The Scout Association is incorporated throughout the British Commonwealth by Royal Charter.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is established through Royal Charter to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations military forces.

World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass.

World War II: Gunners of the Ceylon Garrison Artillery on Horsburgh Island in the Cocos Islands rebel in the Cocos Islands Mutiny. Their mutiny is crushed and three of them are executed, the only British Commonwealth soldiers to be executed for mutiny during the Second World War.

Pakistan gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

India gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

Ceylon (later renamed Sri Lanka) becomes independent within the British Commonwealth.

Louis Stephen St. Laurent succeeds William Lyon Mackenzie King as Prime Minister of Canada. King had the longest combined time (3 terms, 22 years in total) as Premier in Commonwealth of Nations history.

Specific values for the international yard, avoirdupois pound and derived units (e.g. inch, mile and ounce) are adopted after agreement between the U.S.A., the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries.

South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Gambia becomes a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, with Dawda Jawara as the first President.

Pakistan withdraws from the Commonwealth of Nations.

Ceylon adopts a new constitution, thus becoming a Republic, changes its name to Sri Lanka, and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Bahamas gain full independence within the Commonwealth of Nations.

Pakistan is re-admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations after having restoring democracy for the first time since 1972.

Namibia becomes the 160th member of the United Nations and the 50th member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Mauritius becomes a republic while remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Zimbabwe is suspended from the Commonwealth on charges of human rights abuses and of electoral fraud, following a turbulent presidential election.