One day in the life of an Englishwoman in 1941
The phrase "Keep calm and carry on", which has become a symbol of Britain, translates 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 case of an acute crisis in order to raise the morale of the British, inspire them with fearlessness and optimism. But the posters were not needed: the British continued to remain calm with dignity and live their normal lives despite the hardships of the war.
Imagine: 1941, the Second World War is in full swing. Somewhere, while still far away, military operations are underway, 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 the non-peaceful years. It turns out that during the war, the Ministry of the Photographic Department of Information was instructed to create non-stop propaganda photographs reflecting the harsh reality of that time.
And one of these photo shoots took place in England in Mrs. Olive's apartment during one typical day. At first glance, her day looks like an ordinary one, but if you look closer, you will notice gas masks, traces of bombing, a spare bed in the basement…
1. Mrs. Olive gets up at 7 a.m. On her bedside table there is a gas mask and a flashlight in case of a night bombing.
2. She pulls back the curtains and opens the window. There is no glass — it is knocked out by the blast wave.
3. Instead of glass — a piece of linen cloth.
4. Takes milk and morning newspapers. There are buckets of sand nearby in case of fire.
5. Breakfast in the living room. There are no two glasses. The rest are covered with paper criss-cross, so as not to get hurt by shrapnel during the bombing.
6. Cleaning on the stairs. Mrs. Olive puts an asbestos mat — it reduces the likelihood of a fire.
7. And these are the traces of the bombing with incendiary bombs on the ceiling…
8....and on the floor.
9. Mrs. Olive cleans the fireplace, setting aside large coals for reuse.
10. Prepares a bed in the basement in case of an air raid.
11. Sorts the garbage.
12. Morning trip to the store.
13. The grocer makes notes in her grocery card — tea, sugar, margarine, fat and bacon.
14. Bus ride to work. In the background there 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 cooking 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.