Transition from War to Peace

Out of the 90,000 dwelling houses in the city before the war, it is estimated that 84,000 were damaged in some form or another. At the end of the war the city’s life was at an extremely low ebb, with desolation everywhere and morale dangerously low.

Crowds in Queen Victoria Square

At the close of the Second World War life did not return to normal overnight. Instead, a gradual stand down of war-time services took place with their activities and responsibilities reduced or ceased over time.

As the Civil Defence Service wound down surplus equipment and emergency vehicles were sold or disposed of. Surplus equipment included uniforms, respirators, microphone attachments, bleaching powder, and sandbags. In many cases, Government owned civil defence rescue vehicles were retained by the Hull City Council and purchased by various departments.  

Civil Defence vehicle disc, 1945

Prior to the war the population of Kingston upon Hull had been 318,000, but during the war years this dropped significantly to about 200,000. Those who left the City in service or as evacuees made a gradual return home. During the Second World War almost 38,000 children were evacuated from Hull. 

By February 1946 1,897 prisoners of war; men and women from German, Italian and Japanese camps had returned to Hull. To celebrate their safe return three functions were held at the Madeley Street Baths on the 13th, 20th and 27th February 1946. 

Due to difficulties importing food to Britain during the Second World War rationing was introduced to the nation in January 1940. In order to ensure that everyone received an equal amount of food every person received a ration book, which they had to take with them to the shops and get the items they bought crossed off by the shopkeeper. Rationing was not limited only to food of course, restrictions were also placed on fuel and clothing. Rationing continued for many years after the end of hostilities and some aspects of rationing became stricter for some years after the War.

Fuel Coupon, 1950

The Ministry of Food controlled the distribution of food during and in the immediate years after the War. The Ministry was responsible for providing information on food rationing as well as giving advice on the use of all foods. Most people had been grateful to the Ministry of Food for its work during the war years, as it had helped people make the most of the restricted foods available. However, a year or so after the war had ended people began to feel disenchanted by the Ministry’s advice and wanted restrictions to be lifted and rationing to end as quickly as possible. 
  

During the Second World War air raid shelters had served their purpose; providing protection during enemy air raids and saving many lives in the process. Without the threat of air raids once the war had ended, however, the air raid shelters were no longer needed to fulfil their original function. 

Home Office leaflet of peace time uses for shelters, 1946 For those retaining shelter materials the Home Office Civil Defence Department published leaflets offering advice and instructions on how to transform Anderson and Morrison shelters and other civil defence materials for peace time use.

Leaflet for how to adapt a shelter into a coal bunker, 1946

Did You Know? 
1,788 people in Hull Corporation properties applied to retain their domestic air raid shelter