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The War Years in Monkwearmouth
Between 1939 and 1945 most Monkwearmouth men worked in the local shipyards. Shipbuilding was then one of the biggest and busiest industries. During this period J L Thompson's designed cargo ships known as 'Liberty Ships'. These had an important role to play during the War Years along with the shipping launched by Doxfords.
Women played a big part in the work at the yards and possessed the skills of most men, with welding being the main one. Painting the ships was another task completed by women. The yards worked around the clock and at night the welders would light up the skies and shipyard noises could be heard for miles around. The total number of ships built from September 1939 to December 1944 was 246.

Squander Bug
The Squander Bug was in every newspaper in the country urging you to save more of your money but this didn't apply to the poor people of Monkwearmouth as most jobs were poorly paid. The Daily sketch of 11th January stated 'Maybe you thought the Squander Bug had had it. Don't be deceived. When you find yourself saying 'I thought I had a ten shilling note' watch out. It sounds like a Squander Bug nibbling at your will to save. Whenever he raises his ugly head, squash him. The need to save is as urgent as ever. Save to finish the War and speed the peace. Save in your own interest so that you will have money to spend with a good conscience when there are more things in the shops. That way you should buy National Saving Stamps, saving certificates and Defence Bonds'

Ration Books
When ration books were issued they contained coupons for food, clothes and sweets. Extra Christmas rations were published in newspapers such as The Daily Sketch and the Pictorial. Adult ration books were buff coloured, a baby鈥檚 green and a junior鈥檚 blue. A half-pound of sugar and marg could be obtained only once between December 10th and January 6th in the early Forties. The meat ration increased from sixpence to elevenpence towards the end of the War. The extra meat ration authorised on form RG 48 was one and tenpence with elevenpence for a child between17th and 23rd December. For vegetarians, cheese was six ounces (12 oz if authorized to have two special rations), which could only be obtained once between December 10th and January 6th. Half a pound of chocolate and sweets could only be obtained with green and blue ration books. 鈥楧鈥� coupons were worth one point each and 鈥楨鈥� coupons four points each. Holders of weekly seamen鈥檚 ration books were given extra sugar and marg but no meat. Holders of Duty ration cards were eligible for extra sugar, marg, meat and cheese.
You could get your food rations from most shops in Monkwearmouth, as there were many corner shops. The Co-op store was on the corner of Dame Dorothy Street and opposite the William Pile pub. Moores little grocery stood in Dock Street 鈥� they seemed to be the most popular. Then there were Collinson鈥檚 off beer licence, Polly鈥檚, Carricks, Kitty Cunningham鈥檚 (whose mother Ethel also delivered newspapers in a pram) and many more where you could buy your sweet ration.

ARP Wardens
Many men were called up but those who weren鈥檛 were needed for the shipyards and the pits. They gave a lot of their spare time by joining the ARP, which was voluntary, and my father was one of them. They were called Air Raid Wardens. At night and after work they would meet in the ARP post, which was in Zetland Street (it was also used for voting). Their uniforms were a navy topcoat, a heavy metal helmet and always a gas mask. They took a lot of risks especially during the blackout. Their jobs were to help people in distress and those whose homes were bombed, helping to save what household goods they could. For those involved, going into the dark streets to check everybody鈥檚 windows for showing lights was dangerous with enemy aircraft overhead killing and injuring quite a few.

AIR RAID SHELTERS

There were two types of air raid shelters built during the war. The Anderson shelters were made of corrugated iron and built deep into the ground. There were none in Monkwearmouth as there were no back gardens only back yards. Instead Morrison shelters were built, which were of brick and had a cement top, a danger to the children as they were used as a playground, especially the ones that were built in the streets near J L Thompson鈥檚 shipyard which were all joined together, six in all. I remember the mothers shouting from the windows鈥� get down from there now in case you fall鈥� - there would be a scatter to clamber down, but after a while it was soon forgotten and it would start all over again without any fear. The shelters were cold and damp but could be made comfortable with an old clippie mat and a curtain at the entrance. Most had bunk beds for the children and a candle that was carefully placed on a small ledge. A Sing Song was had by all until the 鈥楢ll Clear鈥� went. What spirit the people of Monkwearmouth had.

WAR PRICES

Craven A cigarettes 10 for1/2d
Brook Bond tea 1/7d per half pound
Eve soap, Eve shampoo, Drene shampoo 7陆d and 1/10陆 d
Phospherine Tonic 1/4d and 3/3d
Oxydol Soap powder 3陆d and one coupon
Dettol ointment 1/5d and 3/4陆 d
Lifebuoy soap 3陆d and one coupon
Andrews liver salts 8 ozs 2/-
Fairy Soap 6陆 d for two tablets and two coupons
Puritan Soap 3录d a tablet and two coupons
T C P 1/3d and 3/-
Colgate 1/1d
Aspirin 1/11陆d and 1/5d Cartons 6d
Fynnon salts 1/6d
Rowntrees Cocoa 1/6d per pound 9陆d for half-pound Carton 5d
Zubes 3陆 d per oz 8d a tin
Hind鈥檚 Honey and Almond Cream10陆 d and 1/8d
Eno鈥檚 Fruit salts 2/- and 3/6 per bottle
Bovril 1 oz 7陆d 2 oz 1/2d
Beechams Powders 2陆 d each
Kelloggs Wheat Flakes 5陆d and two points
Bile Beans 3/3d
Milton for catarrh 8d, Bob Martin 9 for 7d
Dr Cassell鈥檚 Nerve Tablets 1/4d
Thermogene Medicated wadding 1/3d and 3/-

6d =2 陆p 1/- = 5p 2/- =10p 3/- =15p

BOMBS ON MONKWEARMOUTH

When the Germans made their way across the North Sea everyone knew they were aiming for the shipyards, factories and the pit but the hardest hit were the houses. Many people were killed or injured. A bomb dropped on the railway goods yard. The Sheepfolds railway bridge and the Royal Hotel were also damaged. The worst was when the Bromarsh Picture Hall had a direct hit. Many were killed that night in the shelter underneath. My father, being an A.R.P. Warden helped carry the dead and injured out. It affected him for quite a while, as many of them were children. Bloomfield Street was damaged and in Victor Street a bomb missed the houses and fell in the back lane. Four young children were killed in Barclay Street. The Jack Crawford Hotel, William Street Chapel and Bright Street Chapel were also hit. The sirens sounded 247 times. In the whole town, 267 people were killed, 991 were injured, over 1000 buildings were flattened and 2,700 were badly damaged.

GAS MASKS

Gas masks were issued from A.R.P. Headquarters in Thornholme. A cradle- like shape was issued for the very tiny babies. Toddlers had pink ones but school children had the same as adults. The children had to carry them to school 鈥� usually in a box or Ostermilk tin, which lasted longer. There was a practice of trying them on before hanging them on the back of the seat until home time. Luckily there were never any gas bombs dropped so the masks were never needed.

JOAN QUINN

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