Winston Churchill - 50th Anniversary

On the 24th January 2015, fifty years after the death of Winston Churchill, events are taking place all over the UK to mark this occasion. The tributes include a Service of Remembrance at the Houses of Parliament on January 30th at 12.40pm.  Then there is a re-creation of the funeral procession which sailed along the Thames in 1965. In the evening at Westminster Abbey there is a Service of Commemoration. The Churchill Central website has been launched especially for this occasion with lots of information about his life.

Not surprisingly, there's also lots of TV coverage about this including, Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain, Sunday 25th January ITV 10. 20 pm and Churchill: The Nation's Farewell, January 28th 9.00pm (a documentary) BBC 1.

"This is the lesson: never give in, never ,never, never.... in nothing great or small, large or petty....never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." At Harrow School, October 29th 1941

Source
www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org
www.independant.co.uk/news/winstonchurchill
www.churchillcentral.com

WWII WORKERS WELFARE AND BLETCHLEY PARK

You would think that in war torn Britain, workers welfare was the last thing on Churchill's mind.  Not so! The mobilisation of the British people for war included the creation of a fit and healthy work force. To build the tanks, airplanes and weapons needed to withstand a formidable enemy required careful planning, The welfare of the workforce was crucial.

Firstly the provision of nutritious food.  Canteens were introduced into the factories and many smaller work places had to make provision for the workers. Voluntary group assisted also providing hot drinks and snacks in the air raid shelters. Secondly medical officers and doctors were made available to care for the workers. Factories also had personnel to deal with any problems or issues that their staff may have. Many workers had been moved away from home and family and sometimes out of successful careers to assist the war effort. Often, people of different classes worked together.  The welfare of workers extended outside of the factories to deal with problems such as re-housing or lodgings. Every aspect of their lives was important to the war effort.

At Bletchley Park the same issues applied.  Admiral Hugh Sinclair, in charge of GCandCS, brought in a well known chef to provide staff with high quality food and lift morale. Entertainment was provided, or arranged by the code breakers themselves. During a visit Churchill noticing the lack of  recreational activities immediately arranged for the provision of sports facilities.
The engineers, dock workers and the Merchant Navy were also given recreational and dining facilities.
Finally, working hours were monitored and it was found that reasonable hours produced steady productivity avoiding illness and absenteeism. The health and safety and welfare of workers was crucial in ensuring that people could meet the demands needed of them for the war effort and to keep morale high.
The governments compulsory powers were mainly accepted and eloquent speeches from Winston Churchill rallied the people.The eyes of the world turned to Britain wondering if a democratic island nation could adapt and rise to this challenge. With help from our Allies, we could and we did!

Source
Station X The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park By Michael Smith
Britain At War  Maureen Hill
Man Power Britain's Mobilisation For War The Ministry of Information (1944)

The BlackCountry Museum And The Homefront In WWII

It's June 1940, and Britain stands alone in the fight against the mighty German invasion!  Churchill's Homefront defences are stretched trying to withstand the never- ending aeriel attacks. The air raids present the greatest danger to the people and many respond providing help, including Air Raid Wardens, Police, rescue workers, doctors and nurses.

The Women's Voluntary Service  arranged first aid training courses and looked after those people who were hurt during the Blitz. They also provided 'Rest Centres' to give the homeless food, shelter and sanitation. The WVS worked with the Queen's Messenger Convoys delivering food to the areas that suffered from the relentless bombing.
More support was offered from the British Red Cross, St. Johns Ambulance and Civil Nursing Reserve Nurses and the ATS. First aid posts were set up in church halls, schools and hospitals. Mobile First Aid Units were sent to disaster areas to help the casualties.
The fear of losing family, friends, neighbours, homes, work-places; of spending another frightening and sleepless night in an air raid shelter, or of course losing their freedom, was part of everyday life in WWII. Despite Hitler's best efforts, the British people refuse to be undermined!

Source
Britain At War  Maureen Hill
www.wikipedia.org/
www.caringonthehomefront.org.uk
The Story Of Britain's Mobilisation For War - Ministry of Information 1944

World War II, The Home Guard, the New Dad's Army Film and the Spy.

Imagine the scene.  Children dressed as evacuees, on a school trip to the Seven Valley Railway.  They're happily waving flags and singing at the top of their voices,"Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler?" Launched in 1968, the BBC TV series Dad's Army has brought WWII to another generation ensuring that the work of the Home Guard is remembered!

In 1939 Civil Defence plans were introduced to combat the threat of mass bombing and enemy occupation of Britain.  This included the distribution of 38 million gas masks to protect the Home Front against enemy attacks using poison gas. Local Defence Volunteers later became the Home Guard and then became known as Dad's Army, guarding the country against a threatened invasion.  Keeping watch over our coastline, public buildings, roads and railways, they also brought in enemy pilots who had baled out of damaged aircraft. Many of these volunteers had seen action during WWI and the Home Guard became a professional uniformed army equipped with weapons.
In October this year filming began on the new Dad's Army film which is set towards the end of WWII.  The discovery of a radio transmission from Walmington-on-Sea to Berlin reveals the existence of a spy.  Captain Mainwaring and his platoon are on hand to deal with this threat! Will this new remake capture the magic of the original TV show? Don't panic! With Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring, Bill Nighy as Sgt. Wilson and Catherine Zeta Jones playing a glamourous journalist and lots of other stars including Bill  Paterson, and Tom Courtney  - it promises to be an entertaining film. It's also keeping history alive!
Source
Britain at War by Maureen Hill
Dad's Army (2015 film) https://www.wikipedia.org/

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM COSFORD EVENT 2015 - RE-ENACTORS REQUIRED !

WWII re-enactors are wanted for RAF Cosford Air Show on Sunday June 14th 2015.  Also vehicles are required for the1940s event taking place at the Victory Village.
Camping facilities are available on Saturday 13th June and there is a marquee for displays that need to be under cover. You can contact them via the website at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk. Their address is Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shiftnal, Shropshire TF11 8IP and there's also information about this event at Rods 1940s events calendar at www.40s-events.co.uk

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS

FROM THE 1940s PICTURE POST

Christmas Shopping at Walsall Leather Museum's Vintage and Retro Fair.

If you're still shopping for some last minute Christmas presents, why not visit some of the many vintage and craft fairs at this time of year.  There's lots of bargains to be found. Located in the West Midlands, Walsall Leather Museum's Retro Christmas Fair brought the opportunity to find unusual gifts, vintage clothes and accessories including 1940s goodies!  There was also the opportunity to make your own individual presents.

Stall holders Vintage Duo were there with some novel gifts, and they also organise Vintage and Handmade Fairs. You can contact them at vintage.duo@hotmail.co.uk or you can find them at Vintage Duo's Vintage Fairs on Facebook.

This event also included Second to None who specialise in period clothing, from Edwardian costume through to the 1980's, including 1940s clothes and accessories. You can visit them at 226 Stafford  Street, or email them at second2none226@yahoo.co.uk.

There was of course lots more to see.  For nearly two hundred years Walsall has been making its mark on the world and with nearly 90 businesses still manufacturing leather goods, it still has a thriving industry. Walsall Leather Museum, its restored Victorian factory and friendly staff are well worth a visit!

The 1940s Picture Post and the story of the Home Front in WWII

The story of the Home Front during World War Two was about how to turn a democratic and freedom loving people into a formidable war machine! A booklet, published by the Ministry of Labour in 1944, describes the mobilisation of the British people and how the nation was prepared for war.

Legislation was passed to ensure that the nation's workforce was available for the war effort, and the Trade Unions co-operated. Some people were required to leave their jobs and retrain. Skilled workers considered absolutely necessary for the war effort became reserved occupation. The governments compulsory powers extended to rich and poor alike.

 For example, hundreds of young women left their homes and families in Scotland, travelling to stay in hostels in Birmingham and work in the factories. Tanks, guns, aircraft and munitions were needed and the nation's women volunteered. The miners, dockers and railway workers and the Merchant Navy were now also considered to be essential to the war effort and food production had to be increased.

In 1940, during a hot summer, determined factory engineers worked themselves to a standstill. This was considered to be not good at all, either for health or productivity, so more planning was introduced. Despite this, many full-time workers also became part-time air raid wardens and fire wardens or helped in other ways. Everyone contributed to the war effort, by doing whatever they could.

Britain also had to ensure it could defend itself against the threat of invasion and that despite continual air raids that essential services and basic living standards were maintained.

Motivating speeches were supplied by the nation's leaders via radio and the press, and The Picture Post published moving pictures of ordinary people at war.

The mobilisation of the nation required a  phenomenal effort. Even our allies thought it couldn't be done. WWII had demanded and received an extraordinary response from the British people.  "We could never have survived at all if we had not mobilised our manpower......if the people had not been willing."

Source:  Manpower - The Story of Britain's Mobilisation For War
Prepared for the Ministry of Labour and National Service by the Ministry of Information. (First published 1944)

The Picture Post Album by Robert Kee