Things Fall Apart … | SpringerLink

On 3 April 1940, the day before those astonishing messages to Norway and Sweden, several important Government changes were announced. Lord Chatfield was dropped from the War Cabinet, and Sir Samuel Hoare exchanged places with Sir Kingsley Wood — the former thus becoming Secretary for Air and the latter moving to the more or less non-Departmental post of Lord Privy Seal. A newcomer, Lord Woolton, became Minister of Food: an office which he would occupy with much popularity for a long time. The most important innovation was the appointment of Winston Churchill to chairmanship of a body sometimes called the Military Co-ordination Committee but (to the confusion of the historian) occasionally designated War Co-ordination Committee, or even by other titles. The Prime Minister was very pleased:

The changes I have made are the final results of long cogitation and frequent consultation with others. I am satisfied that they are all likely to be improvements and moreover have succeeded in carrying them through without a cross word from any of those concerned.¹

Churchill, who retained his old portfolio of the Admiralty, was said to be ‘in the seventh heaven’. Commentators were uncertain of the scope given to him by the new appointment.