5. Behind this screen of sea power such material and weapons as were yet available were moving to Britain and France from all over the world. The first contingents of the forces that were moving to Britain from the Dominions were also arriving, while the French were gathering into metropolitan France men and forces from North and West Africa. At the same time the first British Divisions were crossing the Channel to take their place on the left flank of the French forces facing the Belgian frontier. Holland and Belgium were still trying to preserve their neutrality and it proved therefore impossible to preconcert with them the plans for meeting the expected German attack.
6. Within Britain the organization of the Home Front was proceeding alongside that of the fighting fronts, actual and awaited. The war-time government organizations, already in existence and with years of experience behind them in the Reich, had to be newly improvised in Britain. Ministries set up on or shortly before the outbreak of war included those for Economic Warfare, Shipping, Supply, Food, Home Security, and Information, to which was added on the formation of Mr. Churchill’s Government in May T940, Aircraft Production. With the full cooperation of the Trade Unions and of the Employers’ Associations, the direction of industry and of labour began to take shape as the means of converting available resources to the war effort with the minimum of strain. Agriculture co-operated to fulfil the demands made upon it by the Ministry of Food with the primary object of reducing to the minimum the extent to which demands for food must compete with munitions and raw material for shipping space. The organization of blackout and air-raid precautions was given eleven unexpected months of freedom from attack after 3rd September in which to impress a war-time pattern on the fabric of Britain.
September 1939 British Expeditionary Force under the command of lord Gort, V.C. transported to N.W. France.
17th December 1939 First contingent of Canadian troops landed in Britain.
27th December 1939 Indian troops land in France.
Early 1940 Australian 9th Division diverted from Middle East to Britain.
Early 1940 2nd Echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force arrived in Britain.
3rd September 1939 National Service (Armed Forces) Act giving power to conscript men for military service. Age groups affected 18-41. Conscription for men in the age group 20-21 had been in force since June 1939.
