A Wartime Love: A World War Two Drama by Shiralyn J. Lee

Author:Shiralyn J. Lee [Lee, Shiralyn J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shiralyn J. Lee
Published: 2015-06-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

May 11th 1941. After a merciless 57 day-and-night campaign of bombing raids over London, and then months of sporadic attacks across the United Kingdom, attacking Portsmouth, Plymouth, Bristol, Southampton, Liverpool, Glasgow and many other key areas, Hitler called off the incessant raids and turned his attention to Russia. But in the midst of the continued attacks, Hitler had overlooked a vital mistake. Concentrating on killing the citizens of London and bombing major ports, Britain had been able to rebuild its defence system. Factories had been turned into military production lines, women were trained in men’s jobs, making homeland production invaluable. The Brits were able to amass their air-defence, ground observation, gunnery, bomber planes and Spitfires. Searchlights were better equipped to seek out enemy planes approaching, as their brilliant blue/white lights beamed on and through the clouds. Added to them was a gun pit, a spotter chair and field telephones. Even though many of these land guns hardly hit a target, their mere existence and sounds of fire were of comfort to the citizens. Civil defence grew in numbers. More volunteers did their bit in becoming Home Guards, Observer Corps, A.R.P’s. Women in the WVS set up mobile canteens, providing food and drink around the clock to A.R.P wardens and firemen, which in turn, placed them, as unsung heroes, in immediate danger. They also looked after the injured and those who had been made homeless. These women had gone from housewives, and daughters, who had helped their mothers around the house, to become women of great courage, who risked their lives every day.

Government posters were placed everywhere:

‘Save Fuel!’

‘Make do and mend!’

‘Buy savings stamps!’

‘Cough’s and Sneeze’s Spread Diseases!’

This was part of the plan to stop the country from falling on its knees—it worked. Even hemlines of skirts became shorter in order to save on material, gravy browning was used to colour bare legs and a straight line drawn down the backs of legs, to give the impression that stockings were being worn. The women had found a way to keep fashion as great as ever.

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