Detailing the town’s response to the outbreak of war on September 3, 1939, John Cooper’s new book describes how Watford prepared for potential invasions and air raids.
This included digging trenches, distributing Anderson air-raid shelters, enacting blackout regulations, and issuing gas masks.
The book gives details how Watford became a haven for roughly 3,000 London children due to the Government’s evacuation plan, following the outbreak of war.
The town’s residents also played their part, joining the Home Guard and the Women’s Land Army, affectionately dubbed ‘Land Girls’.
The harsh reality of war came to Watford’s doorstep on September 7, 1940, when the Blitz on London extended to the town with savage bombing raids from the German Luftwaffe.
John’s book aims to lead readers through Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s broadcast to the nation declaring war, through to the declaration of Victory in Europe in May 1945.
The book concludes with the stirring onset of a hard-won peace.
Watford in World War 2: 1939-1945, which includes more than 150 images is priced at £10, and is available for purchase from John Cooper via 07850 685233 or by emailing cooper.vernley@hotmail.com.
