istoryworld
Events relating to england
Richard Addinsell writes the Warsaw Concerto as music for the film Dangerous Moonlight
British biologists Ernst Chain and Howard Florey develop penicillin as a safe and useful antibacterial drug
Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman is rejected by numerous publishers before becoming, decades later, his best-known novel
British actors Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier marry
Radar masts along the coasts of Britain give early warning of German air attacks
Civilian heroism is rewarded in Britain with a new medal, the George Cross
Working as an official war artist, Henry Moore creates an iconic series of drawings of Londoners sleeping at night in underground stations
After his London studio is bombed, Henry Moore moves to Much Hadham, where he works and lives for the rest of his life
The ration book is introduced in Britain, at first just for bacon, butter and sugar, but soon also for meat, eggs, tea, milk, cheese, jam, and clothing
After the German invasion of the Netherlands and Belgium, Winston Churchill replaces Chamberlain as the British prime minister
Queen Wilhelmina and the Dutch government escape just in time to Britain
Winston Churchill, in his first speech to the House of Commons as prime minister, offers the nation nothing but 'blood, toil, tears and sweat'
The Local Defence Volunteers are formed in Britain and are soon given, on Winston Churchill's suggestion, the name Home Guard
Fishing smacks and private launches are enlisted from southern England's coasts and rivers for a rescue mission across the Channel
Charles de Gaulle broadcasts to the French nation from London, declaring himself the leader of the Free French
The British government gives recognition to Charles de Gaulle as official leader of the Free French
Increased German U-boat activity after the fall of France launches the crucial Battle of the Atlantic
Hitler orders preparations for the invasion of England, under the codename Operation Sea Lion
The first German night-time bombing raid on London signals the start of the Blitz on British cities
The US government provides 50 destroyers to boost the British escort of convoys in the Atlantic
After the summer's losses in the air, Hitler orders the effective cancellation of operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Britain
Coventry suffers a raid of such intensity that the new technique becomes known as carpet bombing
The de Havilland Mosquito, a multi-purpose wooden aeroplane widely used by the RAF in World War II, makes its first flight
British aviator Amy Johnson is reported missing over the Thames estuary when flying on a mission for the Air Ministry
English composer Michael Tippett completes his oratorio A Child of our Time (not performed until 1944)
