Poignant Images from Around the Start of World War 2

Some years ago I was asked to digitise a number of boxes of old glass plate negatives which are part of the archive of the Leicester and Leicestershire Photographic Society, which is one of the oldest in the UK. This box contained nine pictures from around 1939, of high quality, perhaps pictures for a newspaper. There were captions written on the paper sleeves, which I added to the images to make an AV show. At least one of the captions is incorrect, however. I photographed them on a light box, with my Sony A900 and a Minolta macro lens.

I will let the images speak for themselves.

That's the last one.

Some years ago I was asked to digitise a number of boxes of old glass plate negatives which are part of the archive of the Leicester and Leicestershire Photographic Society, which is one of the oldest in the UK. This box contained nine pictures from around 1939, of high quality, perhaps pictures for a newspaper. There were captions written on the paper sleeves, which I added to the images to make an AV show. At least one of the captions is incorrect, however. I photographed them on a light box, with my Sony A900 and a Minolta macro lens.

 

I will let the images speak for themselves.

 

[ATTACH=full]1384865[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384866[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384867[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384868[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384869[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384870[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384871[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384872[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384873[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=full]1384874[/ATTACH]

 

That's the last one.

John, thanks very much for posting these images, which speak volumes, especially the one of people wearing gas masks. You did a fine job digitizing them.

Thanks to all for the comments. Yes, the gas masks picture is very telling. The young men seem to think it's a great joke. Compare the expressions on their faces to those of the older men, who might have memories of the first war, which ended only 20 years before.

The "Mac Cherrys Mr Harboro Feature" caption certainly suggests a newspaper column. However it's clear that at least some of the captions were added much later, for example "Brit Railways Midlands Horse Show" – British Railways did not come into existence until 1948.

The Municipal Offices are still a main base of the City Council although there have been other uses over the years, including by the East Midlands Electricity Board – I worked there briefly as a student apprentice.

The Land Girls were women who, like in World War 1, volunteered to work on the land to replace farm workers away on war duty. They were also called the Womens Land Army. We will probably never know about the "Strike". The badges on their lapels are of interest, here are a couple of enlarged details from the image:

I didn't know that British civilians were already making war preparations (sandbags, gas masks, etc.) before World War II started on September 1, 1939. But a war was strongly rumored at the time, so I guess it makes sense.

However, some of those "Land Girls" are flashing V-for-victory hand signs, which I thought weren't popularized by Winston Churchill until after the war started.

I didn't know that British civilians were already making war preparations (sandbags, gas masks, etc.) before World War II started on September 1, 1939. But a war was strongly rumored at the time, so I guess it makes sense.

 

However, some of those "Land Girls" are flashing V-for-victory hand signs, which I thought weren't popularized by Winston Churchill until after the war started.

I don't know the message the land girls had in mind but the two finger salute precedes Churchill's V for Victory. Depending how the hand is held infers a less respectful meaning.

I didn't know that British civilians were already making war preparations (sandbags, gas masks, etc.) before World War II started on September 1, 1939. But a war was strongly rumored at the time, so I guess it makes sense.

 

However, some of those "Land Girls" are flashing V-for-victory hand signs, which I thought weren't popularized by Winston Churchill until after the war started.

Although the start of WWII is usually dated on Sept. 1st 1939 you should not forget that Germany occupied Czechoslowakia, Austria and Lithunia in March 1939. That the aggressive foreign policy of Germany would lead into a war was obvious.

Thanks for shareing these interessting photos.

some of those "Land Girls" are flashing V-for-victory hand signs

That's well spotted Tom, although some are just showing the thumbs up. The Women's Land Army was re-formed in July 1939, but I guess this picture dates from the early 1940's,.when it was well established.

Actually the V sign was adopted by the 1941 V for Victory campaign, which included the BBC World Service's use of the Morse code for V as the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth. The gesture was suggested by Churchill, but it's believed with his aristocratic background, he didn't realise that it was an insult, comparable to the American single finger sign. So it was changed, with the palm facing the subject. Although the insulting aspect, if directed towards the enemy, was probably appreciated. Similarly the British prisoners in The Bridge on the River Kwai whistled "Colonel Bogie", which was often sung with the words "Arsehole, and the same to you" to the Japanese guards.

That's well spotted Tom, although some are just showing the thumbs up. The Women's Land Army was re-formed in July 1939, but I guess this picture dates from the early 1940's,.when it was well established.

 

Actually the V sign was adopted by the 1941 V for Victory campaign, which included the BBC World Service's use of the Morse code for V as the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth. The gesture was suggested by Churchill, but it's believed with his aristocratic background, he didn't realise that it was an insult, comparable to the American single finger sign. So it was changed, with the palm facing the subject. Although the insulting aspect, if directed towards the enemy, was probably appreciated. Similarly the British prisoners in The Bridge on the River Kwai whistled "Colonel Bogie", which was often sung with the words "Arsehole, and the same to you" to the Japanese guards.

Then there's this bit of folklore:

Agincourt600 – Commemorating 600 years since the Battle of Agincourt » Was the V-sign invented at the battle of Agincourt?