Call of war 1942 homefro t2/12/2024 ![]() ![]() ![]() The National Registration Act is passed, introducing identity cards. Newspaper vendor holding stack of newspapers and sign announcing the state of war Identity Card – 1943 All men aged 18–41 are now potentially liable for conscription. ![]() The National Service (Armed Forces) Act is passed. Chamberlain reforms his Government, creating a small War Cabinet which includes Winston Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty. Twenty minutes later the first air raid sirens are sounded in London. Shortly after 11:00 Chamberlain announces to the nation that his ultimatum has expired and that Britain is at war with Germany. Under intense criticism from the House, Neville Chamberlain abandons an offer to negotiate peace terms between Germany and Poland and agrees to present an ultimatum to Hitler. Government initiates ' Operation Pied Piper' which would see the evacuation of over 1.5 million people from urban 'target' areas, of whom 800,000 were children. The British Army is officially mobilized. In response to the German invasion of Poland and the prospect of war with Germany, plans for the evacuation of children and nursing and expectant mothers from London and other areas deemed vulnerable to German air attack are put into action. It has twelve battleships versus zero for Germany seven aircraft carriers versus zero three battle cruisers versus five 66 cruisers versus six 100 destroyers versus 17, 67 submarines versus 57 and a merchant fleet five times larger. The Royal Navy is much stronger than Germany's Kriegsmarine. The National Defence Companies (a voluntary reserve force of former servicemen) are mobilised to protect "vulnerable points". Evacuee schoolchildren leave Stepney in London at 5 am on 1 September 1939. Given the worsening situation in Europe, Parliament is recalled and immediately enacts the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939, granting the government special legislative powers for the duration of the crisis. All men aged 20–21 are now liable to call-up for four years military service as 'Militiamen'. The Military Training Act, Britain's first peacetime draft, comes into force. ![]()
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