Saturday, 31st August 1940 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 52 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings sunny with temperatures between 8°C and 22°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Virgo. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Saturday, 31st August in London, GB.
Saturday, 31st August marks a date laden with significant historical events spanning from medieval politics to modern disasters. The day has witnessed moments that shaped nations and altered the course of history, from military engagements to acts of violence that captured global attention. London, the capital of the United Kingdom, sits on the Thames in south-east England and has served as a centre of political power, commerce and culture for nearly two thousand years. The city remains one of the world's most influential metropolitan areas, hosting government institutions, financial markets and numerous cultural institutions.
On this date in 1940, during the Second World War, two Royal Navy destroyers were lost to mines and two other vessels sustained damage off Texel in the Netherlands, resulting in approximately three hundred casualties. The conflict continued to dominate European affairs during this period, claiming lives across multiple theatres of war. Years later, in 1959, a parcel bomb sent by Ngô Đình Nhu, the younger brother and chief adviser to South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm, failed to assassinate Norodom Sihanouk, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, though the attempted attack highlighted the volatile political landscape of South-east Asia during the Cold War era.
On 31st August 1940, conditions in London were sunny, providing contrast to the darker events unfolding across occupied Europe. The moon was in its waxing gibbous phase, having not yet reached full illumination, whilst the zodiac sign for this date falls under Virgo. These astronomical and astrological markers offer context for those interested in the celestial conditions of significant historical moments.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions on any given date and location, alongside notable events, famous births and deaths. The platform allows users to explore historical occurrences and personal milestones across different times and places, making historical research accessible and straightforward.
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What the Weather Had in Store for London on 31st August 1940
A lock teaches patience more than any open door ever could.
Fortune of the Day
31st August in the Stars – Star Sign Virgo
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on August 31st blend analytical precision with artistic sensitivity. The Venus influence softens typical Virgo criticism, gifting them charm and a need for harmony. They come across as approachable and refined.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths include attention to detail, practical thinking, and social elegance. The weakness: perfectionism and self-criticism can breed self-doubt and overthinking.
Love These natives seek partners who unite intellect and emotion. Loyalty and deep connection matter greatly. They express affection subtly and favor meaningful conversation.
Caree & Finance Ideal careers harness their analytical and creative gifts: writing, design, medicine, teaching. They handle finances prudently and build wealth slowly but steadily.
Health These individuals thrive with routine and balanced nutrition. Nervous tension from perfectionism needs yoga or meditation. Regular exercise stabilizes body and mind.
That night, the moon was in its waxing gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Dragon (Metal).
Fun Facts About 31st August
Name Days in Your Language: Aden, Aidan, Aiden, Ayden, Edan, Edana, Eden, Edina, Egan, Egon
Someone born on this day in 1940 would be 85 years old today — just 31,277 days into life, which is roughly 750,655 hours, 45,039,322 minutes, or 2,702,359,323 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 244. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 122 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 35 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 31st August
- Leonid Ivashov, Russian general (1943)
- Isao Aoki, Japanese golfer (1942)
- William DeWitt, Jr., American businessman (1941)
- Emmanuel Nunes, Portuguese-French composer and educator (died 2012) (1941)
- Robbie Basho, American guitarist, pianist, and composer (died 1986) (1940)
- Wilton Felder, American saxophonist and bass player (died 2015) (1940)
- Larry Hankin, American actor, director, and producer (1940)
- Roger Newman, English-American actor and screenwriter (died 2010) (1940)
- Jack Thompson, Australian actor (1940)
- Jerry Allison, American drummer and songwriter (died 2022) (1939)
Lives Remembered on 31st August
- Thomas Bavin, New Zealand-Australian politician, 24th Premier of New South Wales (born 1874) (1941)
- Marina Tsvetaeva, Russian poet and author (born 1892) (1941)
- Georges Gauthier, Canadian archbishop (born 1871) (1940)
- DeLancey W. Gill, American painter (born 1859) (1940)
- Ruth Baldwin, British socialite (born 1905) (1937)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 31st August
- Baloch-Pakhtun Unity Day (Balochs and Pashtuns, International observance)
- Christian feast day: Aidan of Lindisfarne
- Christian feast day: Amatus of Nusco
- Christian feast day: Aristides of Athens
- Christian feast day: Cuthburh
- Christian feast day: Joseph of Arimathea
- Christian feast day: Nicodemus
- Christian feast day: Paulinus of Trier
- Christian feast day: Raymond Nonnatus
- Christian feast day: Wala of Corbie
- Christian feast day: Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria
- Christian feast day: August 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Day of Solidarity and Freedom (Poland)
- Departure Day, celebrates the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kyrgyzstan from the Soviet Union in 1991.
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Malaya from the United Kingdom in 1957.
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Trinidad and Tobago from the United Kingdom in 1962.
- Romanian Language Day (Romania, Moldova, Ukraine)
- Sabah Day (Sabah, Borneo)
What Happened on 31st August?
- USS Harmon, the first U.S. Navy ship to be named after a black person, is commissioned. (1943)
- World War II: Serbian paramilitary forces defeat Germans in the Battle of Loznica. (1941)
- Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19 crashes near Lovettsville, Virginia. The CAB investigation of the accident is the first investigation to be conducted under the Bureau of Air Commerce act of 1938. (1940)
- Nazi Germany mounts a false flag attack on the Gleiwitz radio station, creating an excuse to attack Poland the following day, thus starting World War II in Europe. (1939)
- Radio Prague, now the official international broadcasting station of the Czech Republic, goes on the air. (1936)
- In an attempt to stay out of the growing tensions concerning Germany and Japan, the United States passes the first of its Neutrality Acts. (1935)
- The Integral Nationalist Group wins the 1933 Andorran parliamentary election, the first election in Andorra held with universal male suffrage. (1933)