London’s Black Cabs in 1940: Wartime Continuity

Yes, London’s iconic black cabs—officially known as hackney carriages—were operating throughout 1940, even during the Blitz. The trade traces its roots to the 17th century, and despite wartime blackouts, fuel rationing, and air raids, cab drivers kept working.

Many drivers served as auxiliary firefighters or air-raid wardens between fares. The cabs themselves—mostly Austin FX3 models by then—became a familiar sight navigating blacked-out streets, their masked headlights casting narrow beams.

So if you hailed a cab in London during the Battle of Britain, a black cab would likely answer—proof that some London traditions endure even under fire.