Doodlebugs, Gas Masks & Gum Children's Voices from the Second World War

by Rex, Christina

• ISBN13: 9781848680852
• ISBN10: 1848680856
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-11-15
• Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Summary

Throughout six years of conflict, beginning 3rd September 1939, military manoeuvres, bombs and exhortations to greater dedication to the War Effort became the normality for children. For the young, this was a time of great excitement. Imagine the thrill of Anderson Shelters built in back gardens, concrete blocks and barbed-wire sprouting on beaches, soldiers and tanks in the streets, the Battle of Britain and those spectacular dogfights, the Blitz and masses of shrapnel to collect, searchlights lighting up the night sky, American servicemen appearing and their inexhaustible supplies of chewing gum!

Author Biography

Christina Rex grew up during the Second World War. She lives in Ely. Her son, Professor Richard Rex, is Director of Studies in History at Queens' College, Cambridge.

Table of Contents

About the Author	p. 6
Introduction	p. 7
Declaration and Preparation	p. 9
Evacuation I, Hesitation and Conflagration	p. 18
The Battle of Britain and the Blitz	p. 25
Evacuation II	p. 35
Adaptation	p. 42
Privation	p. 50
Occasions and Celebrations	p. 59
Food -- But Hardly Glorious!	p. 66
Education	p. 102
Toys and Entertainment	p. 112
Health and Medical Care	p. 123
A Hedgehog Called Doodlebug and Other Snippets of Daily Life in Wartime	p. 134
Fear and Loss	p. 144
D-Day, Doodlebugs and the Demi-Diaspora	p. 153
Victory, Defeat and Homecoming	p. 166
Aftermath	p. 180
Epilogue	p. 185
List of Illustrations	p. 187
Recommended Further Reading	p. 191
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.