Wartime Perceptions and Attitudes (continued)

Slogans on cinema newsreels, in newspapers and on hoardings urged the population to "support the war effort", to remember that "the enemy is listening" and to consider "is your journey really necessary?".

As the war progressed physically fit young men were conscripted for military service, older men were recruited to work on construction projects and young women were invited to join the land army to work on farms which had lost their employees to military service.

Primary and secondary industry was conscripted to work on projects essential to the production of war supplies. Wartime requirements caused a major transformation to the industrial scene.

Those in the armed services were supplied with food, clothing, accommodation and transport although they had no choice but to accept what was offered. At the same time those with families were well aware of the sacrifices being made on the home front. After almost six years of war most of those in uniform were eager to see the end of military service and most families were keen to have them home and see the end of wartime rationing.

By war's end those in military service had become accustomed to a vastly different way of life from that in pre-war days, as had the civilian population, and some adjustments were necessary to adapt to peacetime conditions.

Bureau of Meteorology