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Introduction

London’s transport played an extraordinary part in both world wars. Find out more about the efforts of staff at home and overseas.

Stories

Vernon Robertson was a senior engineer in the transport sector whose career was punctuated by war. Learn how he served as London Transport’s most senior engineer, overseeing the company’s engineering activities during the Blitz.

B/W print; Portrait of London Transport Chief Engineer V A M Robertson by Wykeham Studios, 1938

During the Second World War Britain formed the Home Guard, a secondary defence force in support of the Army. Learn how around 1.5 million men volunteered to serve part-time, often alongside their civilian role.

B/W print; A team of seven men of 21 Platoon by Topical Press, 17 Apr 1941

During the First World War, around 18,000 women took on roles in London’s transport companies, helping keep the city moving. Read about Ellen Bulfield, one of the very first female conductors to join the LGOC.

B/W print; Group shot of LGOC women conductors taken at Hackney bus garage, circa 1916

After opening in 1907, Down Street was a little-known Underground station on today’s Piccadilly line. Read how Down Street was discretely repurposed for an essential and secretive wartime use.

B/W print; Down Street Underground station, 1939 - 1940

During both world wars, Britain had to re-purpose much of its industry to the manufacture of weapons, munitions and other vital materials. Read how London Transport adapted its manufacturing capacity for the war effort
during the Second World War.

B/W print; building a Halifax bomber, White City, 1942 - 1945

London bus driver Charles Lee was one of the first drivers to serve in the First World War along with his bus. Read his story and how London buses were requisitioned for wartime use overseas.

B/W print; Charles Lee, LGOC bus driver, 1910

As the Second World War became increasingly likely, Britain began to prepare for devastating bombing raids. A key part of this was an evacuation scheme. Read how London Transport was tasked with quickly moving people to the countryside or for onward travel.

B/W print; East End children being evacuated at the start of the Second World War, Topical Press, 1939

During the Second World War, Plessey defence electronics company built a secret factory in newly constructed Underground tunnels at the eastern end of the Central line. Read more about the factory within the Central line tunnels.

B/W print; Plessey underground factory, by Plessey Photographic, 1942

With London suffering major air raids during the Second World War, the London Underground became a natural source of shelter. Read how deep-level Tube stations sheltered thousands every night during the intensive bombing of the Blitz.

B/W print; ARP room at Clapham South deep level shelter, by Planet News, 1944

James Woodards, known as Jim, was a 28-year old bus driver with the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) when the First World War broke out in August 1914. Read his story here.

B/W print; Jim Woodards portrait in ornamental frame, 1912-1915

In the years leading up to the First World War, posters were used as a vital tool to promote the network. But as soon as the war broke out in 1914, Underground posters were also rapidly produced to publicise the war effort. View ten Underground posters from the First World War.

Poster; The only road for an Englishman, by Gerald Spencer Pryse, 1914

At the time of the Second World War, London Transport (LT) had a reputation as a commissioner of high-quality posters. Learn how the outbreak of war in 1939 changed how posters were produced to support the war effort.

Poster; Back room boy - they also serve - cable maintenance, by Fred Taylor, 1942

Discover David Langdon's Billy Brown of London Town - a smartly dressed cartoon character who showed people how to behave and stay safe when travelling around the city during the Second World War.

Illustration of Billy Brown poster

In both world wars, the London Underground network provided much needed shelter from the horrors of air raids. Read about sheltering during wartime and how thousands of Londoners found shelter in Tube stations.

Londoners sheltering on the Aldwych station platform and on the tube lines during an air raid in 1940

At the heart of one of the world’s great cities, London’s transport performed a vital role in both world wars. Here we explore ten ways in which London’s transport contributed to the British war effort.

Black and White photography of two R.T. buses in the Victory Parade. The Royal family can be seen waving to them.

In both world wars, women actively and readily filled the gap created in London’s transport services when men joined the forces in large numbers. Read all about the variety of roles women undertook during the two world wars.

Black and white photograph from 1942 of 12 women lined up in their bus and trolleybus conductors uniform

The end of each of the two world wars was met with a complex mix of emotions across Britain. London’s transport companies remembered lost friends and colleagues, commemorated their wartime contribution and got on with the business of moving people around the city.

Armistice Day parade, featuring London bus ‘Ole Bill’, moves through Ludgate Circus. Soldiers carrying flags can be seen marching in the foreground with crowds of spectators lining the streets

In both the First and Second World Wars, London was at the heart of two huge war efforts. The city needed a functioning transport network, yet this had to be achieved with fewer vehicles, an altered workforce and with bombs raining from the sky.

A group of schoolgirls queuing to get on a bus ready to be evacuated in World War 2.

Like all countries involved during wartime, Britain had to mobilise people and material very quickly for the fighting fronts. London’s transport played a major part in this process in both world wars. Read all about the preparations needed in going to war.

A T type coach converted into an ambulance. A patient is being carried on a stretcher into the back of the bus. A group of doctors and nurses are standing nearby watching the patient being moved.

Learn how competition fostered further developments in the story of London buses between the wars, 1918 – 1939.

Postcard; issued by Coaching and Goods Transport Ltd, 1922-24

Other stories

From the logo to the map and posters to moquette, London’s transport design is known across the world. Discover the stories behind them here.

Examples of iconic London Transport design

Stories about the marvels of engineering that have kept Londoners moving - from buses and trains to escalators and ticket machines.

A model showing workers building the first Underground tunnels

Read about all of London's modes of transport from riverboats in the 1800s to Tube trains, buses, bicycles and even cable cars of today

A row of three buses with one from the 1800s and two from the 1900s

Discover the fascinating stories of the people behind London’s transport – including directors, drivers, canteen workers, architects and designers.

Black and white photo of a group of women stood in front of an early motor bus