I am having a bit of a wobble in my life at the moment. I’m generally feeling exhausted and emotional among other things so of course, as always, I turn to our stoic and resilient families that lived for several years under incredible hardship during WW2. How did they get through? What would they have done?

That mighty poster springs to mind… “Keep Calm and Carry On”.

From Wikipedia:

Keep Calm and Carry On was a motivational poster produced by the Government of the United Kingdom in 1939 in preparation for World War II. The poster was intended to raise the morale of the British public, threatened with widely predicted mass air attacks on major cities.^[1][2] Although 2.45 million copies were printed, and the Blitz did in fact take place, the poster was only rarely publicly displayed and was little known until a copy was rediscovered in 2000 at Barter Books, a bookshop in Alnwick.^[3] It has since been re-issued by a number of private companies, and has been used as the decorative theme for a range of products.^[4]

Evocative of the Victorian belief in British stoicism – the “stiff upper lip“, self-discipline, fortitude, and remaining calm in adversity – the poster has become recognised around the world.^[5] It was thought that only two original copies survived until a collection of approximately 15 was brought in to the Antiques Roadshow in 2012 by the daughter of an ex-Royal Observer Corps member.^[6] A few further examples have come to light since.^[7]

Uncertainty

But of course there were many powerful phrases bandied around to raise morale and a common sense of bravery and steadfastness. I mean, what else can you do to cope? One can only imagine what people had to endure, physically and emotionally and with no end date, the uncertainty must have only added to their anxiety.

In short: fear, grief, and hardship coexisted with resilience, unity, and hope. This emotional duality is why the “home front spirit” is remembered as both incredibly tough and deeply inspiring.

Much love, C xxxx

Common Phrases and Slogans used during WW2

Resilience and encouragement

These phrases were designed to maintain morale during the Blitz and other hardships:

• Keep Calm and Carry On: Though now iconic, this phrase was originally a 1939 government poster that was not widely distributed at the time. It has been heavily popularised in recent years.
• “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory”: This was another government poster issued during the war, aimed at boosting public confidence.
• “We shall fight on the beaches…we shall never surrender”: Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s famous speeches provided powerful and defiant rallying cries that unified the nation.
• Make Do and Mend: This was the official campaign slogan for conserving and repairing clothes, household items, and appliances. It encouraged citizens to be thrifty and creative rather than buy new things. 

Security and secrecy

The government ran campaigns to encourage vigilance against spies and gossip.

• “Careless talk costs lives”: This was the most famous of a series of posters warning people to be careful about what they said, as German spies could be anywhere.
• “Be Like Dad – Keep Mum!”: A related slogan from the same campaign, using the old-fashioned term “mum” for silent.
• Loose Lips Sink Ships: Although this version is more strongly associated with American propaganda, the underlying message was prominent in the UK. 

Resourcefulness and rationing

As food and resources grew scarce, people were urged to conserve and contribute.

• “Dig for Victory”: This campaign encouraged people to grow their own fruit and vegetables in gardens, parks, and allotments to supplement their rations.
• “Go easy with bread, try potatoes instead”: A slogan promoted by the Ministry of Food to reduce the consumption of imported wheat.
• “Save kitchen waste to feed the pigs!”: People were encouraged to collect food scraps for a national pig and poultry feeding programme.
• Better Pot-Luck Than Humble Pie: This slogan, paired with images of Churchill and Hitler, urged people not to waste food. 

Everyday slang

While not official slogans, these phrases were common on the homefront:

• The Blitz: A shortening of the German word Blitzkrieg (“lightning war”), referring to the intense aerial bombing of British cities, particularly London.
• Having the wind up: A common phrase for being scared or afraid, originating from military slang.
• Going for a burton: A colloquialism for being killed or destroyed, particularly when a plane crashed. The phrase then came to mean anything that was ruined or no longer working.
• A cushy billet: A soft or easy job or position. This term had a military origin but became popular on the homefront to describe anything comfortable or pleasant.
• Chum: A popular term for a friend, comrade, or acquaintance, used in both military and civilian life.