Daily Life

The war lasted nearly six years, and every aspect of daily life was to be affected by the war effort. Everyone, including children, was required to comply with the emergency measures which the government put in place to meet the demands of war time. These measures were widespread, and their effects gradually became more demanding as the war progressed.

Local people also carried out voluntary work for the general benefit of the townspeople and the military billeted in the area.

Campaigns

The Penny a Week savings scheme was organised by the local Red Cross members. It came under the general National Savings Movement. In January 1943, it was reported that the scheme had raised for the month £18/3/1d (£18.15p) at Holland-on-Sea, and at Clacton £49/3/1d (£49.15p).

Parade for the Wings for Victory campaign

Wings for Victory week. There were major national savings campaigns to raise money for military equipment. During June 1943, the Clacton Wings for Victory Week raised the incredible sum of £104,219. This money came from a series of events like Whist Drives, sport events and dances. It was raised with a vastly reduced population as many people were still evacuated. Click here for details of other national savings weeks.

John Bull and children collecting salvage

Salvage. It was important not to be wasteful in everyday life. Food was rationed, peelings from fruit and vegetables were composted, and many people grew their own vegetables. Undeveloped building sites, especially at Holland-on-Sea were used as allotments. Some people also kept pigs or chickens in their gardens. Brown paper was folded and saved, together with string for reuse. As the war years progressed shops were not allowed to wrap up any purchases made.

Clacton children collecting salvage, 1941  (from the Clacton and East Essex Gazette)

Special salvage campaigns, usually lasting a week were regularly organised. Metals, which included brass, lead, copper, bronze, pewter and aluminium were collected. Various locations in the town were advertised as collecting points. Children helped in collecting items.

Advert for the Essex Book Recovery Drive

Books were also collected. In an April 1943 National Book Recovery Drive, Clacton was given a target of 20,000 books to collect. The WVS (Women's Voluntary Service) and Youth Organisations were allocated to help with this task.

Among other salvage items regularly required were: rags, bones (i.e. bones from joints of meat), string, newspapers and magazines and rubber.

Churches

The different churches served the residents and the military personnel in the town. When invasion threatened during 1940, some churches closed as the population evacuated. One church to close was Christchurch in Carnarvon Road. When the population began to return to the town, it re-opened in May 1942. Saint Bartholomew's church at Holland-on-Sea was another church which closed when the curate evacuated, along with most of the population! It also was to re-open later. The Salvation Army held open air services during the summer months in Pier Avenue.

Weekday meetings, especially for women, were popular. Repair and darning work was carried out for the troops at these meeting which always included a cup of tea. One such group was the Circle of Friendship at the Wesleyan church at Holland-on-Sea.

Details of a church service in 1945

At VE and VJ days (Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan) special services were held at all the churches, including an interdenominational service held at the Town Hall, Station Road. The Reverend H G Redgrave, Vicar of St. James' church conducted this service, assisted by other priests.

Entertainment

Details of concert, 1944

There were many things that people in Clacton could do in their free time.

Whist Drives , a card game played with four players to each card table, were very popular throughout the wartime years. An M.C. (Master of Ceremonies) organised the number of tables and players and the start of each game. Prizes were awarded to the winners. Cups of tea were an important part of each Whist Drive. Several Whist Drives took place each week in the town. They were popular with the soldiers billeted in the town.

Dances were regularly arranged. The Royal Hotel, the Town Hall and the Queens Hall at Holland-on-Sea were amongst many places where they were held. Military bands played the popular tunes of the day. Regiments had their own entertainments officers. Spot prizes were usually part of each event. Following V.E. Day in May 1945, the Royal Army Service Corp, RASC, held a Grand Victory Dance at the Town Hall in Station Road, Clacton. Admission was 2/6d.

Radio was a hugely important part of everyday life during the duration. Listening to the news bulletins was an essential part of each day, and children had to be quiet. News was mainly on the Home Service Programme, while entertainment was on the Light Programme. Music programmes of all types were broadcast, most of these being broadcast live from a studio. Comedy programmes were important to keep up morale. Two of the most listened to programmes were, ‘Music While You Work' and the comedy show I.T.M.A., which stood for ‘It's That Man Again.' That man was Tommy Handley.

 

Cinema advert, 1944

The Cinema , or ‘The Pictures' as it was generally known, drew large audiences each week. Two films were usually shown, with a newsreel. In Clacton there were three main cinemas.

Restrictions:

Blackout. It was an offence to show a light during the hours of the blackout. A.R.P. Wardens and the police rigorously enforced the restrictions. The purpose was to prevent any lights showing which could aid enemy planes. Special blackout material was available from shops. It was the householder's responsibility to ensure their property did not show any light. Street lights were switched off. Vehicles were fitted with shields to their lights, which deflected the light downwards onto the road. Accidents increased during the hours of darkness. To improve safety, the kerbstones and telegraph poles in Clacton were painted with alternate black and white bands. This made them easier to see in the dark.

Double summer time was introduced to maximise daylight hours. This helped to save on fuel. It also helped with farming work, especially at harvest time.

Travel.

Clacton was in 1940 deemed to be a restricted military place. Coastal restrictions were imposed around the coast from the east to the south coast. Road direction signs were removed, and private car use banned in July. The use of binoculars was prohibited for the duration. Every person in the country was issued with a National Identity Card. Travel was permitted, but the official advice was: ‘Is your journey really necessary?' Posters were used to tell people this message.

Schools.

Evacuees to Holland-on-Sea in 1939

Children, with their school teachers, were evacuated from the capital at the outbreak of war. It was feared that air attacks would be aimed at London and it would be unsafe for children. Clacton received children from Edmonton, North London. The local children were taught in the morning, then the evacuated children in the afternoon period. At Holland Road School (Holland Park School), 150 children were received. More children registered at St. Osyth Road School.

Clacton schoolchildren evacuated to Droitwich Spa, playing conkers, 1940 (Clacton Times and East Essex Gazette)	Football team from St. Osyth Road school, evacuated to Droitwich, 1940 (Clacton Times and East Essex Gazette)

At the Great Clacton Primary School off London Road, 421 infants and juniors from Silver Street School in Edmonton started lessons on the 18 th September 1939. Older children went to either the Clacton County High School, or Pathfields School (Colbaynes). When no attacks occurred initially on London, some evacuees returned home.

Invasion threatened in the summer of 1940. Local children and the remaining evacuees were sent from Clacton and district to Stroud, Kidderminster, Droitwich and Far Forrest in the West Midlands, among other places. They left by train from Clacton Railway Station. While Clacton children were away in the Midlands there were many reports of their activities and good health in the local press, so those parents and other people at home could be assured of their well-being.

The Clacton schools started to re-open from 1941 when invasion was less likely. During June, Pathfields School reopened, then in February 1942, St. Osyth Road School re-opened. The following year in January saw the County High School open after being closed in June 1940. Holland Road School did not reopen until 1945.

Schools were sometimes bombed. In November 1943 bombs fell on Great Holland. One bomb fell in the playground of the school which was severely damaged. Fortunately there were no injuries, but the school was never used again. The children went instead to Kirby school.

Shops

A shop advert for utility wear

During 1940 when there was the serious threat of invasion, and the population began to evacuate, many of the shops closed and were boarded up. Air raids also caused damage to premises. Shopkeepers who kept their shops open, or reopened after the invasion threat was past, had difficulty in obtaining stock. Non-essential items were even harder to get. Prices also increased. Those offering items on ration had to mark the customers' ration books.

The sea front

The beach, cliffs and promenades were defended with barbed wire, mines and machine gun posts. There were also anti-aircraft guns and searchlights along the cliff top. Access to the beach was prohibited. At all the road junctions to the sea front road large concrete blocks with barbed wire were positioned. People were not allowed to walk on the pier.

The military authorities allowed a small concession in the summer of 1943 when a small section of the beach was opened between 9am till 9pm.