World War One: on the home front in working class London

The tremendous death toll of the 1914-18 War was borne by the soldiers fighting on the overseas fronts, not by civilians. As children, we were too young to understand death, loss of mobility or disfigurement. So the variety of sights associated with the war on the home front were fascinating and enjoyable.

  

Air raids in WW1

We did have air raids but they were nowhere near as lethal as those of the Second World War because the weapons were less advanced.

When there was a German air-raid, we children loved to see the search lights criss-crossing the sky at night, and it was a highlight for us to see a German aeroplane caught in one of them.

I remember one evening in particular when a German plane was brought down in flames. The brilliance and colour of the display lit up the whole sky and my brothers and I were mesmerised at the sight of it and thrilled and proud at what we regarded as a mini-victory for our country. Our mother, though, did not smile. She simply remarked on the sadness for some family, somewhere. With hindsight, as an adult, I of course feel the same, and am ashamed of our childlike reactions.

The observation balloon station

There was an Observation Balloon Station in Hazelbury Road, next to the Latymer School. We never understood what the balloons were for. They seemed to be stationary in the sky with ropes attached to them and were not unlike the German Zeppelins, although of course much smaller. On the way back from Sunday School we would go and look at the soldiers lining up for their Sunday dinner [lunch], each carrying a knife, fork and spoon.

Peace, 1918

I was at school the day that peace was declared, and we children were sent home for a half day's holiday. Shortly afterwards people in our road, Lopen Road, began to organise a street peace party.

It was a time of celebration for some, but not for the families whose menfolk would not come home. As I write, I think of Harry Lauder, who was a well-known Scottish comedian. He started as a coal miner, but his gift of song and humour attracted attention, particularly in London, and around 1920 he was knighted. He too had a son who did not come home after WW1, and it was said that King George V admired him for the song he sang afterwards:

"Keep right on to the end of the road."

Harry Lauder was well-known, but ordinary people who were unknown suffered the same loss and knew the same heartache. My grandmother lost her son, Arthur Ewens, and my aunt lost her fiancee.