Page 78 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

3rd SEPTEMBER 1939 - THE WAR IS OFFICIAL

At 11 am on Sunday, 3rd September 1939, Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, announced
on the radio that Britain was "once again at war with Germany."

Only one generation since the end of the previous terrible conflict, the country was having
to prepare to sacrifice its young men in an unwanted conflict. But this time, the civilian
population would also be in the firing line.

By May 1940, Winston Churchill had become Prime Minister and whole heartedly accepted
the extremely difficult and daunting task of preparing, organising and delivering Britain's
very survival.

13th May 1940 - Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons during the first
Sunday session in over 120 years:

...."I say to the House as I said to Ministers who have joined this Government, I have
nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many
months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by
land, sea and air.

War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against
a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human
crime. That is our policy."

The Battle of Dunkirk

The Battle of Dunkirk was a important battle which took place in Dunkirk, France between
the Allies and Germany between 26th May and 4th June 1940.

After the "phoney war" the fighting began in earnest. The Germans had made huge
progressions throughout Europe, conquering most of the Netherlands and Belgium. The
German advance reached the French coast on 20th May, separating the British
Expeditionary Force from its Allies. After reaching the Channel the Germans swung along
the coast, threatening to capture the ports and trapping the British and French forces
before they could evacuate to Britain.

Hundreds of ships, both large and small, sped as fast as they could to evacuate the
stranded British troops from the shores of France. It has always been seen as something
of a 'miracle' that so many men (about 400,000) were rescued and brought home. The
French soldiers became known as "The Free French" army.

A young Sidcup soldier who had been caught up in the drama took time to tell his story to
the local newspaper.

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