A
Wartime Christmas
by Suzy Henderson
When I began writing The Beauty Shop, I decided that my male and female protagonist
would meet at a New Year’s Eve dance held at an air base. The year was 1942, and
it was the first Christmas the Americans would spend in England. While I’d read
about service dances and budding romances, it seemed the war years were joyful
and exciting, but I feel that was perhaps just a little light that shone
through the ever-constant darkness. So, I went back in time, back to the 1940s,
in search of a wartime Christmas.
December 1940 was a challenging month, and the
first year the British people had to endure heavy bombings in some parts while
preparing to celebrate Christmas. The Blitz had begun on September 7th, 1940,
and by the end of the year, 24,000 people had been killed while hundreds of
thousands became homeless. The Luftwaffe virtually destroyed the city centre of
Coventry in November, while around 41,000 British Soldiers were captured on the
continent. Many women now worked, children had been evacuated, and families
split up. As many people mourned the loss of loved ones, many more feared for
their fighting men, and for those displaced and homeless, Christmas must have
seemed a very bleak prospect indeed.
Manchester suffered quite heavily between the 22
-24 December as the Luftwaffe launched bombing raids on industrial targets. One
side of Manchester Piccadilly was virtually destroyed during the second night
of attacks, with buildings set ablaze. Incendiary bombs caused hundreds of
fires over two consecutive nights. Christmas and homes would have been
destroyed for a number of people, along with the loss of lives. Fortunately, Britain
and Germany made an unofficial agreement to refrain from any further bombing
raids until the 27th December, an agreement that did not extend to ground or
sea forces.
Small Christmas trees were in great demand as many
families prepared to spend the day in their air raid shelters, in case the
Luftwaffe should come again. Paper chains were made from scraps of paper, glued
together and strung across rooms or shelters for decorations. The ration was
beginning to bite, and many items including food and gifts were in short
supply. The government discouraged the public from spending money on gifts and
encouraged them to buy war bonds instead, to help the war effort. In doing so,
they managed to raise around £10 million one week before Christmas.
Image courtesy of Getty
Images
“Make do and Mend” was the official slogan used prolifically
throughout the war years. Everything that could be recycled was, including
brown paper and string, which was so scarce and used over and over on parcels.
Hand-made presents were the order of the day, including boats, trains and
doll’s house furniture carved from wood while women made knitted items such as
dolls, hats, and scarves from any spare wool they could find. Gifts were also
generously donated by other countries and charities.
Christmas dinner was an ingenious affair. Turkey
was simply unaffordable to the masses and many other cuts of meat, although
cheaper, were still expensive. Many working class people turned to home-reared
chickens and rabbits. The latter often became cherished family pets of children
who would undoubtedly be upset to see them served up at Christmas. By now many
people were growing their own vegetables and making chutney which would be a
blessing for the dinner table at this time. Fruit was scarce, and there were
very few imports, so Christmas cakes and puddings were made with substituted
ingredients in place of dried fruit and marzipan as people became more
resourceful in the kitchen.
While many people made the traditional visit to
church that day, there was a distinct silence in the air as all bell ringing
was banned, reserved only to signal the German invasion. The BBC broadcast a
Christmas service from the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, and the Kings speech
went ahead as usual via a radio broadcast. Most families would be sat huddled
around the radio, listening intently at 3pm to King George VI as he addressed
the nation. His speeches at this time throughout the war years became so
popular with the people that they continue to this day. The entertainment of choice
would be cards, singing songs, carols and listening to the radio.
On Sunday 29th December, the Luftwaffe returned
with a vengeance, launching one of the heaviest raids of the Blitz so far, with
fires that raged so ferociously it became known as the Second Great Fire of
London. The city was burning, and one of the most powerful images of the entire
war was taken that night of St Paul’s Cathedral; the dome of which rose
untouched as flames danced all around. It was hailed as a miracle by the
people, and St Pauls became a symbol of the will of the British, rising
triumphant from the ashes. They would not be defeated, and they would not give
in.
By December 1942, the Americans had joined the
war, and the British people were asked to welcome a GI into their home at
Christmas time. Many did, and forged friendships with those young men who were
so far away from home. And of course, the GIs always took along their
individual rations which were always gratefully received and helped deliver a
little extra festive cheer.
So, the British people demonstrated their
indomitable spirits by smiling through the harshness and tragedy of war,
determined that Hitler would not break them. They enjoyed the festivities as
well as they could, making an effort for the sake of their children. They
extended the hand of friendship to our American neighbours, ensuring that they
too enjoyed this day in the company of others, with families to show them they
were not alone. The true spirit of Christmas, generosity, compassion and
friendship.
Today, we are far more fortunate, and I have no
experience of the hardships the people faced back then, something I am most
grateful for. Christmas is a time of peace, and of friendship, love, and
extending hospitality to those less fortunate than ourselves. It is a time of
giving, and we can all give so much to others, so much of ourselves, including
our time – it’s not necessarily about buying presents. And remember, no one
should be alone at this time unless they wish to be.
***
Suzy Henderson was born in
the North of England, but a career in healthcare would eventually take her to
rural Somerset. Years later, she decided to embark upon a degree in English
Literature with The Open University.
That was the beginning of a
new life journey, rekindling her love of writing and passion for history. With
an obsession for military and aviation history, she began to write.
It was an old black and white
photograph of her grandmother that caught Suzy’s imagination many years ago.
Her grandmother died in 1980 as did her tales of war as she never spoke of
those times. When she decided to research her grandmother’s war service in the
WAAF, things spiralled from there. Stories came to light, little-known stories
and tragedies and it is such discoveries that inform her writing.
Having relocated to the wilds
of North Cumbria, she has the Pennines in sight and finally feels at home. Suzy is a member of the Historical Novel
Society and the Romantic Novelists Association. "The Beauty Shop" is her
debut novel and is available here... Amazon
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Thank you so much for hosting me here today, Mary Anne. It's been a pleasure and I wish you and your readers a Merry Christmas & best wishes for 2017.
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