1939 Civil Defence Leaflet: “Some Things You Should Know if War Should Come”

Clapham North deep shelter literature
This 1939 Civil Defence leaflet, titled "Some Things You Should Know if War Should Come," was distributed by the Lord Privy Seal’s Office in July 1939, just weeks before the outbreak of World War II. It served as the first in a series of public information pamphlets designed to prepare British civilians for air raids, blackout regulations, and the potential use of gas. The leaflet's stark instruction, "Read this and keep it carefully. You may need it," underscores the government's effort to balance reassurance with the grim reality of impending conflict. Millions of these leaflets were delivered across Britain, forming a crucial part of an unprecedented civil preparedness campaign and serving as historical artifacts of the anxious period leading up to the war.
Photo taken in May 2019.
Photo Part Of
London
63 photos • 2019
Map
OpenStreetMap Google Maps
More from London
Evening at Blackheath Station, Southeast London
Evening at Blackheath Station, Southeast London
Blackheath railway station, located in southeast London, serves as a key stop on the Southeastern network connecting the capital to…
Clapham North Underground Station Spiral Emergency Staircase
Clapham North Underground Station Spiral Emergency Staircase
A view inside one of the distinctive spiral staircases of Clapham North Underground Station on the Northern Line, part of…
Tate & Lyle Silvertown Refinery, London Docklands
Tate & Lyle Silvertown Refinery, London Docklands
The Tate & Lyle sugar refinery in Silvertown, London Docklands, stands as a significant industrial landmark on the River Thames.…
Millennium Mills and Trinity House Lightship 93, Royal Docks
Millennium Mills and Trinity House Lightship 93, Royal Docks
Millennium Mills, a former flour mill built in 1905 for Spillers, stands derelict on the south side of the Royal…
Heathrow Terminal 2 Underground Link, London
Heathrow Terminal 2 Underground Link, London
The underground link connecting Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2 to the London Underground station, opened in 2014 as part of the…
The Shard, London: Renzo Piano's Glass Skyscraper
The Shard, London: Renzo Piano's Glass Skyscraper
The Shard, a 310-meter skyscraper designed by Renzo Piano, stands near London Bridge. Completed in 2012, its glass façade is…
Nearby Photos

Built in Minneapolis

Photographs showcasing change over time

Browse by location, move through long-running series, or start with recent work.

© 1996–2026 Chad Davis