To commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe, Studio Mondesrande has released a special illustration, which was born out of the Starter Pack Trend (hand drawn!) on social media. This art piece initially was just a contribution to this trend but then developed into a small yet fascinating research project.
The 1940s British Homefront Starter Pack, introducing Beth with all her essential belongings to get her through the hardships of war and austerity. You may already recognise some of her items, so let’s have a closer look.
Fair Shares for All
The 1940s Homefront was all about making do with what you had, and Beth’s items were chosen to reflect that sentiment. In 1940, the British government introduced food rations to ensure people received their fair share of food. Every individual was given their own ration book with coupons, which were required before buying any rationed goods such as sugar, meat or cheese (IWM). Due to shortages, many people went hungry, and Beth of course was no exception and had her very own ration book to keep her going.
Digging for Victory
Not all food was rationed however, fruits and vegetables were always purchasable if supply allowed. In fact, growing your own produce was encouraged to make up for shortages. The government introduced a scheme known as the ‘Dig for Victory’ which became one of the most successful propaganda campaigns during the Second World War. Gardens and public parks were converted into allotments and brought people together, giving them a sense of community and true participation in the war effort (Ibid; Davison, RHS). This really was a time for green fingers to shine. Let’s hope Beth had a green thumb herself!
Fashion on the Ration
Of course, gardners weren’t the only ones to shine. This was an era of ingenuity and creativity. Alongside food, clothes also were strictly controlled. The demand for uniforms put a strain on Britain’s textile industries and in order to prioritise war productions, the government had to rein in the manufacture and consumption of civilian clothes. And so, in 1941, clothes were put on the ration. Just like with all rationed goods, you needed to have a certain number of coupons to purchase any article of clothing (IWM).
This brought in another campaign with its catchy slogan ‘Make do Mend.’ Educational Pamphlets and posters on how to make your shoes and clothes last longer as well as on how to mend certain items were circulated to disseminate important skills. As the war progressed, austerities grew, and people had to rely on creative and innovative methods to make their clothes last (Ibid). For a lot of women like Beth, fashion remained an important part of escapism and joy in such dark times. The average middle-class woman in Britain owned around seven dresses, who would have taken good care of her beloved pieces (Summers, English Heritage). Our Beth wears her favourite frock which still carries many decorative elements of the late 1930s, and you can count on her to make it last for many years to come. Notice Beth fashioning patriotic colours on this historical day.
Housekeeper by Day, Warden by Night
Housekeeping and fashion weren’t the only things on Beth’s mind. She also did her bit for the war effort in other ways, by joining the Air Raid Precaution as a warden. Beth and her peers would have had a number of duties such monitoring and reporting bomb damage as well as educating and enforcing safety measures among her fellow civilians (IWM). As the steel helmet suggests, the work of a warden was very dangerous at times for which many people including Beth risked their lives for.
Beauty is your Duty!
A far less dangerous duty of course was beauty. The Second Word War was no time for opulence, but beauty remained important in the lives of women. Indeed, a lack of interest in one’s appearance became a concern of morale and therefor make-up, albeit very expensive was never rationed (IWM). Just like many other brave women, Beth would have never left the house without her compact and red lipstick.
Morale on the Wireless
Finally but not least, her beloved always by her side. Perhaps the hardest challenge of all is being apart from loved ones, not knowing when you’ll be reunited if ever. Uncertainty loomed over many people and only little comfort could be found in letters and broadcasts. Letters were monitored and news broadcast, especially regarding the war, were heavily censored (Irving, 2024, British Online Archives), but making the wireless accessible despite shortages was important for managing public morale as entertainment programmes kept spirits high (Hendy, BBC; Science and Media Museum, 2022). The ‘Wartime Civilian Receiver’ came out on the market for a cheap price, but Beth had the luck of already owning a lovely yet functional radio.
With much relief the war came to an end in 1945, but austerity remained a reality for Britain’s people. Although commodities gradually became available again over the years, it wasn’t until 1954 when all goods came off the ration. The war might have been over but hardships especially for those who had lost loved ones, continued. In honour of all the civilians who not only survived the bombings but also endured extensive shortages and painful losses, Studio Mondesrande has selected six key objects that defined the British Homefront, and which kept our Beth going through turbulent times.
Bibliography
Davison, F. Digging For Victory: The Royal Horticultural Society. Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/features/digging-for-victory
Hendy, D. Morale and Music: What sort of radio lifted the spirits for those listening at home in wartime?: History of the BBC. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/ww2/music-morale
Irving, H. (2024) Censorship: Policy and Practice During the Second World War: British Online Archives. Available at: https://britishonlinearchives.com/collections/126/contextual-essays/776/censorship-policy-and-practice-during-the-second-world-war
Summers, J. Wartime Wardrobes: What 1940s fashion rationing can teach us about
style and society: English Heritage. Available at: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/wartime-wardrobes-1940s-fashion-rationing/
8 Facts about Clothes Rationing in Britain During the Second World War: Imperial War Museum. Available at: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/8-facts-about-clothes-rationing-in-britain-during-the-second-world-war
8 Objects Used By Air Raid Wardens During The Blitz: Imperial War Museum. Available at: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/8-objects-used-by-air-raid-wardens-during-the-blitz
10 Top Tips For Winning At ‘Make Do And Mend:’ Imperial War Museum. Available at: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/10-top-tips-for-winning-at-make-do-and-mend
(2022) Television and radio in the Second World War: Science and Media Museum. Available at: https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/tv-radio-second-world-war
What You Need To Know About Rationing In The Second World War: Imperial War Museum. Available at: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-you-need-to-know-about-rationing-in-the-second-world-war