By 1939, the Club had 806 members. The final event for the year was the Village Seeking Competition held in July, that preceded the Closing Run & Speed Judging Competition scheduled for 16 September but cancelled. In October, the AGM was held as usual, but the Annual Dinner Dance and Awards Presentation was cancelled. With the outbreak of hostilities, the Club closed down for the duration of the war, although every year at least one committee meeting and an AGM was held, at which the 1939 Officers and Committee were re-elected annually en bloc. During this period of inactivity, the founding President, Col. Sir Henry Bowles died in 1943, and in March 1946 he was succeeded by Lord Brabazon of Tara.