Women of the War Years: Women in Britain During 1939 to 1945

London: Futura, 2009. Book. Fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 10" x 7 5/8", 128 pages, black and white photographs, photographs on final page in colour. The coming of war to Britain for the second time in a century meant different things to different women and called for difficult decisions to be made about their lives. For housewives, there were the practicalities of finding and putting up black-out materials, stocking up air-raid shelters, even if they were just cupboards under the stairs, joining voluntary services and, as conscription gathered pace, taking some categories of women as well as many men away to war so the Women's Land Army and the Lumber Jills of the Forestry Service started. Women also played a large part in civil defence - the Auxiliary Fire Service, Air Raid Precautions and the Women's Transport Services among others. Women also carried on their daily lives - giving birth, bringing up their children and trying to make ends meet. Wartime life saw a relaxing of the strict moral code and saw an increase in illegitimacy rates. The book covers ration books, the arrival of the American GIs with gifts of nylon stockings, chocolate and coffee for the lucky few. Illustrated boards, fine in near fine dw..