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. 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. Old War Office Building, Whitehall, London Image by ChrisO File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Old War Office Building, Whitehall, London Image by ChrisO File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ... This article is about the capital of England and 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 number of older institutions, notably the Board of Ordnance (which dates from the 14th century), were merged to form the War Office. It worked alongside the Admiralty, responsible for the Royal Navy, and the (much later) Air Ministry, which oversaw 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. 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. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... The British Board of Ordnance was responsible for the design, testing and production of armaments and munitions. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... Flag of the Lord High Admiral 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 the Senior Service). ... The Air Ministry was formerly a department of the United Kingdom Government, established in 1918 with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the (then newly formed) Royal Air Force. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... 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 and played an important part in administering the Thirteen Colonies of North America. ... The Secretary at War was a position with some responsibility over the administration of the British military. ... Events France under Louis XIV makes Truce of Ratisbon separately with the Empire and Spain. ...

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 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. Horse Guards viewed across Horse Guards Parade Horse Guards is a large building in the Palladian style between Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade. ... Whitehall, London, looking south towards the Houses of Parliament. ... // Events Abraham De Moivre states De Moivres theorem connecting trigonometric functions and complex numbers Publication of the first book of Bachs Well-Tempered Clavier Fall of Persias Safavid dynasty during a bloody revolt of the Afghani people. ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Plans of the ground and first floors of York (later Cumberland) House as designed by Matthew Brettingham. ... Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ...

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 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 Secretary at War was a position with some responsibility over the administration of the British military. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... 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 northern part of Europe. ... The Southern Department was a former department of the government of England and later the United Kingdom. ... The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom abroad. ... The modern concept of Small Office and Home Office or SoHo , or Small or Home Office deals with the category of business which can be from 1 to 10 workers. ...

From 1704 to 1855, the post of Secretary was filled by a minister of the second rank, although he occasionally sat in the Cabinet. Many of the responsibilities were transferred to the Secretary of State for War following the creation of that more senior post in 1794. 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. 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). This responsibility ceased with the establishment of the Colonial Office. Events Building of the Students Monument in Aiud, Romania. ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The secretary of war in cabinet position was Henry Knox. ... 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 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. 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. 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. 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. Combatants Allies: Second French Empire United Kingdom Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia Russian Empire Bulgarian volunteers Casualties 90,000 French 35,000 Turkish 17,500 British 2,050 Sardinian killed, wounded and died of disease ~134,000 killed, wounded and died of disease The Crimean War (1854–1856) was fought... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... A series of reforms of the British Army undertaken by Secretary of State for War (and former soldier) Edward Cardwell in 1870. ... Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell (July 24, 1813–February 15, 1886) was a prominent British politician in the Peelite and Liberal parties during the middle of the 19th century. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Combatants British Empire Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Sir Redvers Buller Lord Kitchener Lord Roberts Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Casualties 5000 - 6000 Battlefield casualties, 15,000 disease related. ...

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. 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. 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... In the military systems of many countries, the Chief of the General Staff is the professional head of that countrys General Staff. ... Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) was the title of the professional head of the British Army from 1908 to 1964. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The IRA Army Council is the decision-making body of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, more commonly known as the IRA, a paramilitary group dedicated to the removal of the British presence in Ireland. ... Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) was of 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. 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. The name Herbert Asquith normally refers to: Herbert Henry Asquith, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1908–1916), but may also refer to his son: Herbert Asquith, a poet. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... The Earl Kitchener The Right Honourable Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC (24 June 1850–5 June 1916) was a British Field Marshal, diplomat and statesman. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

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. 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. 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). April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 – 9 November 1940), known as Neville Chamberlain, was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940. ... Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can) (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was an English statesman, soldier and author. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Clement Attlee continued this arrangement when he came to power in 1945 but appointed a Minister of Defence for the first time in 1947. In 1964, the Ministry of Defence was established, unifying the War Office, Admiralty, and Air Ministry. Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC (3 January 1883 – 8 October 1967) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1945 to 1951. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

The records of the War Office are kept by The National Archives under their code WO. More than one country maintains a national archive: The Canadian Library and Archives Canada The New Zealand Archives New Zealand (formerly National Archives) The United States National Archives and Records Administration The United Kingdom National Archives This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that...

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. 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. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 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, theatrical, sculptural fashion, expressing the triumph of absolutist church and state. ... Whitehall, London, looking south towards the Houses of Parliament. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

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 term trapezium can mean more than one thing: In human anatomy, trapezium is a bone in the hand In geometry, a trapezium is also a name for a class of quadrilaterals. ...

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 the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ...

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

The secretary of war in cabinet position was Henry Knox. ... The Military Secretary is the senior military assistant to the British Secretary of State for Defence and formerly to the Secretary of State for War. ... Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) was the title of the professional head of the British Army from 1908 to 1964. ... Directorate of Military Intelligence is a department within the British Ministry of Defence (or MoD for short). ... The Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General (AG), is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. ... In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces (QMG) is one of the most senior generals in the British Army. ... The Master-General of the Ordnance (MGO) was an important British military position before 1855, when its duties were largely abolished. ...

External links

• The Old War Office Building - A history

See also

• United States Department of War