23 January – "Dutch War Scare": Admiral
Wilhelm Canaris of the Abwehr leaks misinformation to the effect that Germany plans to invade the Netherlands in February, with the aim of using Dutch airfields to launch a strategic bombing offensive against Britain. The "Dutch War Scare" leads to a major change in British policies towards Europe.[2]
27 April – the
Military Training Act (coming into force 3 June) introduces
conscription; men aged 20 and 21 must undertake six months military training.[8]
May–September – the
Sutton Hoo treasure – an Anglo-Saxon ship burial – is excavated. On 28 July the
Sutton Hoo helmet is uncovered. The principal treasures are presented to the
British Museum by the landowner,
Edith Pretty, at this time its largest ever gift from a living donor.[9]
German anti-Nazi
Carl Friedrich Goerdeler tells the British government that the German and Soviet governments are secretly beginning a rapprochement, with the aim of dividing Eastern Europe between them. Goerdeler also informs the British of German economic problems which he states threaten the survival of the Nazi regime, and advises that if a firm stand is made for Poland, then Hitler will be deterred from war.
10 September – British submarine
HMS Triton torpedoes and sinks another British submarine,
HMS Oxley, off the coast of Norway, believing her to be a German
U-boat, with the loss of 52 crew.
18 September – American-born fascist politician
William Joyce, at this time holding a British passport, begins broadcasting Nazi propaganda to Britain from Berlin, inheriting the nickname
Lord Haw-Haw.[5]
19 September – popular radio comedy show It's That Man Again with
Tommy Handley first broadcast on the BBC Home service, following trial broadcasts from 12 July.[6][26] Known as "ITMA", it runs for ten years.
26 September – flying from
HMS Ark Royal in the
North Sea,
Lieutenant B. S. McEwen of the
Fleet Air Arm scores the first British victory over a German aircraft of the war, shooting down a flying boat. The aircraft carrier comes under air attack but survives.[27]
27 September – first war tax is revealed by the
Cabinet, including a significant rise in
income taxes.
29 September – national register of citizens compiled to support the introduction of identity cards and rationing.[24]
17 October – first bomb lands in the U.K., at
Hoy in the Orkney Islands.[30]
21 October – registration of men aged 20 to 23 for National Service begins.[21]
30 October – British battleship
HMS Nelson is unsuccessfully attacked by
U-56 under the command of captain
Wilhelm Zahn off
Orkney and is hit by three
torpedoes, none of which explode; Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), Admiral of the Fleet
Dudley Pound (First Sea Lord) and Admiral
Charles Forbes (Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet) are on board.[31]
^"Old Firm's enduring appeal". FIFA.com. FIFA. 16 April 2016. Archived from
the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2018. The clubs [Celtic and Rangers] also hold the British record attendance for a league match - 118,567 at Ibrox on 2 January 1939
^Draper, Alfred (1979). Operation Fish: The Fight to Save the Gold of Britain, France and Norway from the Nazis. Don Mills: General Publishing.
ISBN9780773600683.
^Ewan, Elizabeth; Pipes, Rose; Rendall, Jane; Reynolds, Siân, eds. (2018). The new biographical dictionary of Scottish women. Edinburgh University Press. p. 3.
ISBN9781474436281.
23 January – "Dutch War Scare": Admiral
Wilhelm Canaris of the Abwehr leaks misinformation to the effect that Germany plans to invade the Netherlands in February, with the aim of using Dutch airfields to launch a strategic bombing offensive against Britain. The "Dutch War Scare" leads to a major change in British policies towards Europe.[2]
27 April – the
Military Training Act (coming into force 3 June) introduces
conscription; men aged 20 and 21 must undertake six months military training.[8]
May–September – the
Sutton Hoo treasure – an Anglo-Saxon ship burial – is excavated. On 28 July the
Sutton Hoo helmet is uncovered. The principal treasures are presented to the
British Museum by the landowner,
Edith Pretty, at this time its largest ever gift from a living donor.[9]
German anti-Nazi
Carl Friedrich Goerdeler tells the British government that the German and Soviet governments are secretly beginning a rapprochement, with the aim of dividing Eastern Europe between them. Goerdeler also informs the British of German economic problems which he states threaten the survival of the Nazi regime, and advises that if a firm stand is made for Poland, then Hitler will be deterred from war.
10 September – British submarine
HMS Triton torpedoes and sinks another British submarine,
HMS Oxley, off the coast of Norway, believing her to be a German
U-boat, with the loss of 52 crew.
18 September – American-born fascist politician
William Joyce, at this time holding a British passport, begins broadcasting Nazi propaganda to Britain from Berlin, inheriting the nickname
Lord Haw-Haw.[5]
19 September – popular radio comedy show It's That Man Again with
Tommy Handley first broadcast on the BBC Home service, following trial broadcasts from 12 July.[6][26] Known as "ITMA", it runs for ten years.
26 September – flying from
HMS Ark Royal in the
North Sea,
Lieutenant B. S. McEwen of the
Fleet Air Arm scores the first British victory over a German aircraft of the war, shooting down a flying boat. The aircraft carrier comes under air attack but survives.[27]
27 September – first war tax is revealed by the
Cabinet, including a significant rise in
income taxes.
29 September – national register of citizens compiled to support the introduction of identity cards and rationing.[24]
17 October – first bomb lands in the U.K., at
Hoy in the Orkney Islands.[30]
21 October – registration of men aged 20 to 23 for National Service begins.[21]
30 October – British battleship
HMS Nelson is unsuccessfully attacked by
U-56 under the command of captain
Wilhelm Zahn off
Orkney and is hit by three
torpedoes, none of which explode; Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), Admiral of the Fleet
Dudley Pound (First Sea Lord) and Admiral
Charles Forbes (Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet) are on board.[31]
^"Old Firm's enduring appeal". FIFA.com. FIFA. 16 April 2016. Archived from
the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2018. The clubs [Celtic and Rangers] also hold the British record attendance for a league match - 118,567 at Ibrox on 2 January 1939
^Draper, Alfred (1979). Operation Fish: The Fight to Save the Gold of Britain, France and Norway from the Nazis. Don Mills: General Publishing.
ISBN9780773600683.
^Ewan, Elizabeth; Pipes, Rose; Rendall, Jane; Reynolds, Siân, eds. (2018). The new biographical dictionary of Scottish women. Edinburgh University Press. p. 3.
ISBN9781474436281.