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Nella Last's War
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January 2021: Nella Last's War: Thoughts While Reading
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Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.
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Jan 13, 2021 09:16AM
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I’ve thought a lot about that generation, especially in the last year. They must have been so strong. In the early stages of the pande..."
I have been thinking this too. In the early stages of the pandemic, I found myself reading a lot about the wars.
Tania & Brenda, thank you for sharing more experiences. It’s good to hear about the real life stories which make our history so interesting.
Trisha wrote: It’s good to hear about the real life stories which make our history so interesting.That is so true, it makes it more balanced too. It's almost surreal in a way to hear these accounts. Most stories and reports tend to lean to the soldiers, leaders or resistance fighters and the like. Almost to the point that someone like me is saturated with information if they read a lot of WWII books. I think it almost hits home more reading about someone that could be like myself.
I especially like the diary format of this book for that reason... you see how some days they are able to have a bit of a "normal life" but you see the war creeping in more and more. It's more relatable to me to read about a regular housewife than a soldier.
Tania wrote: No, I'm pretty sure she chose to go, she was the adventurous type, not very conventional, when she had children and couldn't go to work, (she was a teacher), she set up a school in their house. I don't think women were made to go to the front, but I could be wrong. What a wonderful story! a great memory to have.
I wish I'd thought before my grandparents passed to ask more questions about their history.
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message 57:
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Tania wrote: I think mum felt she couldn't escape school. Both her parents worked there, the headmaster was her godfather, her home was also used as a domitary for some of the boys, and up until the age of 11, she went there, the only girl in a boys school. She was good at cricket, but not allowed to play rugby. Oh gosh, that doesn’t sound like much fun for a little girl at all. I wonder if the boys disliked her also because her parents worked there? I hope she had some girls in the neighborhood she could play with at least.
Tania wrote: Early on in the book, Nella quotes her son Clive as saying "Such a lot of days and we keep having them". I can relate to this at the moment. : ))) Yes. It’s peculiar some of the parallels.
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The headmaster had daughters, I think her first year overlapped with the youngest ones last year. There were stables at the school, so she made friends with the horses. She says she became quite popular in her last year when the boys realised that if she was with them when they got into trouble, they escaped the cane! She was much happier when she got sent to a girls school.
I see what you mean by that palpable sense of fear, she seems to work a lot to take her mind off things.
How wonderful for her to have the horses! Animals seem to be able to give such joy. An unexpected comfort, many times when you need it most. I wonder if it was a culture shock for her going to the all girls school? 😁
I think a lot of people did the same. If you’re busy you can’t think as much. It seems like there were always things to be done anyway. Especially for the war effort. Perhaps it gives a sense of purpose and helping the soldiers and less fortunate. It helps overcome the feelings of helplessness.
7 May, 1941How wonderful the song the nightingale sings. I do love the last paragraph of this entry. In the midst of hell, there comes this small sweet song to bring a bit of cheer.
13 May, 1941
I like how she put this...
This war seems to have no end - it’s like a stone dropped in a lake where waves and surges are felt as unknown or unsuspected edges and shores.
28 May, 1941
It just strikes me so deeply when Nella mentions a few times now how she cries in her sleep and she doesn’t remember. What dreams she must have. It’s so hard to fathom how deeply people are affected.
15 June, 1941
I really loved this entry for the history it brought up. I appreciated learning what that area was like and how it’s changed.
I looked up the town of Barrow where they were at and see it’s almost a peninsula on the NW coast. I think I understand better now why it was a popular destination for Germans to destroy. I also looked up the Morrison shelter. It fits her description, but how strange.
So many things I’m reading about it’s just so hard to comprehend and I find I’m more reflective than finding words to express myself.
Brenda wrote: "... I also looked up the Morrison shelter. It fits her description, but how strange..."I haven’t read that far yet. But I thought both the Morrison & Anderson shelters were very strange. I’d been told about them & seen pictures, but was very shocked to see both types of shelter when they were part of a display at the Museum of London. I had no idea how small they were. Even without the fear of air raids, I don’t know how people got any sleep in such a claustrophobic structure. At least the Morrison shelters let people stay indoors. But some people just slept in their stair cupboard (a space under the staircase) as the structure gave more protection from falling debris than a ceiling.
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message 68:
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(last edited Jan 15, 2021 05:14AM)
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I found a recipe online for the infamous Lord Woolton Pie. It was a recipe designed to help people eat nutritiously on their meagre rations. I would actually be quite interested in trying this myself. I think it sounds as though it could be quite nice. The website has a whole load of wartime recipes that I'd be interested in looking through later.
Tania wrote: "https://the1940sexperiment.com/2016/0...I found a recipe online for the infamous Lord Woolton Pie. It was a recipe designed to help people eat nutrit..."
It sounds interesting, I hope you will tell us about your experiences with wartime recipes when you have time. I remember my mum telling me she had to learn to cook again when rationing ended - she was used to cooking with powdered egg & had to adapt to using real eggs!
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Tania that website looks great! Yes, the Woolton Pie doesn't sound bad. Especially for this time of year, seasonal and comforting.Trisha, I agree...how strange to even think one would need to relearn cooking, but after so many years on rations I can now understand.
I happened to see someone else reading Victory in The Kitchen: Wartime Recipes and found a copy in the interlibrary so put it on hold. I love all these tie ins and really get a bigger picture of what life was like.
Trisha, I think Nella had planned the under the stair shelter, but her husband finally relented and got the Morrison. I don't think the Anderson were as good...flooding and people getting stuck in them if I'm correct.
I did just see this as well...WW2 Rations 1940: per one person (adult)
Butter: 50g (2oz)
Bacon or ham: 100g (4oz)
Margarine: 100g (4oz)
Cooking fat/lard: 100g (4oz)
Sugar: 225g (8oz).
Meat: To the value of 1/2d and sometimes 1/10d – about 1lb (450g) to 12ozs (350g)
Milk: 3 pints (1800ml) occasionally dropping to 2 pints (1200ml).
Cheese: 2oz (50g) rising to 8oz (225g)
Eggs: 1 fresh egg a week.
Tea: 50g (2oz).
Jam: 450g (1lb) every two months.
Dried eggs: 1 packet (12 eggs) every four weeks.
Sweets & Chocolate: 350g (12oz) every four weeks
That’s interesting, Brenda. Tania may know better, but I think you’re right about Anderson shelters flooding - they were half buried, so it seems likely. They must have been very cold too. The rations you list are more than I thought - I think some rations were reduced later when supplies were more limited. Remember too how different shopping was - they didn’t go to a supermarket to buy everything, individual small shops sold different types of products so shopping took ages. I think you had to register for specific shops to use the coupons, though this may not have applied to all products.
I think this is where I remember hearing about the flooded shelters....there are quite a few different videos on YouTube of living during Wartime. Present day actors play the rolls and the one I saw at least was really quite interesting. I watched it just before Christmas as it's Wartime Farm Christmas Special.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR74V...
I've also bookmarked a few others... The 1940's house, Wartime Kitchen and Garden and Wartime Farm
Trisha wrote: The rations you list are more than I thought - I think some rations were reduced later when supplies were more limited. Remember too how different shopping was - they didn’t go to a supermarket to buy everything, individual small shops sold different types of products so shopping took ages. I think you had to register for specific shops to use the coupons, though this may not have applied to all products.I'm sure that's true. Reading on with Nella, the Germans cut off their supplies and things were really dire until they started getting supplies from the US and maybe other sources, if I recall correctly. And 1940 was still the beginning of the war, as it went on I can imagine things were harder and harder to get.
I know Nella also writes about queuing in lines. It seems like you'd spend your day in a queue. And for not a lot to show for it, if at times anything.
message 77:
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Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.
(last edited Jan 16, 2021 08:21AM)
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I'm afraid I don't. Looks like Brenda is our resident expert here. : )
I believe you're right about rations getting stricter, I read somewhere that bed linen wasn't rationed, so people would buy sheets to make into dresses and the like.
Also 1 gallon of petrol a week! I wonder if people in the countryside would have more. Mind you, bus services would have been much better then.
I finished reading the book today. In the edition I have, there was interesting information provided at the end of the book plus some family photos. Without giving any spoilers, I found it interesting to be reminded by the photos that people dressed much more formally than now. For example, men wore jackets & ties for a relaxing walk by the sea. In 2 of the photos it was very noticeable how much a person had aged in so few years, which probably happened to many people in wartime.I’m so pleased this book was chosen, thank you for sharing it.
So glad you liked the book Trisha. My book also has the extra info and photos. It is nice to put a face behind the story. It’s strange isn’t it how much the style of dress has changed. I remember Nella remarking then already how women were dressing “sloppier” I think about them wearing pants and not bothering with makeup. She could understand during the raids, but WHY NOW? Is what she wrote as I recall. If they could see us now?
Although I admit- since we’ve been on restrictions my wardrobe is mostly sweats and I may have put makeup on a handful or times in the last year.
Some passages that struck me... 4 August 1941
I thought this one interesting in that it’s 27 years since the Great War started, and Nella gives a short account of what that was like. That’s even more bewildering... knowing so many have gone through two wars.
28 August 1941
We’re getting some glimpses of Nella’s life before the war. It sounds like she had a nervous breakdown trying to conform to her husband’s ideals. I wonder in a way if the war has helped Nella in a way to get out on her own and do what she wants to do? So sad it takes a war for her to find some freedom and independence.
24 January 1942
I so appreciate Nella’s being so candid. The fight between her and her husband about Cliff going overseas. He wants him to be safe. But Nella knows fear cannot hold him back and they must let him do what he feels right.
1 April 1942
A very emotional passage marking the passing of Cliff’s friend George and how impactful it was.
I’ve started watching The 1940’s House on YouTube and it’s quite fascinating so far. I’m not sure what year it was filmed, but they’ve taken a random present day family, and plopped them into a house totally redesigned in 1940. They’re there for 9 weeks. It’s complete with air ride siren and devoid of our modern conveniences. The quality of the video is a bit blurry, there might be a better version about.
https://youtu.be/PWZQKbHOuKk
The boys are adorable, the wife is reading a copy of Nella Last’s War and they’re building an Anderson shelter.
Brenda wrote: "I’ve started watching The 1940’s House on YouTube and it’s quite fascinating so far. I’m not sure what year it was filmed, but they’ve taken a random present day family, and plopped them into a hou..."This was a series on UK television. They did similar programmes for other decades. Thank you for the reminder.
I just searched & found it was on Channel 4, first shown in 2001. Wikipedia has a lot of information about the series if you’re interested.
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2001 - wow, hard to believe 20 years ago. I’d be so curious what those boys think of their experience now and if that shaped the family’s experience now going through the Covid situation. There was a scene where the air raid siren went off for the first time and it was quite emotional. The ladies especially, getting the children ready to go to the shelter, feeling what it must have really been like.
27 April 1942Nella and her husband go for a ride to Blackpool with Nella’s in-laws. I was really curious at this section and surprised, as I think Nella was, at how much was available. Almost as if there was no rationing going on. I don’t suppose anyone knows why.? She does make a remark that all the civil servants were billeted there. Could that be the reason? Are they a special lot that gets exceptional treatment?
There’s a section some passages later when her cousin Mary comes to stay with them for a bit and they start talking about the treatment of many of the children sent to the country and it’s just shameful. There needs to be a special place in hades for people like that. Poor children, away from their parents in the middle of a war. I just can’t even believe people sometimes.
With that, I expect I’ll finish this book tomorrow.
I read at a slower pace and I am on page 128. I am interested in the voluntary work and how it is organized. As you said, it is actually not all voluntary, Nella is paid a little, right. But still the organization is based on ordinary citizens and not professionals. Nella is running around and they realize that she should do less and get someone else to do some of her work. (The situation reminds me of voluntary work I have seen elsewhere.)
Do we know what exactly Nella suffered three years ago?
It is only now that I realize Ruth works in her house. Even though they are only two grownups living at home. But housework was harder then.
It is as if Nella is a bit frustrated at being a woman and not going to war herself. She has a lot of opinions and anger with few chances to vent.
Charlotte, if I'm not mistaken the work she does at the centre is WVS, the Women's Voluntary Service and probably not paid. And it does seem to be made of ordinary citizens. I believe she is outside the age for being made to work at a war job though, thus I do think she's not paid, and most of the workers are older than she.Her husband works and she does get a household allowance from him. I didn't think about that aspect when reading so I didn't pay enough attention as I should. I rather think she's doing all of her work voluntarily, and even if she did get paid, she would find a way to put it back into the war effort, like buying wool, or supplies for dolls, etc.
Again, I'm not sure where it is indicated and might be a bit further in the book where you're at then, but Nella does say she suffered a nervous breakdown. I think if you read on a bit you will understand it better, she does give a bit more details and some background. I don't want to elaborate more to let you form your own feelings about it.
Nella does have a lot of opinions and anger. I think it is partly the war, but I think the war has allowed Nella to grow as a person - she's gained some independence and the realization of her abilities. I think the war lets her finds many things about herself, besides how strong a person can be.
I was amazed at that, Nella having a cleaning person come in. She was busy with her volunteer work. I didn't catch if it started because of the war or she always had one? It did give those less fortunate the ability to earn a little though.
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Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.
(last edited Jan 19, 2021 08:59AM)
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" Dr Millar started me off when I was so ill three years ago, and I find his words truer every day - that "repression is dealdly". So I give my honest opinion if asked. And, I reflected as I looked at him, often unasked."
On realising that her past 'peace at any price' policy didn't work for her.
I'm also reading this one slowly Charlotte, so I haven't got to the part where it goes into more detail about these events.
Many people had someone come to their homes to help with housework - it was heavy, time-consuming work without all our modern appliances. Traditionally Monday was washday - imagine washing heavy sheets by hand in a large sink, putting them through a huge mangle to remove some of the water, then pegging them on a line to dry. White items, including underwear & handkerchiefs, were usually boiled in a copper to get them white. Clothes had to be washed too, of course. It was very tiring & took all day. Most of Tuesday was spent ironing. Food had to be prepared for every meal - no convenience foods or ready meals! Shopping had to be done frequently as food couldn’t be stored for long. And the list goes on... Remember too that housework was mostly considered “women’s work” so husbands didn’t usually help. It seems shocking now, but it was the same for many years & lasted long after the war.
In watching the show on YouTube I am seeing a little bit of the housework, and YIKES! I guess I was surprised because it was during the war? And I guess I probably associated it with a more "upper class" person, and Nella makes it seem that they get buy, but she's a good manager. I suppose It didn't occur that it was so widespread having someone to help with the housework.
I have finished, I needed to get it back to the library, but I'm looking forward to your thoughts still as you read through. I'll post my final thoughts in that thread so please jump in there when you've finished if you like.
There are so many interesting details.I thought it was funny how Nella assesses her attire and states how old her dress, coat, gloves and sandals are. I guess that means that she thought it was unusual and a sign of war times that her pieces were several years old.
I am just looking at my own wardrobe and it is the same with me. I wear many things that are five or ten years old and don’t find it unusual, LOL. How about you?
Maybe this shows a development over time. They liked new clothes and the status. Here and now we have a wave of climate concious living.
The part about sex life and servicing husbands is interesting. I often think about this: That we tend to freak out about other cultures being awfully backward. But it wasn’t long ago things looked like that here with us.
It seems rough - that Nella has to talk back at neighbours like that, when they ask if she can keep an eye on their house. In the years prior to the war they were so used to helping each other naturally. Maybe the neighbours were also in shock and didn’t think about the realities. Or they were used to Nella’s abundant charity. Anyway their request was certainly strange.
Charlotte, I also wondered if she was assessing her wardrobe as she always seemed amazed at the people buying things like new clothes during the war. Spending foolishly in her opinoin. I think she was quite proud of her thrift and how she could stretch rations and refashion her clothes and the like. I have a mixed wardrobe myself, but many old pieces that is for sure. We have so much fast fashion now things don't last as they did anyway, at least in the U.S. I bought some yarn kits to make some wool sweaters, which I hope to keep for many years.
Wasn't that funny...I laughed aloud when the woman called out to her husband to find out what his "needs" were. It is a different time. I do think the war had a lot to do with changing the dynamics of the family.
I also thought some of Nella's neighbors requests were sometimes strange and thoughtless. People fleeing to different parts of the country and expected someone else to look after their things? Or get them groceries or whatnot? I think I would have given them a piece of my mind too. Poor Nella is just trying to survive and giving her extra time to the war effort and those scaredy cats, fleeing are asking her for favors. They were all scared.
I did find it funny when Nella would speak her mind though. I thought - good for you. I so appreciated her honesty and sharing all these stories. You got to see how the war affected everyone. And not everyone were so kind and generous as her.
Yes, it is a rare glimpse into someones mind. On the outside she is helpful, strong and witty. But we are let into what goes on inside her. She is very honest and also pours out a well of information on the society and people. I thought it was distressing, when I read about the woman (view spoiler)
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With regards the wardrobe, cloths were rationed in 1941. Each person had 60 coupons for the year, and that was reduced later. A woolen dress would be 11 coupons, other fabrics 7. In theory you would have enough coupons for 1 complete outfit, but I guess you'd have to choose between a winter or summer one. I think I mentioned up-thread that
I've heard of people buying bed sheets to make dresses from. New cloths would be a luxury. I also have plenty of old cloths in my wardrobe.
Tania wrote: "Good points Charlotte, she may have derived comfort from it.With regards the wardrobe, cloths were rationed in 1941. Each person had 60 coupons for the year, and that was reduced later. A woolen ..."
With rationing lasting long after the war too, clothes were a big problem. Even for her own wedding (after the war) my mum just wore her “best” dress. I think she told me it was blue. I remember her recycling knitting wool, unravelling old pullovers into hanks of wool which were washed (& sometimes dyed a different colour) then wound into balls ready for knitting something “new”. I still have her war-time pattern for knitted “rag bag” gloves which uses oddments of wool to make randomly striped gloves. Amazingly, even that has a knitted design too, not just plain stocking stitch.
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I think they had pamphlets helping women learn how to darn and fix their old clothes.I did get a copy of Housewife 49 and will watch it tonight. I’ve still not finished the other series on YouTube.
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I have found out that she did drive ambulances at the front; she drove down through France and into Germany. I'll try to do a bit more digging.
Afternoon Tea and Scones with the Lovely Ladies
Books mentioned in this topic
Victory in The Kitchen: Wartime Recipes (other topics)Nella Last's Peace: The Post-War Diaries of Housewife, 49 (other topics)
Nella Last in the 1950s: The Further Diaries of Housewife, 49 (other topics)
