Living through the Second World War

For several of our interviewees, the Second World War had a profound impact on their childhoods and shaped many of their foundational memories.

 

Born in Chiltern Court, a neoclassical-style block of flats built above Baker Street Station in the 1930s, Eddie was evacuated from London during the war. This evacuation led to his boarding and schooling in Berkshire, which separated him from his parents, but both he and his parents returned to Marylebone later in life.

 

Pat remained in London during the Second World War and recalls many memories of sleeping in an Anderson Air Raid shelter, dug at the bottom of her garden and shared with neighbours. Pat’s interview captures a sense of everyday life during the Second World War, sharing memories of teachers conducting lessons while in dugout shelters after the sounding of the alarm.

 

The experiences of these interviewees capture a snapshot of what life was like for children during the Second World War and the attempts to maintain normalcy during a time of great uncertainty and fear.

Eddie was born in Marylebone but swiftly evacuated to Berkshire in his infancy, where he spent the duration of the Second World War.

Pat’s account of life as a child during the Second World War gives insight into how everyday life was for children and the attempts to maintain a sense of normalcy in the most abnormal of times.

Sheila talks about her father and his role in the food industry, which allowed him to stay in London and provide a vital service.