1912    The Scout Association is incorporated throughout the British Commonwealth by Royal Charter.

1917    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.

1941    World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass.

1942    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.

1947    Pakistan gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

1947    India gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

1948    Ceylon (later renamed Sri Lanka) becomes independent within the British Commonwealth.

1948    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.

1959    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.

1961    South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth of Nations.

1970    The Gambia becomes a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, with Dawda Jawara as the first President.

1972    Pakistan withdraws from the Commonwealth of Nations.

1972    Ceylon adopts a new constitution, thus becoming a Republic, changes its name to Sri Lanka, and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

1973    The Bahamas gain full independence within the Commonwealth of Nations.

1989    Pakistan is re-admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations after having restoring democracy for the first time since 1972.

1990    Namibia becomes the 160th member of the United Nations and the 50th member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

1992    Mauritius becomes a republic while remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

2002    Zimbabwe is suspended from the Commonwealth on charges of human rights abuses and of electoral fraud, following a turbulent presidential election.