Thomas Wheeler

World War II – The British Home Front

In this essay, I will be finding out in what ways were the lives of people at home
affected by World War II. I will use the sources from the essay booklet to help me
write an account of evacuation, rationing, the Home Guard, and the air-raids. I will
then evaluate each source in order to find out its reliability, accuracy and usefulness,
as well as where the source originated from.

Section One: Evacuation

Evacuation means to move someone from a dangerous place to a safer location.

During the Second World War, children, and in Scotland, mothers, were removed
from major cities and other targets to safer places in the countryside where there
was a lot less risk of being bombed because there would be no major cities or
military facilities nearby.

Two months before the war, in July 1939, the Lord Privy Seal’s Office issued Public
Information Leaflet No.3. The leaflet, source A1, was created and sent out in order to
persuade people that evacuation was the right choice. They wanted this because
they wanted to keep the children safe, but also because they didn’t want the German
bombers to create panic or to cripple their civil life. The source is reliable as the Lord
Privy Seal’s Office issued it, which was a part of the Government that focused on
telling the people what the Government wanted them to do. As the leaflet was issued
in July 1939, the source is primary. As the Government had its people’s safety at
heart, we have an insight into what their reasons were. It also shows us that the
Government made plans for evacuation before the outbreak of war. It is a reliable
source, and source A4 shows us the results of the bombing.

Source A4 is useful as it shows the total damage caused from the German bombers
during the Blitz. The source shows us that the Government was right and Great
Britain would be bombed. They were also right in the fact that the countryside would
be safer than the cities and industrial sites. The source is useful shows us the areas
that suffered from major air raids during the 1940-41 and the amount of damage
made. These results back up what was said in the Public Information Leaflet from
the Government. However, we don’t know how reliable the source since it does not
state where the source is originally from. We can assume the source is secondary.
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Source A2 shows us that there were 5211 evacuees, who were equal to a
disappointing 40% of the population, in 1939 for Clydebank. It was believed,
however, that many parents had made private arrangements, and they weren’t
included in the figures, meaning they have a good chance of being wrong, although
not intentionally. The source is reliable as it doesn’t give opinions - the Clydebank
Press would have no reason to lie.

Source A3 shows us a reason why the figures in source A2 might be so low. It tells
us that, although many air raid sirens sounded immediately after Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain announced that Britain and Germany were at war, no German
bombers came, despite the many warnings and safety measures, like evacuation.
Although the Government correctly assumed and prepared for air raids, they were
very wrong about when they would come. This period, between September 1939 and
mid 1940, was known as the “Phoney War”. By January 1940, nearly 1 million of the
1.5 million mothers and children had returned home. This source is reliable because
it shows no opinion. It is a secondary source (from a 1985 textbook), meaning the
figures are more likely to be accurate.

Source A5 is a child’s account of their evacuation. They mention that Birmingham

was a popular target for bombers and that, in September 1940 (at the age of 9), they
were evacuated. Hundreds more children assembled at Tyseley Station, each
carrying luggage with a label, showing their name and home address, attached to
their clothing. This is useful information about how evacuations were carried out.
They say that they were sent to Treorchy, but then went to Park Hall, Cwmparc. Their
new family were very welcoming, inviting them to call them aunty and uncle, giving
them their favourite tinned fruit, a luxury at the time. However, they could not
understand their new family, and vice-versa, creating problems. The source is useful
as it tells us what the typical evacuation process consisted of, and one of the places
that the children were sent to. However, the source is from a wartime evacuee,
meaning there are some opinions included, and so it cannot be considered
completely reliable.

The same can be said for source A6, another account from a wartime evacuee,
called Mrs. B. Preedy. It is useful as it shows a different account of evacuation,
where not everyone was happy. Mrs. B. Preedy was separated from her close
friends and instead billeted into a house with a girl that she didn’t get on with. They
had been taken in by a middle-aged, childless, couple, who regarded the children as
domestic help. It was very cold there and dark there, as very low-powered bulbs
were used. Only after she fell down the stairs one night they were allowed a dim light
on the stairs.
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Evacuation meant social classes mixed - children from poor inner city families could
stay with middle class families, and vice-versa, meaning many people experienced a
different lifestyle to what they were used to. Many were horrified at the health of
evacuees from inner cities, meaning previously unappreciated problems became
better known and dealt with after the war.

Section Two: Rationing

Rationing was the act of sharing the nation’s food supply so that the richer and
poorer people could have the same amount of food. Otherwise, the rich people
would stockpile the food while the poor people starved. Each person had a small
ration book full of ration coupons. They had to set up a ‘membership’ with their local
shopkeeper so that they could exchange their tokens for food, although they still had
to pay. Rationing was introduced as the Government wanted a good deal of their
supplies, like petrol, to go towards the soldiers and their war effort. It was also
because Britain wanted to become more economically independent, and the supplies
being shipped in from abroad were being sunk by German submarines. Everyone
was affected by the rationing as everyone had to share what they had, although
certain groups in the community received more supplies than others, for example;
invalids, pregnant women and young children.

Source B1 tells us why rationing was used and how it was important. The source
backs up other sources that we have and, considering it gives us many facts, no
opinions, and is written in a certain style that suggests it is secondary and from a
textbook, we can assume that the source is accurate and reliable.

B3 doesn’t give us much information, but it is useful as it describes a weekly ration.

For the same reasons as B1, we can assume B3 is reliable. Source B2 expands on
this by telling us about how the ration book was used to receive their weekly ration.
The source is useful as it describes in some detail how you used your ration book to
receive your weekly rations. The source is primary and reliable as there are no
opinions.

The next few sources are useful as they show that not only food was rationed.
Source B4 is a visual source. The source is useful as it shows a petrol coupon, so
the petrol amount allocated was fair. It is a primary source and is reliable.
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Source B5 shows us a list of different types of clothing available, recommended by a

1941 article for women in the Picture Post Magazine. However, the
recommendations are for purchasing all the different types of clothing you’ll need in
the year, but using only the amount of coupons that you have available for clothing,
which was 66 coupons. The source is primary, and, as it was an article to help
women use their coupons wisely, it would make sense to consider this reliable.
However, as the war went on, different materials would rise and fall in the amount
available to the public, the amount of coupons for purchasing certain clothing might
change during the war, resulting in the article becoming less reliable as time went on.
The source is useful as it shows us that the public were unified in trying to share the
things they had, making things fair for everyone.

Source B8, however, shows us that some people undermined this fairness. It tells us
that people still wanted to make money out of the situation. These people were
called “Profiteers”, and worked to make a black-market in items that were in short
supply. There is no reference as to where the source originates from, but it seems
reliable and the information given to us is useful as it shows us that not everyone
was willing to share and be “equal” to everyone else.

Source B6 shows us the advice given from the Board of Trade in support of the
“Make Do and Mend” campaign. They tell us how different materials, most from
men’s clothes, can be re-used for clothes. The source is primary and reliable as it
doesn’t give opinion. The source is useful as it shows us how many families coped
with the lack of clothing they had, and how they didn’t waste materials.

Source B7 is a statement given by the President of the Board of Trade, in July 1942.
He says that it is important for them to have the most production from limited
resources by keeping costs to a minimum. This shows us that the Board of Trade
were involved in trying to save on resources. The source can also be considered
reliable as there is no evidence of incorrect information.

Rationing was very tough, but it forced healthy eating as it was the only option,
because foods that were rationed were foods that were less healthy. Consumption of
potatoes rose by 40%, vegetables 30%, and milk 30%. This showed that government
had a role to fulfil, being seen to have a moral duty to ensure the well-being of the
nation.
Thomas Wheeler

Section Three: The Home Guard

On 14th May, 1940, the Government broadcast a message asking for volunteers for
the L.D.V. Most men who could fight were already in the forces, those that were left
were either too young, too old, or in reserved occupations (vital to the war effort).
The government was expecting 150,000 men to volunteer for the Home Guard, but
by the end of June, 1940, the total number of volunteers was over one million. The
Home Guard was formed with the intention of delaying an enemy invasion force for
as long as possible and to give the Government and the regular army time to form a
front line from which the enemy invasion could be repelled. When they were first
formed, the Home Guard were expected to fight highly trained, well armed, German
troops.

Source C1 is from the Home Guard Handbook, in 1940, called The Last Word. It is
useful as it gives us the information on what L.D.V. would have to learn and what
their duties included. It was also recommended that everything on the page be learnt
by heart. The source is primary. It is reliable as it doesn’t give any opinions and it is
an official document.

Source C2 is a Home Guard recruiting poster. It shows a silhouette of a man,

standing behind a man geared up in the army gear, representing the Home Guard.
The poster has the slogan “Snap into it”, referring to the ordinary man becoming a
fully-armed and prepared soldier, and tells all interested men, between 18 and 19½,
to apply at any Army Recruiting Centre. Source C3 is a part of a speech by Winston
Churchill in 1940. He says that, due to the efforts, determination, and defence of the
Home Guard, an attack on Britain would not succeed. Both sources are primary, and
both are useful as they tell us how determined and strong they were. However, the
sources can’t be considered too reliable as both sources are a form of propaganda.
In truth, we know that many L.D.V. were not very well equipped or trained.. Also,
most L.D.V. were men too old to fight in the regular army.

Source C4 and C5 are both photographs of L.D.V. from the Home Guard. Source C4
shows a group of L.D.V. learning how to use a stern gun. They are crowded around a
public area. The second photo, source C5, shows two L.D.V. marching in a parade.
The sources are primary, as they are both photos. We can safely assume that both
photographs are reliable. The sources show the opposite of the image of the L.D.V.
that sources C2 and C3 attempted to portray. The sources are useful as they show
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that the L.D.V. were made up of older men, and that there weren’t any bases for the
Home Guard.

Sources C6, C7 and C8 are all from a member of the Home Guard called James
Frewin. He gives an insight into how the Home Guard was organised, how many
members there were with him, how many would usually be able to attend the weekly
events, like the parades, and what their duties, activities and training would consist
of, as well as where they would practise them. The three sources are reliable, as
James seems to give an honest evaluation of the Home Guard. The three sources
are also very useful as they give us a lot of information that we most probably would
not have learnt from many other sources, as James gave an insider’s account and
view.

The Home Guard gave a tremendous amount of hope to the people of Britain, as the
Home Guard were seen to be doing a great job at stopping any German invasions
starting. Also, many of the men who were too old, especially men who had served in
the first World War, or had disabilities that prevented them from entering the army,
now felt that they were needed in order to successfully protect Britain. As the men in
the Home Guard all had different jobs during the day, it also brought people together
that would never otherwise mix.

Section Four: Air Raids

In September 1940, the Germans started to bomb Britain's cities instead of RAF air
bases hoping that the British would panic and surrender. As soon as the aircraft were
spotted in the night sky, air raid sirens sounded to warn everyone that an air raid was
coming. Each street had an Air Raid Warden, their job being to send for the
emergency services, and to check for casualties or unexploded bombs. Some
families would run down to a communal brick or concrete shelter in their street.
Others sheltered from the bombs at home in their cellars or underneath a table or the
stairs. Families with Anderson shelters in their gardens could hide in there. In
London they could shelter in the underground railway stations. These stations were
not completely safe however.

Source D1 is an extract from the Clydebank Town Council Minutes, from 1937. It
shows that the Council members had been doing their best to protect Clydebank
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from air raids as much as two years before World War II. The source is reliable
because it is from the minute-taker at the meeting, also meaning the source is
primary.

Source D2 is an extract from the Public Leaflet No.1 in July 1939. The extract warns
that all openings that would show a light, like windows, skylights and glazed doors,
would have to be screened during wartime, with dark blinds or brown paper on the
glass, so that no light is visible from outside. In addition, no street lighting would be
allowed and instructions would be issued about the dimming of lights on vehicles. As
with source A1, the source is reliable as the Lord Privy Seal’s Office issued it. It is
useful as it shows us that Government were making preparations for the public’s
safety during wartime. The source is primary.

Source D3 is an extract from an autobiography called “Lime Street at Two”, written

by Helen Forrester in 1985. The extract tells of one incident where the Society that
she worked for was fined seven shillings. The fine occurred because Helen once
forgot to switch off the cloakroom light before leaving the office, and so the light
shone out, meaning an outraged warden reported it. The seven shillings were
deducted from Helen’s wages at the rate of one shilling a week for nearly two
months. The source is primary and reliable. The source is useful as it gives us an
insight into the consequences and punishment of not following the rules given in
source D2.

Source D8 is a letter written by a person called “Doll”, dated September 10th, 1940.
She speaks about how the last three nights have been hell, as she’s been bombed
every night, had no more than two or three hours of sleep each night. She says of
how the hospitals are packed with injured people, but the firemen, A.R.P. and
ambulance drivers are beyond praise. Finally, she mentions how the damage all
along the river has been very great and, and how the Hyde Park guns make a
terrible noise. The source is primary. However, the reliability and usefulness of the
source is in question. The source is filled mostly with opinion, and nothing is written
to back-up if what Doll is saying is true or not. However, the part mentioning that air
raids took place between around 8:30pm and 5:30am seems to compliment other
sources.

Source D4 is from the Scottish Daily Record, dated 1941. The article says that an
“award goes to a Woolich A.R.P. warden, Frederick Charles Parker, who put out
lights during a raid, risking dangers of falling bombs. He also rescued trapped people
and rendered first aid. The source is primary. It is useful as it tells us about how lights
Thomas Wheeler

were sometimes switched on due to the German bombs, also giving us an insight
into the morale-raising techniques used during the war, by giving out awards to
people that perform honourable deeds. However, we can’t be sure how reliable the
source is, as newspapers, being a form of propaganda, can add a bit of “flavour” to
an article to “jazz it up” for the viewers.

Source D5 is an extract from a short story called “William and the Air-raid
Precautions”, published in 1939 by Richmal Crompton. In the extract, it says that
William is thrilled and impressed by the local blackout, wanting to be up in the air
shooting down aeroplanes. The source is primary. However, as it is a fictional story, I
believe it has no usefulness to historians and it is not reliable.

Source D6 is from the Shelter Census, taken in 1940. It gives us the percentage of
people hiding in different places during air raids. The source is primary, and useful as
statistics. However, only 40% of the population are accounted for. The source is
reliable.

Source D7 is a visual source as it is a picture of two people, both wearing gas

masks, moving towards an Anderson Shelter. It seems that the picture is an artist’s
impression, and not an actual photo, so the source is secondary. In addition, it gives
no reference to the origin of the source. The source’s only usefulness is in showing
us that people used Anderson Shelters during the air-raids. For that use alone, the
source is reliable, but beyond that, it is not.

Due to air raids, the people of Britain became disorganised, and everyone was in
constant fear of another raid. However, as many public places were used as shelter,
the air-raids also brought people together that would never mix together.