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The Children's FrontHenry Buckton Some of our most vivid and poignant memories stem from our childhood. This is particularly true for people who were children in Britain during the Second World War. Their recollections are enhanced by an extraordinary succession of events and circumstances, which burned lasting imagery into their minds. They had a childhood unlike any other generation throughout history. At a time when children were in mortal danger because of daily attacks on British soil, we look at the measures taken to protect them, such as gas masks, air aid shelters and the black-out. We examine how the land, becoming an island fortress affected them, as the paraphernalia of war in the form of military installations and equipment appeared everywhere. We discuss the affects of having fathers and other members of the family away from home, serving in the armed forces. We look at the toys they played with, the games they enjoyed, how they were entertained and informed, and the clubs they could join. Some describe 'doing their bit' for the war effort, while others talk about their experiences of evacuation, ranging from feelings of happiness and security, to those of fear and abuse. And finally, we share their turbulent roller-coaster ride from horrors experienced during nightmare attacks on London and other cities, to the exuberant relief of final victory and the homecoming of loved ones. Published by Phillimore ISBN: 978 1 86077 571 0 |
