5.1.6
The War Effort
How Safe were Shelters?
How Safe were Shelters?
London residents took shelter from the Blitz bombings in many different ways and places. This caused problems and sometimes resulted in deaths.
Life in the shelters
Life in the shelters
- Many ignored the bans on using tube stations, crowding into them.
- Shelters were often crowded, insanitary, lacking lighting and ventilation.
- Tilbury Depot became renowned for prostitutes.
Aldwych
Aldwych
- Aldwych:
- White-washed walls, fitted toilets and bunk beds with wardens appointed.
- There was even a medical clinic, first aid, canteen, library and educational lectures.
Private shelters
Private shelters
- Private shelters - people often sheltered in:
- Their own basements.
- Church crypts.
- Business shelters e.g. John Lewis, the Savoy Hotel.
Government investigations
Government investigations
- Lord Horder set up a committee to investigate the conditions in shelters and make recommendations.
- They used the example of Aldwych and made rules about employing shelter marshals and organising ticketing.
Shelter disasters
Shelter disasters
- When shelters were hit the death rates could be significant due to the amount of people in one area.
- In September 1940, South Hallsville School in the East End was destroyed with people sheltering there.
- Reports varied, but it is estimated that between 500-600 people were killed.
Shelter disasters cont.
Shelter disasters cont.
- March 1943 - Bethnal Green Tube Disaster.
- Panic caused by the sound of an anti-aircraft rocket forced people to rush into the entrance.
- 173 people died in the crush from suffocation.
Dig for Victory
Dig for Victory
During the war there was a mass shortage of vegetables and a fear that Britain needed to get better at feeding itself (rather than relying on imports).
Dig for Victory
Dig for Victory
- The Ministry of Agriculture launched a campaign called ‘Dig for Victory’, encouraging people to turn their gardens into vegetable plots and grow their own food.
Huge success!
Huge success!
- Before the war there were 700,000 plots, by the end of the was there were almost 2m.
- Schools taught vegetable gardening.
- Parks and city squares were dug over for potatoes, onions and carrots e.g. Hyde Park.
- Victoria Park in the East became a pig farm!
The East End
The East End
- However houses in the East End were less likely to have a garden.
- Instead people used spaces created by bombing to create allotments.
- This was organised by the Bethnal Green Bombed Sites Producers Association.
Safeguarding Art and Important Buildings
Safeguarding Art and Important Buildings
During the war, important statues were either removed and stored in safer places, or otherwise protected to avoid bomb damage.
The V&A
The V&A
- The V&A museum in London was open throughout the war, but many important pieces were moved to a country house in Somerset.
- Its ceramic art was stored in Aldwych tube station.
- The V&A was hit several times, but (encouraged by the government) they remained open and held exhibitions.
The National Gallery
The National Gallery
- Many original paintings were removed and copies put in their place.
- Churchill intervened to stop the National Gallery from sending its paintings to Canada. Instead they were sent to a quarry in Wales.
- The National Gallery held lunchtime concerts and often had thousands of people queuing to watch.
1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500
2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700
3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900
4Modern Warfare c.1900-present
5The Historic Environment
5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45
Jump to other topics
1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500
2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700
3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900
4Modern Warfare c.1900-present
5The Historic Environment
5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered