A woman and children in an Underground tunnel during the bombing of London in WW2
At 11.15am Sunday, 3 September 1939, the threatened war with Germany became reality. Family life was about to change and the British housewife faced many challenges. Eileen Rennison remembers sitting by the wireless with her family in stunned silence, as Chamberlain declared, ‘This country is at war with Germany’. Although recognising the solemnity, Eileen didn’t fully understand the implications on family life and the necessity for housewives to adapt to new demands on them. Behind the scenes preparations for the threat of invasion had been progressing for years. Housewives stoically rose to the challenge and as war was declared the majority were ready, with fully stocked larders, blackouts in place and a safe shelter area prepared for expected air raid attacks on mainland Britain. Many preparations resulted from Public Information leaflets, distributed to households by the Lord Privy Seal’s Office during July 1939. These leaflets, a single sheet of paper folded double, were packed with useful information and helpful hints. The first, ‘Some things you should know if war should come’, was quickly followed by information on masking windows, evacuation, food rationing and fire precautions.
Air raid shelters
Fully aware of potential aerial bombardment, particularly in areas of strategic importance, preparations to provide cover for every household had begun the previous year. Council workmen had distributed Anderson Shelters, a shell-like hut of corrugated steel, to all householders to erect themselves or with help from the unemployed. Those earning under £5 per week were given free shelters, while the wealthier could purchase one for £7. By the outbreak of war over 1.5 million had been erected in gardens across the country. The shelter consisted of two pieces of curved steel providing a roof and two walls, and two flat pieces, one with a door, which made up the remaining walls. When erected it was 6ft high, 4ft wide and 6.5ft long, standing in a pit approximately 4ft deep, with householders advised to heap approximately 15 inches of earth on top for further protection. The shelters accommodated up to six people but were cramped, uncomfortable and damp. Although unlikely to survive a direct hit, the shelters undoubtedly saved many lives, remaining intact when neighbouring houses were bombed.