There were many savings campaigns during the war to help support Britain. At the time, my future father-in-law, Kenneth John Wilson, ISO, MBE, was the Regional Commissioner of the National Savings Committee for the London region. Fundraising campaigns such as Salute the Soldier and Wings for Victory were very popular and effective in raising money for the war effort. The towns and counties were always having competitions to exceed each other in the amount of money they could raise. There was a trophy for the “Bob in the Pound.” A bob was a shilling, twelve pence. Towns were expected to save a bob for every pound they earned. The competition between the towns was fierce.
In costume for a Spitfire Concert; left, Phyllis as tarantella dancer, right, Doreen as a little old lady. Courtesy of Doreen Miller
Everyone was united in their effort to win the war. There was so much publicity to rally everyone to protect our country and win the war. Slogans such as Careless Talk Costs Lives, Even the Walls Have Ears, Make Your Money Fight, Save Now for a Sunny Day when Cheaper Things are On Display, Help Britain Pull Through, and Look Lively London, Now’s the Time to Raise a Towering Savings Total (referring to the Tower of London). After the war, there was a Silver Lining parachute display in Hyde Park. The slogan on a parachutist was, “If this man can jump to it, so can you.” Londoners saved £2,425,400,000 from September 1939 to February 1947 as reported in The Savings News.
Victory at last
“Lord Haw Haw” would scare us children by broadcasting from Germany that we were losing the war. Lord Haw-Haw was a nickname for the wartime traitor who conducted propaganda broadcasts that opened with “Jairmany calling, Jairmany calling,” spoken in a comic upper-class accent. However, with the Allies in England, we felt more secure that we were going to win the war.
Finally, we celebrated victory in May 1945. I remember the victory parties where tables and chairs were set down in the center of the streets with an abundance of Union Jacks decorating the tables. Everyone sang “There’ll Always be an England, and England Shall be Free if England Means as Much to You as England means to Me.”
From the beach, we could see ships decorated overall, and church bells rang out the joyous news that the war in Europe was over and we were at peace at last.
What I remember most about the people in England is that we worked in unity. Everyone did whatever they had to do to win the war. People had a wonderful spirit. It’s the British way, keep a stiff upper lip and carry on.
About the author
Doreen Wilson lives in Venice, Florida, and is a writer and painter. After the war, Doreen went to London University and worked for the Bank of England. She was married to Peter John Wilson, and has three sons, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Linda Russo is a marketing communications executive and serves on the Board of Trustees of the SS American Victory Ship, one of only four operational World War II merchant ships in the U.S. linda@lindarusso.net