Traveling home
The day was long, and everyone was exhausted.
1941
“And on the news tonight…”
The mini radio figurine stood on the kitchen counter and kept the Allpress family company in south London day and night. Their singular radio was one of the only ways they could stay in touch in a war-ridden world.
As a family living during the Blitz, every day was a mystery. It’s possible they gathered mainly in the kitchen area, welcoming the distraction the radio presented.
Some families had a bed underneath their kitchen table in case they could not make it to their bunker in time or if they did not have one.
It is likely they did not own any pets. Many pamphlets encouraged people to get rid of any animals. A couple years before, London took the lives of almost 400,000 animals.
In the model house, a single loaf of bread sat on the table untouched. Due to food rationing, they could only afford to get a bar of margarine. A mini flashlight was always kept handy because during the nights, blackout curtains were drawn to hide houses from bombers. In the model, a candle was present in almost every room. During this time period, families would also use armbands, buttons, and flowers as makeshift light sources.
During the day, the family would work to wash and air dry their clothes on the lawn. They had a vegetable garden in the backyard as an extra source of food.
Located right next to the model garden was the model bunker, a tight shelter made of steel and iron panels to protect the family from the force of bombs. They could only hope they didn’t receive a direct hit. Some kept siren suits handy: a robe that could be easily put on over pajamas if the air raid sounded and it was necessary to retreat to the bunker.
The model included a few board games, mugs, dominos, and a suitcase with the necessities. Children were given Mickey Mouse gas masks to protect themselves from potential pollution and damage.
The whir and crash of bombings set the scene for many citizens in London.
During the war, many were confined to their homes and were not fully aware of what was truly going on beyond the fence of their homes. Many did not know about France and Britain not stopping Hitler from invading Poland or of the millions of Jewish people in Germany being sent to concentration camps to die. The home acted as a censored realm, a wall dividing your backyard from the sins and sacrifices your country made.
Your backyard gave you a sneak peek into a hellish war. The window provided a small glimpse of the soldiers in planes and Jeeps and submarines fighting for their lives. Battling hell.