Chorleywood at War 1939 – 1945

Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, a small team of Chorleywood u3a members has created a compelling portrait of how that conflict changed and shaped everyday life in the village. Drawing on some newly available materials, contemporary local newspapers, personal testimonies and archives, the book captures not just the upheaval but also the resilience of a community living through challenging and extraordinary times. It also summarises the lives of the young men from the village who died in the service of their country.

The book charts the preparations for war, the arrival of evacuees, the mobilisation of the Home Guard, and the work of land girls, firemen, ARP wardens and other volunteers. It highlights the daily challenges of rationing, fundraising, salvage and recycling, and the blackout, alongside the resourcefulness and humour with which people adapted. “Digging for Victory” became much more than a slogan, as gardens and even parts of the Common were turned over to food production.  It also reveals a world of highly secret activities that surrounded the village.
  
Chorleywood at War 1939 – 1945 is published by Chorleywood u3a in conjunction with Chorleywood Bookshop and will be available from the Bookshop from 22nd October. The authors will be participating in a bookshop event on Thursday 13th November at 7.00pm in Chorleywood Library.