This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 26 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
May 25, 1940
Page
4
Gertrude Eleanor Lyng died on the 22nd of May at South Yarra Victoria beloved wife of Jena Sorensen Lyng and mother of Sylvia Niels Marius and Norman.
Sydney reports a strong start to the NSW recruiting drive with 1074 volunteers enlisted the day prior. The 7th Division quota stands at 11000, with over 4000 already in camp as officers prepare agents in small centres to spread enlistment details.
Respondents to the canberra recruitment spree completed forms at the Drill Hall and were sent to the medical officer for preliminary examinations. The staff will be available 10 a.m. to 12 30 p m today to assist callers from outlying districts. Captain Warren McDonald urged tradesmen to enlist and join the Engineers, with openings for bricklayers carpenters plumbers and cement workers.
In Melbourne Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, the British High Commissioner to Australia, says Britain will never be the same after the war and outlines postwar economic strains. He cites a wartime figure of 7.3 million pounds and warns that public finances and the elite school system face hardship as tuition may rise.
Commonwealth Savings Bank of Australia Canberra forecast notes a cold frosty night, clearing to a cloudy unsettled spell with weekend showers. Astronomical data details sunrise and sunset times for May 25 and 26, plus positions of Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn and the Moon.
Melbourne reports Mr. Menzies says all public and private industry would be mobilised to contribute to the war effort. Far reaching plans to use national resources and private industrial groups are being prepared and government methods are expected to be announced soon.
The RAF bombs German lines in key railway hubs Aachen Namur and Dinant to slow the advance. Australian air force recruits rise with 602 accepted last week, and raids disrupt German supply routes as the front shifts toward Northern France and Belgium.
Blair Athol Coal and Timber miners and surface staff vote to work a full shift and donate full wages to the national war effort. Workers also pledge to donate their share of production profits to the same cause for the duration of the effort.
The British Government has wide emergency powers, and the Navy Minister Mr Cameron suggests Australia may need a similar war footing. He warns that workshops munition plants and primary production could face controls as sweeping as those on armed forces, with unknown future needs.
The Naval Commentator argues Germany cannot invade Britain without sea command. He cites Trafalgar and Napoleon to show sea control is essential, notes Britain’s air defenses and population mobilization, and laments German transport limits and naval weakness in sea voyages from Norway and the Channel Ports.
Members clash over extending sessions during wartime with calls for continuous siting and limited recess. Supporters urge urgent business handling and regular sittings, while opponents warn against indefinite closure and demand executive accountability. Vote passes 52 to 21 with several Labour members siding with the Government.
A reflective piece on Empire Day amid wartime, arguing Britain's strength rests on resolve and resources rather than sword power. It contrasts past and present warfare, notes cavalry shifts to mobility, and stresses final defeat hinges on Allied reserves, unity, and peace after victory.
The Minister for Supply Sir Frederick Stewart announced an amendment to the National Security regulations granting power to train sufficient numbers for producing war materiel. The scheme covers all technical training via State technical schools including Air Force and Army courses and potential civilian training in government workshops. Immediate needs were noted for tradesmen fitters and tool makers by the Victorian Hallways Department for Bristol Beaufort aircraft manufacture.
Victorian Chamber of Manufacturers secretary Mr. P. C. Oak says hundreds of factories across Australia offered wartime production at bedrock prices but the Commonwealth Government did not recognise their offers. He claims delays in defence contracts and a lack of orders have left industry idle since the war began.
Analysis notes open warfare confined to a small triangle between Boulogne Arras and Ostend as German forces push toward the Channel ports. British French and Belgian troops may face retreat or forced withdrawal while Germany concentrates reinforcements west of Arras and Amiens. The piece also reports passage of the Emergency Powers Act granting the government expanded wartime authority to mobilize the nation.
His Excellency the Governor General Lord Gowrie has received advice from London that the Honours List, normally published on the King’s Birthday, will be postponed for a few weeks due to changes in the Administration. The announcement notes the delay in observance and the possible rescheduling of the honours publication.
Prime Minister Fra ser announced in Wellington that Parliament would be convened next Thursday to debate sweeping emergency measures. The plan would compel citizens to place property and services at the country's disposal, with debate noting Britain’s Defence Act as a model. The government has already received interest free loans totaling about £2,000,000.
The Minister for the Interior announces Mephan Ferguson Pty. Ltd. won the tender at £83,677 to supply and lay about 3 miles of 24 inch steel water pipe forming the rising main between Cotter and Mt Stromlo Canberra.
Commonwealth Industrial Inspector Mr Blakely reports grave breaches of industrial awards by the Duntroon Military College contractor. Minister Mr Hughes tells the House of Representatives that the contractor, who undercut rivals by £5,000, risks losing credibility as allegations of breaches are tested.
The Canberra weather report lists barometer readings of 30.37 inches at 9 p.m. and 30.19 at 1 p.m. Temperature reached 57 degrees by 9 a.m. with 56 degrees by 3 p.m. Winds were from the north at 3 p.m. and maximum wind speeds observed at the Canberra aerodrome over the last 24 hours are noted.
Prime Minister Mackenzie King said Canada stood ready to mobilise industry to full capacity to aid the Allies. He noted he had offered to forward to the United Kingdom all planes of a certain type available in Canada and that other similar steps had been taken.
The Chamber of Deputies extended the government’s power to legislate by decree on November 30 with M. Daladier as premier. The Bill grants unlimited plenary authority for the war period, passed by a large majority as part of Allied efforts against the Nazi regime.
The Royal Air Force reports a record rush of applicants with over 84 000 applications received. Weekly figures rose to 469 air crew and 2 800 airmen, up from 400 and 1 600 respectively, totaling 14 440 air crew and 70 000 airmen applicants. Commpatige on pe firuree.
In Washington, Treasury Secretary Morgenthau announced the government will reallocate selected engine types to mass produce aircraft. President Roosevelt discusses industrial cooperation with the Business Advisory Council. Congress may authorize funds for planes, ships, armour, and modernization, while Jesse Jones seeks support for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to aid private firms securing strategic foreign materials.
A cryptic item notes George White from Ontario involved in a Nazi radio activity report. The fragment references Ottawa and American radio use, hinting at wartime information circulation and cross border links.
Dispatch notes a church service organized to support affected parishioners and families amid a regional crisis. Officials from the governor’s office and local authorities coordinated aid efforts and urged community resilience tomorrow afternoon at Paul’s Church.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.