The outbreak of war brought about new attitudes and new values, a community spirit, a feeling that each should do his or her bit towards the war effort – digging for victory, saving on fuel, making do and mending. In the face of great adversities, the phrase was ‘keep smiling’.

Children began to be evacuated from the cities in August 1939 and Anderson shelters were distributed in areas likely to be bombed. Everyone had a gas mask and was encouraged to carry it at all times; those for children were given a friendlier look with the appearance of Mickey Mouse. Leaflets, booklets and posters were printed in profusion on all aspects of coping with war on the home front: black outs, air raid precautions, first aid and even how to take care of your civilian respirator (gas mask).

Every part of daily life took on the mantle of war – the cereal supplement Bemax and Mazawattee tea could be bought in gas-proof tins, ‘increase your tea ration’ claimed a new product called Teafusa, bus tickets and milk bottle tops advised ‘raw material is war material’ and ‘milk for vigour and victory’. Slogans became part of the national diet: ‘careless talk costs lives’, ‘keep mum, she’s not dumb’ and ‘coughs and sneezes spread diseases’.

The radio became the focus for family entertainment and for the latest news. The popular programme ‘The Kitchen Front’ advised housewives on ways to make the most of their ration – perhaps pea pod soup or stuffed turnips. From June 1941 clothing was rationed, and sweets too, just 3oz per head from July 1942.

As in World War I, women filled the gaps left by the men who had gone to war. They took on roles as postwomen, munitions workers, air raid wardens, conductors, as well as working for the Land Army to bring in the harvest and tend the cattle. Posters urged women to join the services – such as the WAAF, WRNS and ATS.

The cinema showed a steady stream of morale-boosting movies, and popular songs lifted spirits against a background of blitz and bombing, shortages and salvage. The German U-boat blockade restricted imports, but eventually, the Allied invasion of Europe on D-Day, 6 th June 1944, was followed by victory in May 1945. But austerity was worse after the war. Food queues were even longer and prefabricated homes proved a woefully inadequate remedy for the housing shortage.