Growing up as a child during the Second World War could be a frightening, strange or even an exciting experience. For many city children the war brought evacuation to the countryside and a way of life very different from the one they were used to. For children who remained in areas that suffered from German air strikes, escaping to bomb shelters, and donning the 'Mickey Mouse' gas mask, became part of life. War brought new excitement for boys who could now add parts of downed German aircraft, or parts of bombs, to their collections of conkers and string. For many girls the war brought greater...

World War II affected every aspect of everyday life on the home front. From food rationing to air raid shelters, war work to the Squander Bug, those left at home had to take huge changes in their stride as Britain mobilized, economized, and saved in the name of Victory.

Wartime Britain takes a look at what these changes actually meant for families: how families coped when parents went to fight and children were evacuated; how pets were fed during rationing; the rise in road accidents during the blackout; and 'shelter cough'.