Warwick at War 1939–45 (Paperback)
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Series: Your Towns & Cities in World War Two
Pages: 235
Illustrations: 25
ISBN: 9781526722355
Published: 27th January 2020
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When the Second World War broke out, Warwick already had public air raid shelters planned, gas masks were being distributed, and there was even a power struggle when Warwickshire County Council took control of the Air Raid Wardens from the police. Although Warwick was not a prime target for the Luftwaffe, nearby Coventry was and minor blackout regulations were rigorously enforced. St Mary`s Church was believed to have been used as a marker for the Luftwaffe, and when Coventry was attacked in November 1940, the flames could be seen from Warwick. Afterwards, refugees soon began arriving from the stricken city.
Visiting American and Canadian troops were welcomed in their thousands, although other temporarily stationed service personnel were not always so popular, as their arrival coincided with a shortage of other local young men in the town and bigamy cases were not unknown. Meanwhile, rationing brought its own problems; the stealing of both petrol and ration coupons was not unheard of, while the shortage of petrol resulted in a rise in offences involving the use of bicycles, usually by service personnel.
By late 1944, it was apparent the Allies had won the war and the Home Guard was stood down. Indeed, the celebrations for VE Day had been prepared long before victory was declared.
The publishers are justly respected by their catalogue of military history series and the series of which this book is the latest addition has proved extremely popular. The author has provided a warm and well researched history of Warwick at War . – Very Highly Recommended.
Firetrench
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This book like many of the others, follows the same structure in that each chapter covers a year of the war, and apart from a few paragraphs at the start of each chapter about the actual war front, the chapter is mainly about how it effects local people and the things that have to change or be implemented. I think the thing about these books is that they are full of all the interesting local bits of knowledge you rarely hear about. It’s just a fascinating read, which makes for a compelling book. Credit to the author Graham Sutherland for writing another great book, the information is great to read and is accompanied by brilliant photographs and pictures which just enhance the book. I can’t recommend the ‘Your Town and Cities in World War Two’ books highly enough, I’ve loved reading every single one.
UK Historian
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Article: ‘Warwick author publishes new book about war time in the town’ as featured by
The Courier, 29th January 2020 – words by Kirstie Smith
About Graham Sutherland
Graham Sutherland has lived in Warwick for nearly fifty years. A retired police inspector, he is married with three adult children. Warwick's former town crier for more than twenty-eight years, he now works as a Blue Badge tourist guide, speaker and story teller, specialising in Warwick and the Cotswolds. Graham writes a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books, several with Warwick connections.