This is a Timeline of the United Kingdom home front during World War II covering Britain 1939–45. For a narrative history and bibliography of the home front see United Kingdom home front during World War II, as well as history of Scotland § Second World War 1939–45 and history of Northern Ireland § Second World War. For the military story see military history of the United Kingdom during World War II for foreign affairs, diplomatic history of World War II. For the government see timeline of the first premiership of Winston Churchill. 193919401941 1942194319441945 1939 3 June 1939 The Military Training Act, Britain's first peacetime draft, comes into force. All men aged 20–21 are now liable to call-up for four years military service as 'Militiamen'. 24 August 1939 Given the worsening situation in Europe, Parliament is recalled and immediately enacts the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939, granting the government special legislative powers for the duration of the crisis. Army reservists are called up. Civil Defence workers are put on alert. 25 August 1939 The National Defence Companies (a voluntary reserve force of former servicemen) are mobilised to protect "vulnerable points". 30 August 1939 The Fleet proceeds to its war stations. The Royal Navy is much stronger than Germany's. It has twelve battleships versus zero for Germany; seven aircraft carriers versus zero; three battle cruisers versus five; 66 cruisers versus six; 100 destroyers versus 17, 67 submarines versus 57; and a merchant fleet five times larger. 1 September 1939 In response to the German invasion of Poland and the prospect of war with Germany, plans for the evacuation of children and nursing and expectant mothers from London and other areas deemed vulnerable to German air attack are put into action. The Blackout begins. The British Army is officially mobilized. Government initiates 'Operation Pied Piper' which would see the evacuation of over 1.5 million people from urban 'target' areas, of whom 800,000 were children. 2 September 1939 Under intense criticism from the House, Neville Chamberlain abandons an offer to negotiate peace terms between Germany and Poland and agrees to present an ultimatum to Hitler. 3 September 1939 Shortly after 11:00 Chamberlain announces to the nation that his ultimatum has expired and that Britain is at war with Germany. Twenty minutes later the first air raid sirens are sounded in London. They are a false alarm. Chamberlain reforms his Government, creating a small