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.