In the tense two weeks before Britain's declaration of war against Germany in World War 2, (occuring on September 3, 1939) the Evening Standard Newspaper of August 21, 1939 reports that the Premier sees the King; the Cabinet is to meet; Members of Parliament assemble to hear Chamberlain speak; and the Pope will broadcast peace pleas. Londoners are seen gathered in the areas around the Houses of Parliament. A woman carries a placard reading "Churchill." (She pushes it in front of the camera.) Rolls Royce limousines carrying cabinet ministers enter gates at Parliament courtyard. Bobbies contain peaceful crowds without difficulty. Occupants of one limousine are dressed in Arabian garb. Newspaper vendor displays headlines of Evening Standard reading: "Britons told to leave Germany." Cars carrying dignitaries continue into the Parliament courtyard. Several photographers snap photos as the cars pass them. A shot of the Elizabeth Tower at the north end of the Houses of Parliament, with the Great Clock clearly visible. The tower, clock and great bell (Big Ben) are often collectively referred to as"Big Ben." Routine busy commercial traffic moving on the street past Parliament. View from a high vantage point of double-decker buses moving past the Parliament courtyard, where crowd stands by the fence. Another official car enters the courtyard.
Londoners gather as their government makes momentous decisions on the eve of British entry into world War 2. Crowds gathered in London near Whitehall and Downing Streets. Bobbies hold traffic for an official car leaving Downing Street and turning right on Whitehall. Soon they repeat the process for another car leaving Downing Street. Soon the crowds on the opposite side of Whitehall move en masse across the street and cluster at the corner of Whitehall and Downing. Mounted police and other Bobbies maintain order. Some folks are seen relaxing on the lawn in St. James Park. The crowds gradually disperse and are seen walking along Whitehall, past the Cenotaph.
British antiaircraft batteries fire furiously at German V-1 Buzz bombs over London. One V-1 is seen running out of fuel, with a puff of smoke, and then descending to strike the city. Other V-1s are seen descending to strike. View of the Thames River with Tower of London, Southwark and Cannon Street Rail Bridges in view. Wrecked buildings and rubble on streets. Views of terrible destruction from the Buzz bombs.
Queen Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) attends a ball at the University of London. The Queen Mother leads a ball, following the award of degrees at the University of London. People dance in the ballroom.
Aftermath of London bombings by Nazi Germany during World War II. Lord Halifax, British Foreign Secretary, visits the damaged houses in East end of London. Rubble collected along roads. Pile of rubble in a park. Halifax and two men confer in a street.
Aftermath of London blitz or blitzkrieg bombings by Nazi German Luftwaffe during World War II. Rubble outside a shop with a sign 'Bombed but not beaten' other signs read 'We are open' 'open for business'. As people walk past the shops in London. Bourne and Hollingsworth on Oxford Street.