Old War Office Building, seen from Whitehall, London - the former location of the War Office

The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence. Her Majesty's Government, or when the monarch is male His Majesty's Government, is the title used by the Government of the United Kingdom, based at The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Ministry of Defence ( MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters The name "War Office" is also often given to the former home of the department, the Old War Office Building on Horse Guards Avenue, London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

History

The War Office developed from the Council of war, an ad hoc grouping of the King and his senior military commanders which oversaw England's frequent wars and campaigns. A council of war is a term in Military science that describes a meeting held to decide on a course of action usually in the midst of a battle England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A number of older institutions, notably the Board of Ordnance (which dates from the 15th century), were merged to form the War Office. The Board of Ordnance was a British government body responsible for the supply of armaments and munitions to the British Army. It worked alongside the Admiralty, responsible for the Royal Navy, and the (much later) Air Ministry, which oversaw the Royal Air Force. The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The Air Ministry was formerly a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force. Its foundation has traditionally been ascribed to William Blathwayt, who on his appointment as Secretary at War in 1684 greatly expanded the remit of his office to cover general day-to-day administration of the Army. William Blathwayt (or Blathwayte) (1649?-August 1717 was a civil servant and politician who established the War Office as a department of the British Government The Secretary at War was a political position in the British government with some responsibility over the administration and organization of the British army, but

The department had several London homes until it settled at Horse Guards in Whitehall in 1722, where it was to remain until 1858. Horse Guards is a large Grade I listed building in the Palladian style between Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade in London, England Whitehall is a road in Westminster in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards traditional Year 1722 ( MDCCXXII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1858 ( MDCCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Horse Guards and the War Office became virtually synonymous (indeed, Horse Guards is still the official headquarters of the Army). The War Office moved to Cumberland House, Pall Mall for the last half of the 19th century before finally moving to purpose-built accommodation in what is now known as the Old War Office Building. Cumberland House was a mansion on the south side of Pall Mall in London, England. Pall Mall (pæl mæl is a street in the City of Westminster, London, situated in SW1 and parallel to The Mall, from St The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963 when

The management of the War Office was initially headed by the curiously-named Secretary at War, whose role had originated under King Charles II of England as the secretary to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. The Secretary at War was a political position in the British government with some responsibility over the administration and organization of the British army, but Charles II (Charles Stuart 29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685 was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. A commander-in-chief is the Commander of a nation's Military forces or significant element of those forces The first War Office Secretary at War is usually said to have been William Blathwayt, though he had two predecessors in the post. It was, however, a fairly minor government post which dealt with the minutiae of administration rather than grand strategy. Issues of strategic policy during wartime were managed by the Northern and Southern Departments (the predecessors of today's Foreign Office and Home Office). The Northern Department was a former department of the government of England and later the United Kingdom, responsible for dealing with government business in the The Southern Department was a former department of the government of England and later the United Kingdom. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO, is the British government department responsible for promoting The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for security and order

From 1704 to 1855, the post of Secretary was filled by a minister of the second rank, although he occasionally sat in the Cabinet. Year 1704 ( MDCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Many of the responsibilities were transferred to the Secretary of State for War following the creation of that more senior post in 1794. The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British Cabinet -level position first applied to Henry Dundas Year 1794 ( MDCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The post of Secretary at War was merged with that of the Secretary of State for War in 1855 and was abolished altogether in 1863. Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Secretary of State for War was also responsible, between 1801 and 1854, for Britain's colonies (when the post was known as the Secretary of State for War and Colonies). Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday Year 1854 ( MDCCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year This responsibility ceased with the establishment of the Colonial Office. The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet official in charge of managing the various British Colonies.

The disastrous campaigns of the Crimean War led to the consolidation of all administrative duties in 1855 under the Secretary of State for War, a Cabinet post. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. He was not, however, solely responsible for the Army; the Commander-in-Chief held a virtually equal level of responsibility. This was reduced in theory by the reforms introduced by Edward Cardwell in 1870, which subordinated the Commander-in-Chief to the Secretary for War. The Cardwell Reforms refer to a series of reforms of the British Army undertaken by Secretary of State for War (and former soldier Edward Cardwell between Edward Cardwell 1st Viscount Cardwell, PC ( 24 July 1813 &ndash 15 February 1886) was a prominent British Politician Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In practice, however, a huge amount of influence was retained by the exceedingly conservative Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, who held the post between 1856-1895. Prince George Duke of Cambridge (George William Frederick Charles 26 March 1819 &ndash 17 March 1904) was a member of the British Royal Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year His resistance to reform caused military efficiency to lag well behind Britain's rivals, a problem which became painfully obvious during the Second Boer War. See also First Boer War,, South African Wars (1879-1915 The Second Boer War ( Dutch: Tweede Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans:

The situation was only remedied in 1904 when the post of Commander-in-Chief was abolished and replaced with that of the Chief of the General Staff and in turn was replaced by the position of Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1908. Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS was the title of the professional commander of the British Army from 1908 until 1964 Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year An Army Council was created along similar lines to the Board of Admiralty, chaired by the Secretary of State for War, and an Imperial General Staff was established to coordinate Army administration. The Army Council was created in 1904 with other the institutional changes made in that year to the British Army. The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS was the title of the professional commander of the British Army from 1908 until 1964

The management of the War Office was undermined by persistent clashes between the civilian and military sides of the organisation. The government of Herbert Asquith attempted to resolve this during the First World War by appointing Lord Kitchener as Secretary for War, making him the first and only soldier to hold the post. Herbert Henry Asquith 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC ( 12 September 1852 &ndash 15 February 1928) served World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener 1st Earl Kitchener, KG, KP, GCB, OM This did not prove a happy experience; under his tenure, the Imperial General Staff was virtually dismantled. Its role was effectively replaced by the Committee of Imperial Defence, established in 1902 to discuss wider defence issues. Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting

The War Office declined greatly in importance after the First World War, a fact illustrated by the drastic reductions in its staff numbers during the inter-war period. On 1 April 1920, it employed 7,434 civilian staff; this had shrunk to 3,872 by 1 April 1930. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Its responsibilities and funding were also reduced. In 1936, the government of Neville Chamberlain appointed a Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, who worked outside of the War Office. Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 &ndash 9 November 1940 was a British Conservative Politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom When Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940, he bypassed the War Office altogether and appointed himself Minister of Defence (though there was, curiously, no ministry of defence until 1964). Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Clement Attlee continued this arrangement when he came to power in 1945 but appointed a Minister of Defence for the first time in 1947. Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1964, the Ministry of Defence was established, unifying the War Office, Admiralty, and Air Ministry.

The records of the War Office are kept by The National Archives under their code WO. List of archives A national archive is a central Archive maintained by a Nation.

Old War Office Building

View of the Old War Office Building looking south along Whitehall, London

Between 1906 and its abolition in 1964, the War Office was based in a massive neo-Baroque building, completed in 1906, located on Horse Guards Avenue in Whitehall, London. Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Baroque architecture, starting in the early 17th century in Italy, took the humanist Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical Whitehall is a road in Westminster in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards traditional London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. It contains about a thousand rooms across seven floors, linked by 2½ miles of corridors. The construction of the War Office building took five years to complete at what was then a huge cost of over £1. 2 million.

The building is somewhat oddly shaped, forming a trapezium shape in order to maximise the usage of the irregularly shaped plot of land on which it was built. Its four distinctive domes were designed as a decorative means of disguising the building's shape.

The building is still used by the Ministry of Defence and is not currently open to the public. The Ministry of Defence ( MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters

War Office Departments

• Office of the Secretary of State
  • Military Secretary's Department (1870–1964)

• Department of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary
  • Directorate-General of Lands (?–1923)
  • Directorate of Lands (1923– )
  • Directorate-General of the Territorial and Volunteer Forces (?–1921)
  • Directorate-General of the Territorial Army (1921– )

• Central Department (Department of the Secretary)
  • Department of the Chaplain-General
  • Department of the Judge Advocate-General
  • Publicity Section/Information Section

• Department of the Financial and Parliamentary Secretary (Finance Department)
  • Directorate of Army Contracts (1924– )

• Imperial General Staff
  • Directorate of Military Intelligence (?–1922)
  • Directorate of Military Operations (?–1922)
  • Directorate of Military Operations and Intelligence (1922– )
  • Directorate of Military Training (1922– )
  • Directorate of Army Staff Duties

• Department of the Adjutant-General
  • Directorate-General of Graves Registration and Enquiries (?–1921)
  • Directorate-General of Army Medical Services
  • Directorate of Mobilisation
  • Directorate of Organisation
  • Directorate of Army Personal Services
  • Directorate of Prisoners of War (?–1921)
  • Directorate of Recruiting and Organisation

• Department of the Quartermaster-General
  • Directorate of Equipment and Ordnance Stores (?–1927)
  • Directorate of Movements
  • Directorate of Quartering
  • Directorate of Remounts
  • Directorate of Supplies and Transport
  • Department of the Controller of Surplus Stores and Salvage
  • Department of the Surveyor-General of Supply (?–1921)
  • Directorate-General of Army Veterinary Services
  • Directorate of Works (1927– )

• Department of the Master-General of the Ordnance
  • Directorate of Artillery
  • Directorate of Factories
  • Directorate of Fortifications and Works (?–1927)
  • Directorate of Ordnance Services (1927– )
  • Department of the Chief Technical Examiner for Works Services

External links

• The Old War Office Building - A history

See also

• United States Department of War