Children of the 1940s: A Social History

The 1940s were a difficult time, with bombings, evacuations, rationing, and strict discipline at school. However, there were also some pleasures, such as weekly cinema trips, comic books, and Enid Blyton books. The arrival of the Americans brought excitement, but buzz bombs brought fear and devastation. VE Day was followed by a victory parade, but austerity continued to gnaw away. Mike Hutton's book takes you back to a different world, where streets were filled with live theatre, knife grinders, rat catchers, and the cries of the rag and bone man. The stories are nostalgic, sad, and hilarious.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 04 July 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The 1940s were a time of great change and upheaval, with the impact of World War II still being felt across the country. Growing up in the 1940s was a unique experience, with a mix of challenges and opportunities that shaped the lives of many children.

One of the most significant aspects of growing up in the 1940s was the impact of the war on the country. Bombings and air raids were a regular occurrence, and many children were forced to leave their homes and move to safer areas. This led to a clash of cultures between city centre kids and their country cousins, as they were exposed to different ways of life and experiences.

At school, children were subjected to strict discipline and a shortage of food due to stringent rationing. Bomb sites provided ready-made adventure playgrounds, and children enjoyed simple pleasures such as a weekly pilgrimage to the local cinema for Saturday morning pictures. Sales of comics boomed, and Enid Blyton churned out countless books that were generally loved by the young.

The arrival of the Americans in 1945 caused a flutter of excitement for children and their elder sisters and mums too. Just when it appeared that the war was all over, there was a new threat in the form of buzz bombs, which brought fear and devastation. However, there was eventually a brief moment of celebration with VE Day, followed by a massive victory parade.

Austerity continued to gnaw away, not helped by cold winters with frost lining the inside of window frames. Returning fathers were often unwanted strangers, while some returning were confronted with babies fathered by other men. This led to much sorting out and adjustment for families.

Mike Hutton's book "The Skinny Army of the 1940s" takes readers back to a different world, one where streets offered live theatre populated by knife grinders, rat catchers, and the cries of the rag and bone man. The skinny army of the 1940s are now old, but their stories live on. Some are desperately sad, while others are warmly nostalgic, and others are quite hilarious.

Growing up in the 1940s was a unique experience that shaped the lives of many children. It was a time of great change and upheaval, but it also provided opportunities for adventure, creativity, and resilience. The memories of those who grew up in this era will always be treasured, and they serve as a reminder of the strength and determination of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Weight: 512g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399049504