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What of the women who stayed at home and 'kept the home fires burning'? Although not subject to the dangers their menfolk might suffer, nor the dangers faced by many ordinary civilians in the great cities which suffered heavy bombing, nevertheless in their way, they all did their bit.
The first problem they had to contend with was blacking their own windows so that not a chink of light would show at night. Heaven help the woman who was careless, for the ARP Warden would soon be knocking at her door shouting, 'put the light out, don't you know there's a war on'.
The second and perhaps the most worrying problem was rationing. Ration books had to be collected from food centres and then she had to register with a particular grocer or butcher. Shop shelves soon became empty. If you saw a tin or a carton, you could be sure it was a dummy. Any luxury items, such as tins of fruit or Spam were strictly under the counter for favoured customers.
The Ministry of Food issued leaflets showing housewives the best way to cook meals and how best to use their meagre rations. Queues were inevitable and became such a way of life that people would join a queue without even knowing what they were queuing for. We may laugh at the antics of Corporal Jones in 'Dad's Army’ doling out one or two sausages to his pet customers, but this was how it was.
Of course rations were supplemented by vegetables for nearly everyone followed the advice 'Dig for Victory', or kept chickens or pigs, so the humble potato still remained the most popular item of food. Food was very scarce and precious, and waste was a criminal offence. Early in the war in 1940, the Echo recounts two Cheltenham housewives who had wasted food. After all, men like Mr. Hazell were risking their lives to bring food and war supplies to the country.
Gas masks were issued to everyone at the beginning of the war and had to be carried everywhere, but fortunately were not needed. As more and more goods disappeared from the shops, people were forced to make do and mend. Clothes rationing was imposed and people began to barter, not only clothing coupons but also food coupons. If someone did not take sugar, they swapped their sugar ration for say tea or butter. In the autumn extra sugar was issued for bottled fruit or to make preserves. When she wasn't queuing, digging for victory, making preserves or writing to loved ones in the forces, the housewife would be knitting comforts for the troops and making over old clothes. At the same time there was the ever-present danger of air raids.
Cheltenham received its share of air raids early in the war when German bombs rained down killing several people and causing much damage. The nearest they came to causing damage in Arle and Hesters Way was at the railway near Arle Road bridge, Rowanfield and Kipling Road. A bomb is believed to have dropped in the garden at Box Cottage but fortunately the Webbs were not hurt.
It was a time of deprivation and adjustment but the British women no less than their menfolk did what they could for the War Effort.

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