Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(Special Edition Mid-March 2003)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
a) Life for the people of England during World
War Two.
1. Question: How old were you when World
War Two started?
Answer: World War Two started for Great Britain at eleven
o’clock on the morning of Sunday the third of September
1939, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced
that Germany had invaded Poland and England was now officially
at war with Germany. I was three months short of my fourteenth
birthday.
2. Question: How many times a month
did air raids occur?
Answer: Within a few hours of the morning that war was
declared, the air raid sirens sounded but fortunately
it was a false alarm. The first year or so of the war,
(which was called the phoney war), there were very few
air raids but many false alarms. In later years, air raids
by German bombers were a daily and nightly occurrence
and many British cities were all but obliterated with
terrible civilian casualties. Many parts of the major
cities of England were in ruins.
3. Question: What was it like during
the bombing?
Answer: There were large bomb shelters in some of the
major cities, which people used to rush to when the air
raid sirens sounded. When large bombs were dropped, whole
city blocks were destroyed and at other times clusters
of incendiary bombs rained down from the sky and in seconds
huge portions of the city was ablaze.
4. Question: What was the Blitz like?
Answer: Perhaps I should first describe what is meant
by the "Blitz". The correct word in German is
"Blitzkrieg", which means, "lightning war".
In London during some of the nightly bombing raids most
people headed for the Underground Tube stations and took
their bedding with them and slept, (if they could), on
the platforms. Like moles they did not surface until the
morning light appeared and the sirens sounded the "All
Clear".
In towns and villages, people had corrugated iron air
raid shelters, which would accommodate a family of four,
or even six at a push. These shelters were called Anderson
shelters, and were located half below ground and half
above ground and were situated in people’s back
gardens.
5. Question: Did children take gas masks
to school?
Answer: They certainly did. Everyone was issued with a
gas mask, which they carried at all times. Children were
taught when and how to put on their gas masks and how
to seek shelter in case of air raids.
6. Question: Did the lights go out at
a certain time each night?
Answer: This was known as the blackout. As dusk fell,
all streetlights were extinguished and houses had blackout
curtains, which were closed to ensure that no light was
visible to enemy aircraft. Automobile headlights were
covered by a metal, or plastic shroud, which had a small
horizontal slit, which barely gave enough light to see
to drive.
7. Question: What luxuries were sacrificed
during the war?
Answer: There were no such things as luxuries during the
five years of war, and for many years afterwards. Food,
clothing, petrol and most everyday necessities were rationed.
Coupon books were issued and in order to obtain everyday
necessities the people had to hand over coupons, (if they
had them), to purchase small quantities of food, clothing
and petrol in order for them and their families to survive.
8. Question: Were there as many women
as men taking part in the war?
Answer: I’m afraid that the whole population was
involved, men and women. The men were away from home fighting
in foreign lands and the women were busily looking after
the welfare of their families at home.
9. Question: Did many women serve in
the war?
Answer: Many women, including Princess Elizabeth, (later
to become Queen of England), were member of the ATS, (Auxiliary
Territorial Army), and served mostly as transportation
drivers. In addition there were two other women’s
military services, the WAAF, (Women’s Auxiliary
Air Force), and the WRNS, (Women’s Royal Naval Service).
Many ladies served in the Land army and worked on farms
in order to produce food, and others worked in "War
production factories", producing aircraft, tanks
and munitions.
Women’s civilian services included the Navy, Army,
Air Force, Institute, (NAAFI), and the Salvation Army,
(which was affectionately known by one and all as the
Sally Army), who provided food in service canteens and
hostel accommodation for troops of His Majesties Forces
when in transit or on leave from military duty. There
was also the Women’s Voluntary Service, (WVS), that
looked after the needs of the civilian population.
So you can see, everyone was involved one way or another
to serve their country during wartime.
Ladies, if I have left anyone out please accept my profuse
apologies.
We welcome feedback about any of the contents
of these newsletters. Please send all correspondence to
bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
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