At the start of the
War, Identity Cards
were issued to everyone
and they had to be carried
at all times. Cuerden
Hall in Bamber Bridge
near Preston was supposedly
earmarked for the seat
of Government if the
Germans overran London
and the Home Counties.
Preston was also seen
as an important marker,
for if the Germans took
it then the rest of
the country would probably
fall. Men and women
joined up and those
that couldn’t ‘did their
bit’ in the Home Guard,
on the land or in the
factories.
However the invasion
never came and people
and factories in the
County were put on a
permanent war footing.
Munitions were made
at ROF sites locally
at Euxton (Chorley)
and Blackburn, whilst
Leyland Motors changed
from producing vehicles
to tanks. Aircraft were
built by their thousands
at sites such as Samlesbury,
near Preston. Rationing
eventually came into
being as food and basic
commodities became scarce.
“Make do and mend”,
“Dig for Victory” and
“Be like Dad, keep Mum”
became well known catchphrases,
not only in Lancashire
but across the country.
