January

2                      Baby born in hospital at Westminster London to William & Emily Lake

 

                        Highest ever attendance at a football league match 118,730 people watched Rangers beat

                        Celtic at Hampden Park Glasgow

February

3                      IRA bombed two underground stations in London

 

25                    First Anderson Shelter was built in London

 

March

31                    Britain pledged to support Poland in the event of an invasion

 

May                

1                      The Sutton Hoo Treasure, an Angle Saxon ship burial was excavated

                        and donated to the British Museum

 

15                    Film Goodbye Mr Chips starring Robert Donat & Greer Garson was

                        Released

 

17                    King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived in Quebec City the first

                        visit to Canada by a reigning monarch

 

June

1                      Submarine HMS Thetis sunk during trials in Liverpool bay with the

                        loss of 99 men

 

28                    Women’s Auxiliary Air Force created

 

July

1                      Women’s Land Army first used in World War 1 was re formed to work in Agriculture

 

26                    The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is opened in Birmingham by

                        Queen Mary

August

5                      It was announced that Imperial Airways weekly transatlantic flights

                        would be suspended from September

 

25                    IRA bomb exploded in Coventry killing 25 people

 

30                    The first evacuation of children from major British cities began 

                        Most paintings from the National Gallery in London were moved to Wales

September

1                      John William Lake (70) Margaret Lake nee Lee (58) plus family

                        including, John (33), Herbert (22), Henry (20), and Clara (18),

                        living at 22 De Laune St, Lambeth.

                        William & Emily Sarah Jane Lake (nee Paxton) living at 57 De Laune St, Lambeth

                        (almost opposite No 22)

 

                        A Blackout was imposed across Britain this meant that at night all

                        windows and doors had to be covered with heavy material, cardboard

                        or paint to stop light showing through. Street lights were either turned

                        off or deflected downwards.

                        The Lake family at 22 De laune St had saucepans with very shiny bases hanging up in the kitchen

                        and the moon would shine on them. They didn’t fully understand the blackout until a warden

                        knocked and explained it to them.

 

                       The BBC Home Service began broadcasting but BBC television ws shut down (until 1946)

                       Germany declared war on Poland

                       Due to an agreement the UK & France had with Poland, the UK &

                       France gave Germany an ultimatum to withdraw its forces from Poland.

                       In the Britain general mobilisation of troops was announced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3                      After Germany rejected the ultimatum, Britain declared war with Germany on 3rd September at

                       11am. New Zealand declared war on Germany at 9.30pm NZ time which made them the first

                       country to do so.

                       The British cruise liner SS Athenia was torpedoed by a German U boat, 98 civilian passengers and

                       19 crew were killed

                       John Harold Henry Coombes (my 1st cousin once removed) a member of the army reserve since

                       1935, was mobilised as 2nd Lieutenant in the Far East

 

                        1,000 Germans living in Palestine were deported by British Forces to

                        Australia and put into internment camps many were Nazi members

 

4                      Nepal declared war on Germany

                        Uruguay declared neutrality

                        Britain made its first bombing raid on the German coastal town of Wilhelmshaven

 

7                      Assent to a bill was granted by King George VI to allow the introduction of

                        National Identity Cards in Britain.

 

9                      British Expeditionary Force crossed to France

 

10                    Oman declared war on Germany

 

19                    First British casualty list published

                        BBC home service comedy show called ITMA - It’s That Man Again starring

                        Tommy Handley began and ran for 10 years.

 

23                    Henry Lake (my Uncle) age 20 registers with military authorities as

                        new proclamation starting in October instructed.  Employment on enlistment

                        Technical Assistant Metals, member of the General Federation of Trade Unions

 

24                    Petrol rationing introduced

 

28                    Clara Lake (my Aunt) age 18 died from Tonsilitis and Bronch Pneumonia.

                        Clara’s illness was not helped by the fact that she suffered from what we now call,

                        Downs Syndrome, but in 1939 the term used was Mongolism.  

                        Clara was buried at Streatham Park Cemetery but has no headstone.                               

 

29                    A Mini Census was held in Great Britain so that Identity cards could be issued. Details for each

                       person were: Name, Residence, Sex, Date of Birth, Marital Status, Occupation, and whether a

                       member of the armedforces. No further census was taken in the UK until 1951.

 

October

01                    All men aged 20 – 21 in Britain must register with military authorities

 

14                    HMS Royal Oak sunk by a U Boat in Scapa Flow

 

 

November

11                    Princess Elizabeth broadcast a message to women of the Empire

                        calling for them to join the war effort.

 

24                    BOAC British Overseas Airways Corporation formed a merger with Imperial Airways

 

December

3                      Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria died

 

13                    Battle of the River Plate which resulted in the scuttling of the German

                        cruiser Admiral Graf Spee on 17th Dec