September 1940 saw the beginning of one of the worst periods of the war for the civilian population - the Blitz. It is interesting that the British public adopted this German word for the night raids, which were launched on London and all major cities, from September 1940 to the end of May 1941.
Goering's change of tactics from mainly daytime air raids was in part due to the failure of the Luftwaffe to win the Battle of Britain. Now the civilian population, as well as strategic sites (such as factories and barracks), were to be attacked without mercy.
The first severe raid began on 7th September 1940 on the East end of London. Considerable damage was done not only to the Docks, but also to many terraced houses. There followed two months of almost continuous bombing, with approximately 160 German bombers shedding their load each night.
Against all expectations morale did not collapse. In fact, once over the initial shock, people returned to work, and production in the factories was not reduced. People came to take pride in making do and carrying on as normal, in far from normal circumstances. Rather then morale falling, the spirit of camaraderie resulting from the bombing brought people of all classes together as never before.
Of course there are many myths about the Blitz. Not everyone was able to cope and adapt to a destroyed house or lost loved one, and the incessant bombing night after night. But sufficient people did. At first people did not go out, but in time they returned to their 'normal' lives in spite of the Blackout, disrupted, broken gas and water mains, or no electricity. For many shops 'Business as Usual' was their brave notice displayed in a window often without its glass.
Warning of an air raid was by the Alert - the wail of a siren rising and falling to two minutes. This was the sound which once heard one would never forget. In these two minutes people would seek safety in a cellar, under the kitchen table, or in their own Anderson Shelter in the garden. If they were outside they would go to a public shelter. In Chislehurst in Kent thousands were admitted nightly to the famous caves, whilst in London many slept on the platform of the London Underground (the Tube).
Wherever you were you would hear the throb of the approaching bombers, then would come the parachute flares, amber or green, to make the bombing easier. Finally would come the bombs, when everything would shake and rattle and you would listen to the bombs raining down hoping that 'your number was not on it' as the soldiers at the front used to say. Finally would come the All clear - a two-minute blast on the siren. People emerged to carry on living their lives as best they could. This was repeated night after night during the day and then many would help in the various voluntary services at night - in the AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service), the home Guard, as air raid wardens, or as street wardens.