Second World War veterans Betty Dawson and Phyllis Hales, both 97, have made a video of their memories of the day, 80 years ago, when they heard the country was at war with Germany.
Residents of the Royal Star & Garter Home, Upper Brighton Road, they relived their recollections of the day on September 3, 1939, when Neville Chamberlain broadcast to the nation that the British deadline for the withdrawal of German troops from Poland had expired, and consequently the country “was at war with Germany”.
Phyllis, then 17, heard the news on the radio with her parents and two brothers at home in Acton. 

“I remember sirens going, and we were all a bit concerned,” she said. “We thought there was going to be an air raid. It was something new and we thought that could happen… but it didn’t.”
Betty recalls crouching in an unusual place when those sirens sounded. “I was at home in Leeds with my mother,” she said. “We had a big grandfather clock in a recess. She made me stand beside it. I don’t know why!”
A couple of years later, both took an active part in the war effort, joining the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in 1942, and serving until 1946.

For more recollections from Royal Star & Garter residents about the day war broke out visit: youtu.be/5_k0JD9hBcM