A day in the life of an Englishwoman on the 41st
The phrase "Keep calm and carry on", which has become a symbol of Britain, is translated as "Keep calm and continue in the same spirit." At the beginning of the Second World War, it was planned to put up posters with this slogan throughout the country in the event of an acute crisis in order to raise the morale of the British, inspire them with fearlessness and optimism. But the posters were not required: the British with dignity continued to remain calm and live their ordinary lives despite the hardships of war.
Imagine: 1941, World War II is in full swing. Somewhere, still far away, hostilities are going on, and women and children are waiting at home, whom the war has affected no less. Modern photo archives are packed to the brim with old photographs that take us back to non-peaceful years. It turns out that during the war, the Ministry of the Photographic Information Department was instructed to create non-staged information and propaganda photographs that reflect the harsh reality of that time.
And one of those photo shoots took place in England at Mrs. Olive's apartment during one typical day. At first glance, her day looks like a normal one, but if you take a closer look, you will notice gas masks, traces of bombardments, a spare bed in the basement...
1. Mrs. Olive gets up at 7 am. On her bedside table is a gas mask and a flashlight in case of night bombing.
2. She draws back the curtains and opens the window. There is no glass - it is knocked out by an explosive wave.
3. Instead of glass - a piece of linen.
4. Takes milk and morning papers. There are buckets of sand nearby in case of fire.
5. Breakfast in the living room. There are no two glasses. The rest are sealed with paper crosswise, so as not to get hurt by fragments during the bombing.
6. Cleaning up the stairs. Mrs. Olive puts down an asbestos rug - it reduces the chance of a fire.
7. And these are traces of firebombing on the ceiling ...
8. ...and on the floor.
9. Mrs. Olive cleans the fireplace, setting aside large coals for reuse.
10. Making a bed in the basement in case of an air raid.
11. Sorts garbage.
12. Morning trip to the store.
13. The grocer makes notes on her grocery card - tea, sugar, margarine, fat and bacon.
14. Bus ride to work. In the background are traces of the bombing.
15. Mrs. Olive works as a secretary in an organization "related to the war." On weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00, on Saturday until 14:00.
16. Mrs. Olive is preparing dinner - today her husband has a short vacation.
17. Serves a table for two in the living room, almost like in peacetime.
18. And having set the table, knits warm clothes.
19. Meets her husband.
Keywords: England | World War II | Propaganda