World War 2 - Notes & Pictures

Air raid sirens & shelters

Air raid sirens first sounded the warning in London in September 1939. They became an almost daily part of life in the capital a year later during the height of 'the Blitz'.

When people heard the siren they would stop what they were doing and make for a shelter. These might be Andersen shelters constructed from corrugated iron which were built in gardens, or Morrison shelters which were constructed inside the home. In London many people crowded into tube stations and spent the raid underground.

Picture 'borrowed' from BBC Schools Web Pages

Often daily life would continue within the larger shelters - for example, children continuing their lessons inside their school shelter.

Transcript:
Now put your books down...and get your gasmasks out. Quietly. Now take them carefully out of their boxes - no, no, Isobel, don't drag at it...you show her how to do it, Margaret, will you. Now they're all out, are they? I want you to put them on...and let's see if everyone can get it right this time. Wait a minute. Remember, chin in, right in first, before you begin to pull the straps over your head. No don't rush at it Rosalie, take your time. There you are you see, you'll have to begin all over again. Come here and I'll help you. Now, now put your chin in...no, no, no...put your chin right in. Push! There you are...that's more comfortable, isn't it? Now, is everybody ready? I'll tell you what I want you to do. I want you to get your knitting out and settle down comfortably at your desks, then I want to see just how long you can sit there with your gasmasks on. And when you're quite quiet, I'm going to read you a story. Settle down, everybody. Ready? Well, 'Once upon a time, a Queen sat sewing at her window .... '

WORLD WAR 2 1939-1945 Notes for Doreen Wilkinson - November, 2007