The BBC and World War Two - picture gallery

BBC Bridge Club - men and women play bridge inside the curved 1930s senate room at Broadcasting House

The BBC clubs were legendary pre-war, and a considerable attraction to staff joining the corporation. The BBC Bridge Club, continues un-perturbed by the threat of war, summer 1939.

A man ponders his next chess move while his female opponent looks on

The BBC Chess Club was attractive to the producers of serious music on the BBC Home Service, and was still in operation by the Autumn of 1939.

A building site behind BBC Broadcasting House

Despite clear indications that war was on the horizon, the new extension to the BBC’s Broadcasting House in London was still under construction by the end of 1939.

The entrance hall of Broadcasting House in 1939, men and women in smart clothes sit around the art deco opulence

Keeping up the facade of normality in Broadcasting House in 1939. Later a sentry was posted outside, and sand bags issued to protect studios within.

King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret inspect the work of various radio technicians at Broadcasting House

King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret visit Broadcasting House, when war was a mere six months away.

The finishing line of Derby Day, 1939, is filmed by a BBC TV camera

No change to the sports schedule. Derby Day, 1939, considered a BBC TV outside broadcast success.

A racing driver and his pre-war racing car with large radiator is filmed by a TV camera

Motor Racing from Crystal Palace, with war, 4 months away.

Technical experiments in radio continued throughout 1939. Here new kit is being tested in the ‘radio saloon car’.

New radio broadcasting kit is being tested in the ‘radio saloon car’.

Technical experiments in radio continued throughout 1939. Here new kit is being tested in the ‘radio saloon car’.

An engineer fixes a large valve into radio apparatus.

Updating valves at the Clevedon Transmitting Station, June 1939.

Two engineers in suits fiddle with various bits of analogue apparatus in a gothic room

Parts of BBC Research and Development were commandeered for war work, but by February 1939, technical teams were still working solely on BBC projects.

A TV camera filming a male and female inspecting some flowers at the Chelsea flower show

Broadcasting as normal, TV visits the Chelsea flower show in May 1939.

Children gather round the radio to hear Chamberlain’s declaration of war on Nazi Germany.

Prime Minister Chamberlain at the microphone wearing a stiff collar and tie

Prime Minister Chamberlain, with a solemn message to the nation in 1939.

A Home Guard soldier with an uncocked shotgun inspects a woman's pass. There are sandbags to their left.

A member of the Home Guard conducts a security check at the BBC’s Broadcasting House. These were imposed following the declaration of war, and the building is shored-up with sand bags.

Correspondents with BBC Midget Recorders make a report in the field with tin hats on

As war begins, correspondents are sent out with BBC Midget Recorders, and start to send despatches back to London.

Bomb damage inside a sleeping quarter at BBC Maida Vale. There is a hole in the roof and a large amount of rubble.

In 1941 BBC buildings were targeted. The Maida Vale studios, home to BBC orchestras, were bombed in May of that year.

Bombed BBC studio with a hole in the ceiling and rubble on the floor

The effect of bombing on BBC studios, 1941.

Jasmine Bligh at a microphone wearing a typical 1940s coat

Pre-war TV announcer Jasmine Bligh whose career was cut short because of hostilities, was the first person to appear on TV in 1946, when BBC TV re-opened.