The Prime Minister addresses the nation
By Francis Beckett This is the full text of the radio address to the nation given today, 30 December, 1940, by the Prime Minister, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, First Earl of Halifax . Good evening. I am addressing you today from a secret location. I do not need to tell the brave men and women of London why this should be the case. They know, all too well, why the location of their Prime Minister cannot be revealed. For yesterday, in one terrible night, more destruction was wreaked upon London than our capital has ever known since the Great Fire, three hundred years ago. The bombs of the Luftwaffe were concentrated in the square mile of the City of London. Most of Sir Christopher Wren’s fine churches were destroyed, though swift and courageous action by air raid wardens saved St Pauls itself. Since the start of the Blitz in September, 13,000 civilians have lost their lives. And now I will tell you something that has been kept secret until now. Before t...