1940

Food rationing begins

Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister

Henry Moore and Stanley Spencer commissioned as official war artists

Henry Moore
Grey Tube Shelter 1940
The work illustrated is reproduced by permission of the Henry Moore Foundation
large image and caption

Bill Brandt commissioned by the Ministry of Information to photograph London’s underground shelters

1941

Severe labour shortage leads to the National Service Act introducing conscription for women

Humphrey Spender conscripted as an official war photographer

1942

The Beveridge Report recommends government provide care for all 'from the cradle to the grave'

Humphrey Jenning's directs the film Listen to Britain

1943

Around one third of the population is engaged on war work, significant numbers of women begin to enter the workforce

William Coldstream appointed official war artist

William Coldstream
Havildar Ajmer Singh 1943
© Estate of the Artist
large image and caption

1944

Rab Butler's Education Act gives structured free education for all children up to the age of 15 and lifts ban on women teachers marrying

South Wales miners strike

Edith Tudor Hart's photographs of Swansea Valley are published in Picture Post

1945

Germany surrenders, Victory in Europe day

Labour landslide election victory

Substantial flow of immigrants from Ireland

George Orwell's Animal Farm published

AIA organise Art and the Industrial Revolution exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London

1946

National Insurance Act creates the structure for the Welfare State, it becomes effective from 1948

Arts Council of Great Britain established

1947

India and Pakistan gain Independence from Britain

1948

British Nationality Act encourages Commonwealth subjects to come to Britain to work

Empire Windrush docks at Tilbury with first migrants from the Caribbean

1949

Royal Commission on Population Report suggests that immigrants should be welcomed if subjects are of 'good stock'

Nigel Henderson begins photographing Bethnal Green

William Coldstream appointed Professor at the Slade School of Art, he invites artist Lucian Freud to join the faculty