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This story was submitted to the people war Website by a volunteer from Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life on behalf of Ida Goodfellow.

IDA GOODFELLOW

Identity Cards for everyone .
Blackout all windows — wardens to check (could be fined). No street lights — headlights of cars blacked out except for a small slit.
All signposts were removed.
Barrage balloons over larger cities (London especially) to prevent enemy sneaking in to bomb at low level.
Ration cards for everyone.
Soap power rationed — petrol rationed.
Chocolate rationed — sugar, tea, butter, cheese, meat, milk, eggs, etc.
Nylons were not in use until the US Army appeared.
As silk stockings were on coupons we dyed our legs, and drew a seam up the back of the leg (to represent a seam) with an eyeliner pencil.
No wrapping paper, or bags for food from shops, took your own. Hard luck in you dropped anything on floor — brushed it off. Bread was never wrapped in the shops. Dried egg used instead of fresh eggs (also rationed) Yuk! Woolton pie (also yuk!) Vegetables only.
Had only 6 inches of water in bath tub — instructed to paint a line on the bath!
Home Guard (usually people who were over the age to be called up, or in reserved occupations).
If bombed out had to apply for clothing coupons — also sheets, towels, curtains, etc. Took weeks to get them!
Made teacloths from flour sacks (after boiling them).
Fire watching — duty at nights — to put out incendiary bombs (lit up whole place — ready for next wave of planes — who had heavy bombs to destroy everything_.
When sheets (no duvets then) wore out turned sides to middle, to prolong their life.
During air raids (at night time in London) being a fire watcher we sheltered where we could — doorways — sheds, etc. and watched the ack-ack guns (anti-aircraft) firing above at the intruders — and also saw the shrapnel hit the pavement and bounce up with a terrific spark. We usually waited for the guns to stop and go and retrieve bits of the shrapnel, they were red hot for a few minutes — but we were pleased to get a trophy! Kids collected them like conkers!
Asked to dig up the lawn in gardens and grow vegetables for your own use ‘DIG FOR VICTORY’ was the slogan.
Many people in London took their families and slept on the platforms of the underground stations — a little difficult if one was travelling by tube — had to step over sleeping families.
Posters on walls depicting ‘Walls have ears’ — to be aware there could be spies amongst ordinary people!

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