1940: King George VI – Let Us Go Forward as One Man | Empire Day Address

Historic Empire Day address delivered by King George VI on May 24, 1940, during one of the darkest moments of the Second World War. Broadcast from London to the British Empire and the wider world, this speech came as German forces swept across Western Europe and only days before the evacuation of Dunkirk evacuation would begin. Speaking with unusual frankness, King George VI warned that Britain and the Empire faced nothing less than a struggle for survival. The King declared that the war was not a conflict over territory alone, but a fight against a planned attempt to subjugate free nations and destroy everything for which the British Commonwealth stood. 00:00 - Historical Context and Introduction 00:25 - King George VI's Empire Day Address 02:04 - A World in Crisis 04:02 - A Dire Warning 06:28 - The Empire's True Vision and the Enemy's Deceit 08:47 - A Call for Unity and Courage 10:47 - A Call to Prayer and Unity 12:35 - A Call to Unity and Resolve Key moments featured in this broadcast: A world in crisis: • King George VI reminds listeners that only one year earlier, on Empire Day 1939, Britain had still been at peace and hopeful that war could be avoided. A clear statement of the Nazi threat: • The King warns that the enemy seeks not merely territorial gains but "the overthrow, complete and final, of this empire and everything for which it stands." The defense of freedom: • He contrasts the principles of the British Commonwealth - freedom, justice, and goodwill - with dictatorship, aggression, and brute force. A rejection of imperial conquest: • Responding to accusations of imperialism, the King insists that Britain's objective has always been peace and the improvement of life for its peoples. Tribute to the Allied nations: • He pays homage to the soldiers of Britain and its allies, including France, Poland, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands, whose countries had fallen victim to aggression. A call to courage and sacrifice: • The speech emphasizes the qualities required for victory: courage, endurance, resolution, and self-sacrifice. A national day of prayer: • King George VI announces that the following Sunday will be observed as a Day of National Prayer, asking the people of the Empire to unite in faith and seek divine guidance. The speech's immortal conclusion: • He urges the peoples of the Empire: "Let us go forward to that task as one man, with a smile on our lips and our heads held high." Historical significance: This Empire Day address was delivered at one of the most dangerous periods in British history. On May 24, 1940, the German offensive in Western Europe was nearing its climax, and the British Expeditionary Force in France faced encirclement. Within days, the dramatic evacuation at Dunkirk would begin. Battle of France King George VI's speech became one of the defining royal broadcasts of the war. Unlike many ceremonial addresses, it directly acknowledged the severity of Britain's situation while expressing unwavering confidence in eventual victory. The speech also highlighted the global nature of the British Commonwealth. Soldiers and airmen from every corner of the Empire - from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and numerous colonies and territories - were already joining the struggle against Nazi Germany. By framing the war as a moral conflict between freedom and tyranny, the King articulated themes that would become central to Allied wartime rhetoric. His appeal for unity, courage, and faith helped sustain public morale during a period when invasion of Britain itself seemed a genuine possibility. Today, "Let Us Go Forward as One Man" remains one of the most powerful speeches of King George VI's reign and an important example of royal leadership during the Second World War. This rare recording preserves the voice of a monarch speaking to an empire in peril, calling upon millions of people across the globe to stand united in defense of freedom. Subscribe for more historic radio broadcasts, rare speeches, and vintage recordings from the Golden Age of Radio. #KingGeorgeVI #EmpireDay #WorldWarII #WWIIHistory #BritishEmpire #OldTimeRadio #HistoricSpeech #GoldenAgeOfRadio