HOME FRONT Sixty Years On
A Second World War Resource Pack from East Sussex Libraries
On the Kitchen Front - Posters Spread The Word
Crown copyright. Reproduction with permission of the Controller of HMSO
On the Kitchen Front - Posters Spread The Word
Reproduced from original posters. © Imperial War Museum
On the Kitchen Front Advice From The Ministry
Food rationing started in January 1940. Everyone was allowed 16 points per month to use on whatever food items they wished (of course the items had to be paid for). This amount was later increased to 20 points per month In addition they were allowed a daily pint of milk as well as cod liver oil and orange juice.
Children under 5 were allowed half the normal meat ration.
Children 5 – 16 were allowed fruit and a full meat ration.
The points system was complex as products were rationed at different times
See sheet 4 for a Rationing Timeline.
On the Kitchen Front A Rationing Timeline
1939 29 September National register set up and Identity cards issued
1940 8 January Food rationing begins with bacon (4oz/113.4 g), ham (3.5oz/99.3g), sugar (12oz/340.2gms) and butter (4oz/113.4g) ‘on the ration’ March Meat rationed April Lord Woolten becomes Minister of Food July Tea, margarine, cooking fats and cheese rationed
1941 March Jam, marmalade, treacle and syrup rationed June Distribution of eggs was controlled August Extra cheese rations for manual workers introduced November Distribution of milk controlled December National Dried Milk introduced. Points scheme for food and Vitamin Welfare scheme was introduced
1942 January Rice and dried fruit rationed. Tea ration for under 5’s withdrawn. February Soap rationed (1 tablet per month) April Breakfast cereal and condensed milk rationed June American dried egg powder on sale July Sweets rationed (2oz/ 56g) August Biscuits rationed. Cheese ration allowance increased (8oz/ 226.8g per week)
1944, December Extra tea allowance for 70 year olds and over introduced 1946, July Bread rationed 1950, May Points rationing ended
Off The Ration 1948 July - bread, December - jam 1952 October - tea 1953 February - sweets, March - eggs, April - cream, September - sugar 1954 May - butter, cheese, margarine and cooking fats, June - meat
No more rationing
On the Kitchen Front - Wartime Recipes
Crunchies Eggless Christmas Cake
4 oz margarine, lard or dripping 4 oz carrot, finely grated 2 oz sugar 2 tablespoons golden syrup 2 oz golden syrup 3 oz sugar 5 oz plain flour 4 oz margarine 4 oz medium oatmeal 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 1 teaspoon baking powder vanilla essence vanilla flavouring almond essence 4—6 oz dried fruit Cream together the fat, sugar and syrup. Add the flour, 12 oz self raising flour oatmeal, baking powder and a few drops of vanilla 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon flavouring. Knead the mixture until it binds. Roll the dough 1 small teacup milk, slightly warmed out on a floured surface to about quarter of an inch thick. Cut into rounds or fingers. Place on a greased baking tray Cook the grated carrot and syrup over a low heat for a and bake in a moderate oven (gas regulo 4) for about 20 few minutes. Cream the sugar and margarine until light and minutes, or until golden brown. Makes about 20 crunchies. fluffy. Stir the bicarbonate of soda into the carrot and syrup They keep well stored in an air-tight tin. mixture, then beat it into the sugar and margarine mixture, treating it as if it were an egg. Add a half a teaspoon each of vanilla and almond essence, and stir in with the dried fruit. Fold in the flour and cinnamon, and add the warmed milk to. make a moist dough. Put the mixture into a greased cake Uncooked Chocolate Cake tin. Smooth the top, and make a deep hole in the centre with a spoon, to stop the cake from rising too much during 2 oz margarine cooking. Put into a hot oven (gas regulo 7) then turn down 2 oz sugar to a very low heat (gas regulo 2) and bake for 3 hours 2 tablespoons golden syrup 2 oz cocoa powder vanilla essence 6 oz crisp breadcrumbs Date & Nut Loaf To make the breadcrumbs, bake some stale pieces of bread in the oven until crispy. Let the bread cool, and then 6 oz stoneless dates place it between two pieces of greaseproof paper and 2 oz margarine crush with a rolling pin. 7 oz self raising flour ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda Put the margarine, sugar and golden syrup into a saucepan. 1 fl oz boiling water Heat gently until the margarine has melted, then remove 1 tablespoon golden syrup or 2 oz sugar from heat. Stir in the cocoa powder, a few drops of vanilla 1 egg essence and the crisp breadcrumbs and mix well. Grease pinch of salt a seven inch cake tin with margarine paper, then pour in 2 oz shelled walnuts the mixture. Allow to stand for 4—5 hours, then turn out carefully. Grease and flour a cake tin. Chop the dates and mix them with the golden syrup or sugar, melted margarine and boiling For the icing, mix together 2 teaspoons of melted water. Leave to cool, then add the beaten egg. Sift flour, salt and margarine, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda together. Stir into the date mixture, add golden syrup and a few drops of vanilla essence. the walnuts, roughly chopped, and mix well. Put into prepared tin at bake for 50 mins in a moderate oven (gas regulo 4).
On the Kitchen Front - Wartime Recipes
Trench Cake Siege Cake
6 oz margarine 4 oz dripping or lard 6 oz brown sugar 2 oz moist sugar 4 oz mixed dried fruit 6 oz golden syrup 12 oz flour 1½ teacupsful buttermilk* 11/2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda lemon flavouring nearly 10 fl oz milk 1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 12 oz flour Cream the margarine and sugar. Warm the milk and pour on to the soda. Add the prepared fruit, the milk and the * If buttermilk is not available use ordinary milk, 1 level flour to the margarine mixture. Mix well. Bake in a seven teaspoon cream of tartar and half a teaspoon bicarbonate inch cake tin in a moderate oven for about 2 hours. of soda.
Grease a cake tin measuring about 7 inches in diameter. Beat fat, sugar and golden syrup until the consistency of whipped cream, gradually work in the buttermilk. Sift the Beehive Cake flour with the bicarbonate of soda, and work it lightly into the mixture. Add the lemon flavouring. Bake in a moderate 8 oz self raising flour oven for about one and a quarter hours. 3 tablespoons honey 2 oz candied peel 3 oz margarine 1 large egg, beaten in 5 fl oz milk pinch of salt Rolled Oat Macaroons
Grease and flour cake tin. Sieve flour and salt into a basin and 4 oz self raising flour rub in the margarine. Add the chopped peel, stir in the egg 2 oz sugar and milk, add the honey and beat well. Put into the prepared 3 oz margarine tin and bake in a moderate oven (gas regulo 4) for one hour. 1 tablespoon golden syrup 1 teaspoon almond essence 4 oz rolled oats milk to mix
Eggless, Fatless Walnut Cake Cream margarine, sugar,, almond essence and golden syrup. Sift the flour and add to the creamed ingredients 4 cups flour with the rolled oats. Mix thoroughly then add just enough 1 cup chopped walnuts milk to bind the mixture together. Roll into small balls and 1 good cup milk place on greased baking tray, leaving plenty of room for 1 cup sugar spreading. Bake in a moderately hot oven (gas regulo 5) for 4 teaspoons baking powder 15 —20 minutes, or until golden brown. 1 good pinch salt
Mix flour, sugar and chopped walnuts together. Add salt and baking powder, and then the milk. It should be slightly wetter than an ordinary cake mixture. Pour into a greased cake tin and leave to rise for 10 minutes. Bake in a slow oven until risen and brown
On the Kitchen Front - Wartime Recipes
Whisked Sponge Slab Carrot Buns
3 oz self-raising flour 8 oz self-raising flour 4 oz sugar (use caster if possible) 3 oz margarine or cooking fat 3 reconstituted dried or fresh eggs 3 oz sugar 4 tablespoons finely grated raw carrot Line a swiss roll tin, about 12 x 8 inches with well greased 2 tablespoons sultanas or chopped dates margarine or greaseproof paper. Sift the flour, and leave 1 reconstituted dried or fresh egg on a plate whilst whisking the eggs; this will help lighten a little milk or water the sponge. Put eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl and whisk hard until mixture thickens. Fold in flour, then pour into Grease 2 baking trays. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl. Rub tin and bake for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch in a in the margarine or cooking fat. moderately hot oven (gas regulo 5) Add the sugar, carrot, sultanas and egg. Mix well, then add sufficient milk or water to make a sticky consistency. Diviçle mixture into 12 small heaps on baking tray and bake in a hot oven (gas regulo 7) for 12— 15 minutes until firm and golden. Crumbed Sponge
As above, but replace the flour with 3 oz fine crisp crumbs, and add one small teaspoon of baking powder into the whisked egg and sugar before adding the crumbs. Flavour Sardine Pancakes with a few drops of almond essence. Make some thin pancakes with a slightly salted batter. Roll each around some mashed sardines, and cut into slices about one and a half inches wide.
Ginger Honey Buns
8 oz self raising flour 1 teaspoon ground ginger Sausages En Surprise 2 oz sugar 2 oz margarine Grill some sausages, skin them, and let them get cold. Beat 7 ‘/2 fl oz hot water an egg into some mashed potato. Cut the sausages in half 2 tablespoons clear honey and wrap in potato mixture. When cold and set, egg and 2 oz sultanas or other dried fruit breadcrumb them and fry until golden 1 fresh or reconstituted dried egg a little milk, or milk and water
Grease 2 baking trays. Sift flour with ginger. Rub in the margarine, add the sugar, honey, dried fruit and egg. Mix Suggestions For Sandwich Fillings well, gradually adding enough milk to make a sticky dough that stands up in peaks. Put spoonfuls on baking trays and Nasturtium leaves bake for 15 —20 minutes in a hot oven (gas regulo 6) until firm and golden. Sardine with dandelion leaves Marmite and celery Grated raw carrot 10
Reminiscence: Passing Down The Memories
SUSSEX The Courier, November 18 2005 7
Pupils interview war veterans Reminiscence: Interview with PV1411053/30
TOPIC: Tom Lang, left, talking to Year Six pupils about his war stories at Jarvis Brook Primary School. From left are Jodie Adams, Lois Topp, Lauren Hares, Tom Roberst and Callum Everest THE SECOND world war was views will be sent to the BBC also gave the youngsters a the topic of conversation at as part of the corporation’s talk about the war and showed Jarvis Brook Primary School national People’s War project, them a number of artefacts this week when former sol- which has seen similar from the era. diers and evacuees visited sessions set up in schools Mrs Taylor said: “We had youngsters. throughout Britain. been talking about the war Pupils interviewed the Class teacher Jan Taylor with the children and the visi- eight Crowborough residents said the meeting was set up tors confirmed what we had who turned up to share their by Crowborough Library be- learned in the class. experiences of the war, rang- cause it wanted to get involved “The children really en- ing from fighting in Europe in the project. joyed the interviews and were to Blitz torn London. War enthusiast Peter Hibbs, full of it at the end of the The illuminating inter- from Hailsham Library, day.” 11
Reminiscence: Carina Hillman - Evacuated to Leeds
It was a grey, cold day at Brighton Station on March 18th, 1941. There was though a bubble of excitement from the motley collection of girls and parents who arrived, and stood around, not knowing either what to say or do. Each girl had her gas mask in its case hanging from her shoulder and on each lapel was a label, giving the name and school attended.
Suddenly the train arrived and hurried goodbyes were exchanged, and the excited cargo boarded the train. As it pulled out waves were exchanged to the parents now left alone on the platform. We were being evacuated to an unknown destination, but in the excitement of the moment the significance of this goodbye did not register upon our young minds. It is only now, from the perspective of a mother and grandmother that the feelings of those waving goodbye can be understood.
We complained about the labels, which made us feel like parcels, and the small amount of luggage we were able to take, which gave a false sense of how long we would be away. On the whole though, as teenage girls from the local grammar school, we enjoyed the initial send off. The exuberance was however short-lived as the train trundled northwards and we were served firstly with soup from a bucket, followed by wartime pie and peas and as a final course came lumpy rice pudding, again served from a bucket. Perhaps after all we should have stayed at home and risked the bombing and nights in the air-raid shelter.
Most of us thought that London was the North. but as the day wore on we realised that there was a good deal more beyond London. We passed the Potteries with the kilns towering over the landscape, saw the crooked spire of Chesterfield and the flames spurting from the steel works in Sheffield. We had read about these in our geography books, but now they were coming to life and in future would mean much more. The train finally stopped at about five o’clock in what we discovered was Leeds station. Chattering girls inquired whether we had reached our destination - could this be where we would spend the rest of the war?
Our questions were soon answered when we were taken to waiting buses and once more we were on the move. By this time we were tired, hungry and somewhat subdued. In half an hour we reached our stopping- place for the night. It was an emergency hospital and here we were fed, but more indignities were to come when we were bathed and looked at for lice! By the time we went to bed in the long, cold wards there was hardly anyone who was not crying to go home. The spirit of adventure was wearing a bit thin!
In the morning though we were a little more optimistic as we boarded yet another bus to go to our final destination. This was another mystery tour but for me it was probably the most significant journey of my life, for we arrived in the Yorkshire Dales during the morning and for the first time saw a real country market day. We arrived in the square on the cold, wet morn- ing, and the people gathered for the market looked up at us whilst we looked down at them and the surroundings. The hills which towered above the town seemed huge after the South Downs. Quite a culture shock for girls used to the hustle and bustle of a busy town, for even on market day it was quiet in comparison. 12
Reminiscence: Carina Hillman - Evacuated to Leeds continued
Before we could explore our new surroundings we had to find a home and we were taken to the national school where the billeting officer sorted us out. In many accounts of the evacua- tion other evacuees have said that the most poignant memory is of sitting in a room and being ‘chosen’ by prospective hostesses’ remarks such as ‘I want an older one to help with the farm’, or ‘I don’t want a headstrong one’, were heard around the room. We felt as though we were in an auction mart without any money changing hands. It must have been very difficult for those in charge to please everyone and they were all doing their best.
Eventually after going to a house where the owners were Jewish and only wanted a Jewish girl, I found myself back in the school hall where only a mother and daughter were left. I felt very despondent and unwanted , but I was sent to a house where the owners had already had an evacuee from Bradford and didn’t really want another one. They certainly didn’t welcome me into their house and that night as I lay in the attic room, lit only by a candle, I felt a loneli- ness and desolation which has never been matched again whatever life has thrown at me.
The morning though was brighter and we had a chance to explore our beautiful surroundings and to feel the first stirrings of a fondness for the Yorkshire Dales. The limestone outcrops, the scree and the soft, springy grass together with the distant peaks all became features that we would remember for the rest of our lives.
We only had half day schooling, sharing the grammar school with the local girls. This was great but we progressed very well despite the lack of time in class and when we returned to our school in Hove we were well ahead of others who had stayed behind. Some girls drifted back to Sussex unable to accept being away from home. I might have done likewise had I not met a young mother and asked her to take me in as an evacuee. She agreed and for over fifty years we remained friends and I shall always be eternally grateful to her for her generosity and hospitality which allowed me to come to a love and understanding of the Dales folk.
We gained new friends, discovered new activities and above all developed new values and attitudes which for many of us completely changed our lives. We returned to Hove after eighteen months very different girls from those who had left. I had been quiet and very shy but could now stand on my own feet and meet people from all walks of life. There was not a dry eye on the train which steamed out of the local station at 8.15 a.m. on a July day in 1942. I was determined to return, which I did regularly, but it was more than forty years before I was able to go back and live among the people and the hills of the Dales. I was lucky to be appointed Principal of the local further education college so was given the opportunity to give back to the community the help and kindness we had received
I often ponder about what difference it would have made to my life, if I had not been on that train which left Brighton station so many years ago. My values and attitudes were formed in the Dales but above all I learned that ‘a walk on the tops’ puts everything into perspective. Sixty years on the memory is still as fresh as ever. We were lucky to have such good memo- ries as many others were not treated as well as we were.
Carina Hillman (Banks) 13
Reminiscence: Barbara Page Wartime Memories of the NAAFI in Crowborough
I joined the NAAFI during 1942 as a ‘trainer cook’, first billeted at Eastbourne, then Seaford, serving military police who were billeted at Blatchington School, Seaford. I then had my first job as a solo cook at an anti-aircraft site, also Seaford. Then I met up again with the eleven other NAAFI girls I had recently served with at the Denton transit camp near Newhaven, where we cooked a variety of tasty cakes, ie. doughnuts, apple turnovers and puffs, Nelson slices and, of course, the good old rock cakes, which I unfortunately left in the oven and went off duty, only to be met by the manageress with a tray of about 100 black rock cakes. I was then nick-named ‘King Alfred’. The troops always appreciated the variety of cakes and savouries. It was their last taste of home-cooking before going overseas.
There were never any sad faces. Everyone was cheerful. Sadly we never knew who returned home safely. I remember the military police preferred sausages etc. and chips. They were always hungry and enjoyed their suppers.
When we first arrived at the transit camp we slept under canvas, but on a very stormy October night the marquee blew away leaving twelve girls open to the skies. We were then billeted in a row of cottages which were empty, as their owners had been evacuated to the country. We still cooked in Nissen huts and the black coal range. We witnessed the first batch of German prisoners-of-war. They were in an open compound for a few days.
My next camp was the brand new military camp at Maresfield, now used by the Sussex Fire Service.
My last posting was in Ashdown Forest to serve the Canadians. I celebrated V.E. night at the Chelwood Gate. I returned some weeks after, pleased I had contributed something to the war effort. Although there were sad days, we had some very happy days. There was great comradeship with the girls and the troops. We spent Christmas days with them and the officers were the waiters, doing a grand job.
We enjoyed their dances and concerts. One New Year’s Eve we had a fancy dress ball. We twelve NAAFI girls went as army fatigues, borrowing soldiers battledress. We won first prize and received a large box of cosmetics. I remember I got the lipstick (which, incidentally, I had never used before). We had also had to go the Seven Sisters Pub/Hotel at Seaford for my first drink.
I lived at Heathfield and we had a few bombs dropped. Twice we lost all our windows and there was great excitement, especially by the teenagers, when a German plane was shot down. Everyone was collecting souvenirs. The pilot got stuck in a tree in the park but he survived. 14
Reminiscence: Barbara Page Wartime Memories of the NAAFI in Crowborough continued
I have visited Denton, the site of the transit camp, but it is now a derelict site. There is a plaque to the Canadians. Many lost their lives at Dieppe. I was engaged to one who went on that fateful journey.
Unfortunately, the NAAFI seemed to have been forgotten. They never get a mention in any war memory celebrations or seemed to be invited to any commemorations, both in England and overseas. I understand some served in Singapore. My dad said I was too young to go overseas, and you obeyed his word. We wore the similar khaki uniforms as the ATS, hats slightly different. I feel we did a valuable job alongside the troops, of which I feel very proud.
My only brother was a Battle of Britain pilot but lost his life in Italy.
Barbara Page (nee Brunt) 20-08-2005 My wartime memories and contribution 1942 -1945. 15
Reminiscence: Jim Molesworth-Evans Wartime Memories of an East Sussex Schoolboy
During the war we were living on Mayfield Road, Cross in Hand. I was a schoolboy at Tonbridge.
I started at Foxhunt Manor School in Waldron. It had to move in a hurry at the time of Dunkirk as it was being commandeered as a hospital. The school evacuated to Wales but as I was a day boy I went to Tonbridge. I went daily by the 52 bus. It took one and a half hours stop to stop. I boarded at Tonbridge.
During the last daylight German bombing raid during Battle of Britain the German bombers were turned round by our fighters. They never got to London. They were jettisoning their bombs and the only place which got any serious damage was Scocoes Farm at Five Ashes. The two farmers sons were milking and the cow shed got a direct hit.
This was during the holidays and I was at home. We were very aware of the bombs dropping all around.
Fortunately we had a very sophisticated air raid shelter which my father had built. As it happens it was a nice day and we were having a picnic tea just outside the shelter when the bombs dropped. We rushed into the shelter and stayed until the noise stopped but we had no idea what was really happening.
When we came out we didn’t know what we would find. A bomb had come down opposite and all we got was a bit of shrapnel in one window. Both houses beside us had all the windows out and ceilings down.
We heard that Scocoes Farm had been hit so a friend and I took our bikes and went there. There was a bus which had been blown up and it had also been targeted by some German fighters which had been flying over. All the passengers were in the ditch but they were OK.
Later in the war there was a Ministry of Information leaflet produced called Home Front showing a picture of Scocoes Farm.
When the night raids were occurring in London the planes were flying over and at night you could see the red glow and the sky of London burning.
We had a doodlebug land at the bottom of our wood. When it cooled down we got some souvenirs off it. 16
Reminiscence: Jim Molesworth-Evans Wartime Memories of an East Sussex Schoolboy continued
During the Battle of Britain there was a dog fight overhead and my father encouraged me out to watch. Then there was an almighty bang. Then the Spitfire did a victory roll over us and we realised that the German plane had landed on Mayfield Flat. We were just having some groceries delivered and the plane landed just in front of the delivery van. Thank goodness he wasn’t half a minute earlier.
The plane came down exploding in flames. The police arrived. They cleared the wreckage surprisingly quickly to get the road clear.
Anyone who had any sort of machine shop or tool shed was making plane parts. My father had an interest in engineering and he had his own high quality workshop. He was making aircraft parts.
My father converted a lot of more amateurish workshops to production workshops. He was paid a bit to do this but he did it as his war effort. He didn’t make money out of it.
Strange Electrical in Heathfield converted their lathes to production lathes — my father did the converting.
The baker in Heathfield had an amateur lathe and my father converted this for aircraft parts production.
These people were all sub contracting to Covell and Foord in Hurst Green. They had a main contract to supply the parts and they sub-contracted out to local amateurs.
My father used to get all the awkward jobs which no one else wanted because he had an interest.
One job my father had was to make some valve castings and normally Covell & Foord would chase him up but for these the Ministry of Aircraft production was chasing him direct. No matter how many he machined they always wanted more. He asked why it was all so urgent but they wouldn’t tell him. We found out later that they were the heating valves used on Mosquito aircraft and he was the only person making them in the country. 17
Poems by Year 6 pupils of Jarvis Brook School inspired by WW2
Child of the Blitz Doodlebug
Running around everywhere I’m chugging through the sky, When the bombs were going off I am a flying bomb. Not knowing what to do. My creators named me No-one to go to for help. And my name is Tom. Running around everywhere My fuel has just run out, I should have gone away I am falling down to Earth. But I didn’t want to leave. People scattered everywhere, Time for Drama’s birth. My last word to say, I love you Mother and Father. Like all my brothers and sisters I wish you were here today. My own time has ended. I am down for the count, By Chelsie Brown & Abbey Chapman. For I have been suspended.
By Sophie Bosson.
Tell me what I have done.
Help, help, What have I done? My evacuation Do I deserve this? Tell me everyone. The door was open. for me. The train smell was very strantge. I am held here. There was a man standing there. I am sucking my thumb. My future about to change. Why am I here? Tell, tell me, He stood there, shouting, What have I done? “All aboard, there’s no time to lose!” A girl my age started to limp. It is scary at night, On. her head a bruise. From the soldier’s fright, From the guns that shoot at night. I started to cry as I sat down.. I didn’t notice when we were there. Answer me, answer me, There were people I didn.’t know. Give me my freedom. Would these people care? Where is my mother? I need her right now. By Elisabeth Marchant By Jordan Broome & Archie Bonnet 18
Poems by Year 6 pupils of Jarvis Brook School inspired by WW2
Parachutist A child of the Blitz.
Standing in the plane I’m sifting, silent, just until . . . all tense and scared, I hear the first bomb trying to remember crashing nearby. everything I have been taught The streaks in the sky until I get down there. from the evil . . . evil bomb . . . I have been waiting in the midnight sky. for this moment to come. I feel the vibrations It was so, so scary on the tender floor . . . when the jump master touched me but everything shatters shouting “Go!”. and everything falls. I was falling through the air all tense and scared, By Hazel Seear. Pulling the string and up I shoot.
By Lois Topp and Jodie Adams.
V1 along with a bomb
There will be Death. Mummy - where are you? I am going down through the rooftops Mummy - where are you? and into the town. Children are swarming in every direc- Death and Destruction. tion. My breath catches with fear. I wish I did not go so slow. I am lost and alone. Put. Put. Put. They will have time to shoot me Mummy - where are you? down. Are you alive or dead Tut. Tut. Tut. Is our house still standing? Here we go - my engine Am I safe here? is just about to cut. Mummy - where are you? Death. Tut. I am cold and afraid. Destruction. Tut. Where do I go now? Bang! I wish you were here. By Georgina Moldon and Martine Vine By Abigail Mann 19
The Siegfried Line We’re going to Hang out the washing On the Siegfried Line Have you any dirty washing Mother dear We’re going to hang out the washing On the Siegfried Line Bless ‘Em All For the washing day is here Words and Music by Irving Berlin Whether the weather May be wet or fine, Bless ‘em all, bless ‘em all We will rub along Without a care, The long and the short and the tall We’re gonna Hang out the washing Bless all the sergeants and W.O. ones On the Siegfried Line Bless all the corp’rals and their blinking sons If the Siegfried Line’s Still there For we’re saying good-bye to them all As back to the barracks we crawl You’ll get no promotion this side of the ocean So cheer up my lads Bless ‘em all,
Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major Tuck me in my little wooden bed We all love you, Sergeant-Major, Now is the hour When we hear you bawling, “Show a leg!” Now is the hour Don’t forget to wake me in the morning When we must say good-bye And bring me round a nice hot cup of tea Soon you’ll be sailing Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major Far across the sea. Sergeant-Major, be a mother to me. While you’re away, Oh, then remember me, When you return, You’ll find me waiting here. 20
There’ll always be an England words & music Ross Parker & Hughie Charles I give you a toast Ladies and gentlemen White Cliffs Of Dover I give you a toast Ladies and gentlemen words: Nat Burton music: Walter Kent May this fair land we love so well There’ll be bluebirds over, In Dignity and freedom dwell The white cliffs of Dover, while worlds may change and go awry Tomorrow, just you wait and see Whilst there is still one voice to cry! There’ll be love and laughter There’ll always be an England, And peace ever after, While there’s a country lane. Tomorrow when the world is free Wherever there’s a cottage small The shepherd will tend his sheep Beside a field of grain The valley will bloom again There’ll always be an England And Jimmy will go to sleep While there’s a busy street. In his own little room again Wherever there’s a turning wheel A million marching feet. There’ll be bluebirds over Red, white and blue The white cliffs of Dover What does it mean to you? Tomorrow, just you wait and see Surely you’re proud Shout it loud Britons awake! The Empire too We can depend on you. Freedom remains We’ll Meet Again These are the chains words & music Ross Parker & Hughie Charles Nothing can break. We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when There’ll always be an England But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day And England shall be free Keep smiling through, just like you always do If England means as much to you Till the blue skies chase the dark clouds far away As England means to me. Now, won’t you please say ‘Hello’ to the folks that I know Tell them it won’t be long ‘cause they’d be happy to know that when you saw me go I was singing this song We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day 21
Stories About World War 2 in East Sussex Children’s Libraries
Alington, Gabriel Rumbelow Road Willow’s luck Anderson, Margaret J Searching for Shona Ashley, Bernard Johnnie’s blitz Barne, Kitty We’ll meet in England Bawden, Nina Carrie’s war Keeping Henry Benchley, Nathaniel Bright candles Beresford, Elizabeth Lizzy’s war Lizzy fights on Blake, Jon Sandbag secret Sid’s war Booth, Martin Music on the bamboo radio War dog Breslin, Theresa A homecoming for Kezzie Burton, Hester In spite of all terror Butterfield, Moira The diary of a young nurse in World War II Catran, Ken Robert Moran, private Chance, Stephen Septimus and the spy ring Conlon-McKenna, Marita Safe harbour Cooper, Susan Dawn of fear Crompton, Richmal William and Air Raid Precautions William and the evacuees William does his bit Cross, Vince Blitz, diary of Edie Benson, London 1940 - 1941 Davies, Andrew Conrad’s war Deary, Terry War games Deedy, Carmen The yellow star De Jong, Meindert House of sixty fathers 22
Stories About World War 2 in East Sussex Children’s Libraries
Eldridge, Jim Jungle war Spy smuggler Behind enemy lines Deadly skies Depth-charge danger Island of fear Night bomber Tank attack Desert danger Eldworth, L M Beach assault Last convoy Elliott, L M Under a war-torn sky Forsyth, Ann Spitfire secret Geras, Adele Candle in the dark Gifford, Griselda House of spies Hamley, Dennis The war and Freddy D Day Flying bombs Diary of a World War II pilot Hautzig, Esther The endless steppe Hawkins, Elizabeth Sea of peril Hayes, Rosemary Fox in the wood Heneghan, James Wish me luck Hicyilmaz, Gaye And the stars were gold Joffo, Joseph Bag of marbles Kerr, Judith When Hitler stole pink rabbit The other way round Kingsland, Robin Frankie and the Fuhrer Koralek, Jenny War games Leeson, Robert Tom’s war patrol Tom’s private war 23
Stories About World War 2 in East Sussex Children’s Libraries
Lewis, C Day Otterbury incident Lingard, Joan Tug of war File on Fraulein Berg Lowry, Lois Number the stars Lutzeier, Elizabeth No shelter MacEwan, Ian Rose Blanche McKinlay, Penny The prisoner Escape from Germany Magorian, Michelle Goodnight Mr Tom May, Steve One chance Morpurgo, Michael Friend or foe Waiting for Anya Amazing story of Adolphus Tips Cool as a cucumber Newbery, Linda Blitz boys Pearson, Kit The sky is falling Looking at the moon The lights go on again Peet, Mal Tamar Perrett, Brian U-boat hunter D-Day Pratchett, Terry Johnny and the bomb Priestly, Chris Battle of Britain Prince, Alison Hows business Rees, David The Exeter blitz Reiss, Johanna Upstairs room Reid, Sue War Nurse Riordan, James The enemy The prisoner Escape from war Ross, Stewart Star houses 24
Stories About World War 2 in East Sussex Children’s Libraries
Serraillier, Ian The silver sword There’s no escape Shemin, Margaretha Little riders Spooner, Alan Rainbow cake Streatfeild, Noel When the siren wailed Swindells, Robert Hurricane summer Doodlebug alley Rogers war Blitzed Taylor, Marilyn Faraway home Ternperley, Alan Murdo’s war Toksvig, Sandi Hitler’s canary Tomlinson, Theresa Blitz baby Treadgold, Mary We couldn’t leave Dinah Trease, Geoffrey Tomorrow is a stranger Arpino assignment Turley, John Empty pages Turnbull, Ann Room for a stranger Josie under fire Ure, Jean Big Tom Walsh, Jill Paton Dolphin crossing Fireweed Westall, Robert Blitz Blitzcat Machine- gunners Kingdom by the sea Fathom five Wood, Jack Put that light out! Careless talk Make do and mend Digging for victory