.braces

gallery

As many of you will know 70 years ago today, 3rd September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany and thus started World War II. What you won't know is that at 11.25am this morning there was a commemorative ceremony held at Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton (above) to remember this anniversary and to remember one other fact. The first shots fired by the British after war had been declared were fired from Fort Perch Rock.

The Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, finished his historic broadcast declaring war at 11.10am on that fateful Sunday morning and at 11.25 am the artillery battery, stationed at the fort to protect the entrance to the River Mersey, fired two shots across the bow of a small vessel to stop it entering the river, as the shipping lanes had been closed as a precaution. These were the first shots fired by The British in World War II.