Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

The Ministry of Defence is a British government department headed by the Secretary of State for Defence in the Cabinet. It controls the administration of the British Armed Forces. The present Ministry is a post-World War II creation, joining the Admiralty, the War Office, the Air Ministry and part of the Ministry of Aviation. Ministers of State supervise each of the three armed services, and a Joint Chiefs of Staff committee is led by the professional heads of the three services. History Before 1964, the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force had their own departments. During and after World War I and II, leaders thought there should be more cooperation between them. In 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill created the role of Minister of Defence, but it was combined with the job of Prime Minister. In 1946, the Ministry of Defence became its own department with its own minister. References