War Time Liverpool

[scouserdave]

I can't imagine how life must have been for the people of Liverpool between 39-45. I can still recall playing in the bombdies in the early 60s.
Picture scanned from "Bombers over Merseyside - The Authoritative Record of the Blitz 1940-41" Liverpool Daily Post And Echo Ltd. 1943

[scouserdave]

My Mum was evacuated to N. Wales in WW2, but my Dad stayed in Liverpool. He told me he had the time of his life. After the bombings, him and his mates used to looking for shrapnel
Kids eh?

[Waterways]

I can't imagine how life must have been for the people of Liverpool between 39-45.

My mother could imitate the sound of a German bomber dropping its load. The engines raced as the plane became lighter. When the engines raced you ducked and prayed.

Early in the war, my Dad saw the occasional dog fight over the Mersey. Liverpool had more homes destroyed in percentage than London. Bootle was the most bombed town in WW2. Canada Dock the most bombed square mile.

Liverpool was poorly defended with a few night fighters while London had most. London was a less important target as it was a propaganda target while Liverpool was a strategic target - the Atlantic convoys. London Docks closed down and the London dockers and their families taken to Clydeside. Half the Liverpool Docks were out of action in the May Blitz 1941. The Germans never knew this.

[ChrisGeorge]

I can't imagine how life must have been for the people of Liverpool between 39-45. I can still recall playing in the bombdies in the early 60s.
Picture scanned from "Bombers over Merseyside - The Authoritative Record of the Blitz 1940-41" Liverpool Daily Post And Echo Ltd. 1943

Great picture, Dave. My grandparents in Mossley Hill had that very book but I fear it went the way of all flesh and it is lost to me now. Pity.

Also, thanks, Waterways, for your information on the Blitz.

Chris

[Kev]

Here's some images:

[Kev]

....and some more.....

[john]

Widnes Home Guard
They would frighten anyone

[ChrisGeorge]

Widnes Home Guard
They would frighten anyone

My Grandad, George T. Matchett, served as a Sergeant in the Home Guard in Liverpool. He had been in the Lancashire Hussars and the Lancashire Fusiliers in World War I. Between the wars he obtained work with the GPO telephones, a position from which he retired as a manager in the 1950's.

Chris

[Kev]

...and some more.........worth a read

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Kev

Wonderful material, Kev. You had better tell us where exactly you are getting this stuff though...

Chris

[Kev]

Hi Kev

Wonderful material, Kev. You had better tell us where exactly you are getting this stuff though...

Chris

Germans mate, nar joking really, Records Office at Liverpool City Library

[ChrisGeorge]

Thanks, Kev, the typescript pages look like an official wartime diary of the Blitz.

Chris

[A.D.W]

Thanks, Kev, the typescript pages look like an official wartime diary of the Blitz.

Chris

Merseyside's Secret Blitz Diary: Liverpool at War

[EdF]

Another good book on the Blitz is "Port in a Storm" by John Hughes. I picked up a copy at the Albert Dock book store last year.
It is a blow-by blow account of the May 1941 raids on the docks, and ships in the river. After reading this I wonder how we survived.
Even though I was only 6, I have some vivid memories of the time.

[ChrisGeorge]

Thank you, Cissie and EdF for those good leads!

Chris