Explored through both archival research and oral testimony, this study brings to life the personal experiences of Glasgow’s wartime children and their memories of peacetime, between the years 1939, when Britain declared war on Germany, and 1960, just three years after Prime Minister Harold MacMillan famously stated that “Our people have never had it so good.” Delivered during an extraordinary global pandemic, we found ways to train and work with over thirty volunteers who participated in a number of ways: conducting research, writing text, interviewing volunteers (many via online platforms), editing, transcribing, creating original artwork based on oral testimony, organising events, and the list goes on! Together with our wonderful respondents, we and our volunteers generated an impressive oral history archive of more than thirty interviews and written testimonies.
Our respondents, many now aged in their 80s and 90s, told us how they and their families were effected during the war, with some having experienced bombings, and all remembering hearing enemy aeroplanes overhead and seeking refuge in air raid shelters. Some children seem to have enjoyed their war, whilst others have remarked that they were often frightened and missed their fathers, brothers or uncles who served overseas in the forces. Some youngsters were moved far away from their friends; some lived in former prisoner of war camps, both during and after WWII; and some forever lost contact with family members, friends and former neighbours. They told us many more stories about family, rationing, education, housing, healthcare provision, and leisure activities.
Our respondents, many now aged in their 80s and 90s, told us how they and their families were effected during the war, with some having experienced bombings, and all remembering hearing enemy aeroplanes overhead and seeking refuge in air raid shelters. Some children seem to have enjoyed their war, whilst others have remarked that they were often frightened and missed their fathers, brothers or uncles who served overseas in the forces. Some youngsters were moved far away from their friends; some lived in former prisoner of war camps, both during and after WWII; and some forever lost contact with family members, friends and former neighbours. They told us many more stories about family, rationing, education, housing, healthcare provision, and leisure activities.
