Timeline of Films from the
Home Front. |
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| 1936 |
Developments in Europe begin to spark fears of a new war |
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1937 |
Air Raid Precautions service is established |
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| September 1938 |
Munich Crisis intensifies fears and preparations for war |
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| May 1939 |
The military make preparations for war |
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| August 1939 |
Many community activities carry on as 'normal' |
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| 1 September 1939 |
First official wave of evacuation begins |
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| 3 September 1939 |
Britain declares war on Germany |
| throughout the war |
The impact of war on families is captured on film |
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Mine Camp - Sheppard family at home (1939-1945) War Time - Gowlland family at home (1939-1940) |
| October 1939 |
The public are first urged to 'Dig For Victory' and grow their own vegetables |
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December 1939 |
First Christmas on the home front |
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| May 1940 |
LDV/Home Guard is formed and begins training |
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Formation of the Home Guard, Thornton Bradford (1939-1945) Bomb damage and Home Guard (1940) Home Guard 'D Coy' Aston Park Birmingham (ca.1940)
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| June 1940 |
Land Clubs are established to encourage volunteer farm labour |
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| throughout the war |
Communities raise funds to help the war effort |
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Hinckley 4 (Red Cross Sale 1940) Leatherhead Newsreel (1940-1945) |
| throughout the war |
Some aspects of home life continue 'as normal' |
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Castleton 1940: Lose Hill: 5th Mansfield (St John Pathfinder) Boy Scouts (1940) |
| December 1940 |
Blitz bombings in Southampton begin |
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| throughout the war |
ARP drills and training activities are filmed |
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Air Raid Practice – Knoll School Hove (ca.1940) |
| June 1941 |
Clothes rationing is introduced - a 'make-do and mend' attitude is encouraged |
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| December 1941 |
Women are conscripted into the armed forces, agriculture and factory work |
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| April 1942 |
Blitz bombings in Exeter begin |
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| 1942 |
Foreign Prisoners of War are used in farm labour and other work |
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| throughout the war |
Home Guard training and activities continue |
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Procedures in the Event of an Enemy Attack (1941?) West Sussex Home Guard (1941?) |
| June 1944 |
V1 Bombing attacks start |
| June 1944 |
Preparations for D Day landings make an impact on the home front |
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| throughout the war |
Films, broadcasts and events are used to boost morale |
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7 May 1945 |
Formal German surrender |
| 8 May 1945 |
VE Day celebrations take place |
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Grantham VE Day Celebrations (May 1945) Newton Abbot Street Party (May 1945) |
| 1945 - 1946 |
Victory celebrations and peace-time commemoration continues |
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Eastleigh Victory Walk (September 1945) Christmas At Peace (December 1945) Civilians in Uniform (ca.1946) Sheffield V.E.Day/ Indian Victory Parade (Indian Victory Parade June 1946) |
| 1945 - 1946 |
A housing crisis develops |
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Home Front Squatters (16 Sept 1946) & Pathé Opinion Poll (23 Sept 1946) |
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| July 1946 |
Bread rationing is introduced |
| 1946 - 1947 |
Post-war documentaries and instructional films are used to introduce new ideas |
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| 1948 |
The National Health Service is established |
| 1948 - 1960s |
An era of post-war rebuilding and optimism gathers pace |
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Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition (1951) |
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