Adolph Hitler was staying at Berchestgarten while the Berlin Chancery was being repaired; Mr Chamberlain was in Paris to discuss defence following the German annexation of the Sudetenland in October; German Jews were being persecuted, put in Concentration Camps and driven from the country; the Prince Regent of Yugoslavia was visiting London; Japanese aircraft were bombing Yenen in China.

At home, you could buy a new Rolls Royce Phantom II for £2,955, or a 1939 Model Bentley 4.25 litre Sedonia Coupe (with overdrive, patent sliding extension (?), heater, two spare wheels, suitcases and carriage lamps - all for £1,950. The Queen Mary was preparing to sail from Southampton to New York via Cherbourg. If you had 100 guineas to spare you could embark on a (First Class only), 16,000 miles, 52 day cruise on the 20,000 ton Cunard Liner "Laconia".  For the less well-off Cooks Tours could do you a ten-day all-inclusive winter Sports Holiday for £10.2.6.

Incidentally, on the same day, I was born in the townland of Drumbally in South Armagh.  Here the tempo of life had changed little over the previous fifty years and the doings of empires and dictatorships far away seemed of small consequence set against the toil and hardship of rural existence.

Northern Ireland was the most socially and economically disadvantaged region of the United Kingdom.  At the time of my birth unemployment stood at 90,000, proportionally far more than anywhere else.  It had the highest death rate, with maternal mortality having increased in the twenties and thirties and its educational services were a generation behind those of England and Wales.  Up to one-third of the housing stock was in urgent need of replacement.

The creation of the border with the Irish Free State in 1921 had mainly cut off South Armagh's natural outlets to Dundalk, Monaghan and Castleblaney and the area formed a bottom corner pocket of Northern Ireland.  The people were hardy and independent. It was and remains, a mainly agricultural economy, attuned to the rhythm of the land and the seasons; ploughing, planting, growth and harvest.  Most farms were small, supporting large families, with little mechanisation. The principal means of transport were bicycle, trap, horse and cart, and shank's mare.  There were few cars and an infrequent bus service between Crossmaglen and Newry.