to direct me to the side entrance for unimportant callers, when I rather hesitantly said; "As a matter of fact, I'm the new CIGS". A look of amazed incredulity passed over his face.' ⁽⁴⁾

Notable Secretaries of State in the Post War years included "Manny" Shinwell, who proved very popular in the post (indeed, it was said that he "turned the trepidation his appointment roused at the War Office into devoted loyalty"), J Hare, who presided over the decision to end conscription in the Army, and Christopher Soames who, having previously served as a minister in both the Air Ministry and Admiralty completed an unusual hat-trick when appointed to the War Office in 1958. He was replaced in 1960 by John Profumo, who was brought in by the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, to help boost the public's perception of the new "All Regular Army" following the end of conscription. Profumo resigned in well publicised circumstances in 1963.

The War Office remained the centre of the Army's administration until, with the formation of the unified Ministry of Defence on 1 April 1964, much of the former Army Department transferred across Horse Guards Avenue to the Ministry of Defence 'Main' Building. The last Secretary of State for War, J Ramsden, became Minister for the Army in the new unified Ministry of Defence (MOD). Considerable reorganisation took place in the "Old" War Office Building (as it now became known) and it now fulfilled a tri-service or, more precisely, an MOD role and, while it retained a considerable Army presence (including the Engineer-in-Chief), it also played host to several RAF branches and the Navy's Hydrographer.

In 1979 it was agreed that a refurbishment should be undertaken in order that the building could remain serviceable until well into the next century. Staff began to move out and by 1985 the building was ready for the work to begin, although a few branches remained in the building almost throughout the refurbishment. The building was officially reopened in its new guise by Sir Christopher France, then Permanent Secretary, on 22 December 1992 and was primarily the new headquarters for the Defence Intelligence Staffs (DIS).

Following the refurbishment of the building it was possible to return some of the works of art, articles of furniture and artefacts from the more important offices and, in addition, paintings were provided from the Government and MOD art collections.

During the refurbishment of the Main Building, the Old War Office Building was used to provide the offices for the Ministers, Service Chiefs and senior officials. The historic Haldane Suite was the office of the Secretary of State for Defence.

References:

⁽³⁾ F D Goode, 'The War Office General Staff 1940 to 1942 – A Worm's Eye View'; RUSI Journal, London, Feb. 1993.
⁽⁴⁾ Ronald Lewin Leo Cooper, 'Slim''; London 1976.