WORLD WAR TWO

This is a page from our old school log book (well, the school when it was Doncaster Junior Mixed)

see more pages like this on our NEW History of Town Field section

Find out about the chemical toilets in the trench! Would you like to use chemical toilets in a trench in the playground? Find out what it was like during the war for school children.

We found out about the effects of the Second World War on children in our local area, nationally and internationally. We looked at rationing books and identity cards.

We demonstrated factual knowledge and understanding of the impact of the Second World War on children in particular and society in general; we gave reasons for, and the results of, evacuation; we identified different ways in which the Second World War has been represented; we asked questions and answered them using a range of sources; we communicated our learning, using specialist terms in ways that show understanding.

We have been learning about the impact on children in ww2. See the pictures below.

Some of the photos on this page were taken at Cusworth hall in Doncaster. They give an illustration of the conditions of life in Britain and South Yorkshire during the Second World War.

with Churchill today

THAN HUMBLE PIE

under Hitler tomorrow

DON'T WASTE FOOD

It can be seen that this utility wardrobe has no ornamentation, no frills and is really quite small.

During the Second World War, rationing was introduced. Everyone had a ration book and you would need tokens to buy things like food and clothes. Rationing carried on after the war because lots of things were in short supply. People had to carry an identity card to say who they were.

Here are some memories of rationing in and after World War 2 (WW2 or WWII):

"In 1952 meat rationing was still on. Some people had to change their eating habits because of rationing.  Most people had dried eggs and only occasionally were there fresh eggs. Hens had to be registered before you could buy corn for them. There were no bananas or citrus fruit until 1945. Not everything was rationed, just the essentials like meat, milk, eggs, bread, clothes. Everything was in short supply. People queued for lots of things, and anything that was not rationed, you queued for. They queued for horse flesh for their dogs. Petrol was rationed. Clothing coupons were issued. Blankets and furniture was a utility brand, which meant it was all plain and simple and standard measurements.   Everyone had ration books. Shops had to get permits to get supplies.  The Women's' Institute (WI)  had a food preservation scheme using jars and cans."

What was food like before the war?

"Pre-war food was stodgy."

It is said by many that people had a healthier diet than they do in 2004. What do you think? Why would this be so?

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge them. click on the thumbnails for large pictures of ww2 rationing books and identity card.

Churchill's greatest achievement was that he refused to capitulate when defeat by Germany was a strong possibility and he remained a strong opponent of any negotiations with Germany. Few others in the Cabinet had this degree of resolve. By adopting this policy, Churchill maintained Britain as a base from which the Allies could attack Germany, thereby ensuring that the Soviet sphere of influence did not also extend over Western Europe at the end of the war.

We have been sent some useful links where you can read about Anderson shelters, barrage balloons and anti-aircraft guns.

(We have reproduced an article here as we believe we are able to abide by the copyright conditions.)

ANDERSON SHELTERS

The Anderson Shelter was named after its designer Dr David A Anderson but it is often wrongly linked to the Home Secretary who announced the distribution scheme in the autumn of 1938 - John Anderson. The shelter consisted of 14 pieces of corrugated galvanized sheet steel and when the six curved sections were bolted together they formed an arch shaped shelter 6' high, 4'6" wide and 6'6" long. Then came the end pieces, one of which contained an entrance about 3'6" high and 2' wide, the other end had a quick release panel that served as an emergency exit. Buried to depth of 4' and covered with at least 15" of soil, it could accommodate six people.

The shelter was issued free to those thought to be at risk and earning less than £250 per year, others were charged £7. Distribution started before the war and by September 1940 it was estimated that a quarter of the population had one. An MOD deadline for the erection of delivered shelters issued in June 1940, ordered a covering of 1'3" of earth on the top and 2'6" at the sides. Later, basic forms of bunk-beds were added, but comfort depended on the talents of the occupiers to a large degree. The shelters had some disadvantages, a lot of city dwellers did not have a garden, so an 'Anderson' to them would be useless, in the winter they were cold, damp and prone to flooding, heating them without the danger of asphyxiation was almost impossible and any shelter, but old people particularly, had difficulty getting in and out of the tiny opening. Taking to the shelter at the bottom of the garden on a cold winters morning, just out of a warm and comfortable bed was not looked upon as a very good idea, but that little trip saved many, many lives. Altogether 2,250,000 were erected.