Islington Museum is pleased to present the photographic exhibition, We’ll Meet Again: Islington on the Home Front in Photographs (1939-45).
This exhibition shares a series of captivating images of the people and places in Islington and Finsbury during the Second World War; shedding light on the hardships endured and perseverance demonstrated by those that lived through this historic time.
As a taster, we’ve collated some images from We’ll Meet Again in a downloadable PDF.
Evacuation: Children from North London Islington Nursery play outside in Essex. 
Shelters: Islington residents display ‘Blitz spirit’ in an air-raid shelter. 
Bomb damage: Remains of St Mary’s Church, Upper Street, Islington, after an attack on 9 September 1940. 
Home Front: Locals gather at the Finsbury Food Office Mobile Unit in 1942. 
VE-Day celebrations: Residents of Seward Street, Finsbury, enjoying a street party to celebrate Victory In Europe Day, May 1945.
Islington Museum is delighted to present the photographic exhibition, We’ll Meet Again: Islington on the Home Front in Photographs (1939-45)… Read more.
Like many parts of inner London, Finsbury suffered badly from bombings during the Blitz (1940-41) and, again later, as part of the V1 and V2 rocket attacks on the capital from the summer of 1944 onwards… Read more.
Throughout the Second World War, many of Islington’s children were evacuated to country towns. Evacuations began on 1 September 1939, however, many of the early evacuees had returned to city within a few months… Read more.
Preparations for air bombardment began prior to the Second World War, with the British government providing air-raid shelters to families for free or for a small fee, depending on their income. Over the course of the war, shelters would take a number of forms and provide security for the people of Islington and Finsbury… Read more.
“After days of suspense the news was announced that on Monday afternoon [7 May 1945] the German Government had capitulated. War in Europe was over.” 75 years after this momentous occasion, the nation is together in its commemoration of VE-Day. Here, we pay tribute to all who bravely endured life in Islington and Finsbury… Read more.
The Second World War turned the home front into the battlefront. On 7 September 1940, Dornier and Heinkel bombers, escorted by Messerschmidt fighter planes, began bombarding London. Islington and Finsbury would come under fire … Read more.
As part of war preparations, volunteers were trained in civil defence duties to warn or respond to attacks. Many civilians became Air Raid Wardens, Home Guard members, firefighters, first-aiders and ambulance drivers, who would provide invaluable assistance to their community once war began… Read more.
The people of Britain endured the Second World War in an overwhelmingly stoical manner. The response to war on the home front was one of practicality, where people changed much of their lives to adapt to a new era… Read more.
On Friday 9th August 1940 the Mayor of Islington, Alderman Douglas McArthur Jackson, launched the Borough of Islington Spitfire Club in the local press: “I propose to launch the Borough of Islington Spitfire Club and I want £5000 for the first Spitfire. I am confident that Islington will respond”… Read more.
Whilst the people of Britain had to adapt to new ways of living in the Second World War, there were many aspects of their lives that ‘carried on’… Read more.
The captured Messerschmitt Bf 110, went on display outside Finsbury Town Hall in August 1940 as part of a ‘Victory Tour’ during the Battle of Britain. The Messerschmitt would go on to become the most photographed Luftwaffe plane of WW2… Read more.
Islington Museum volunteer Johnny talks of his experience researching life in Islington during the Second World War as part of the We’ll Meet Again exhibition … Read more.
Tuesday 8 May 1945 was designated Victory in Europe Day to commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe. The people of Britain celebrated by coming together to host street parties to mark this momentous occasion… Read more.
Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marks the day, Wednesday 15 August 1945, Japan publicly announced its surrender. This act, in effect, ended the Second World War. Millions of people across the world celebrated the Allied victory over Japan in August and September 1945, including Londoners and the residents of Islington and Finsbury. It was peace at last!… Read more.
All images courtesy of Islington Local History Centre, unless otherwise attributed.
Friends of Islington Museum 