Life in Letters - The Women at Home

Three letters were written in October 1940 by Elizabeth Sharr to her grandson and his wife. Her name was Lily but always called Jean to avoid confusion with another family member. Signed Grandma and Dad. Although "Dad" was in fact Ken's grandfather.

She describes their lucky escape when their house was bombed and most of its contents destroyed. Unusually they had gone to visit their son because West Ham, where they live, was heavily bombed and they couldn't sleep because of the noise. After their house was destroyed, they moved in with their son and other relatives until they died, never having their own home again. These letters describe the above.

Seven letters were written by Amelia Phillips to her daughter Lily and son-in-law Ken from August to October 1940. They detail her everyday life in Walworth during the Blitz. She describes how she copes with the bombing, on one occasion sleeping under the Kitchen table. Also, how houses around her were bombed and destroyed. She talks about events concerning all her children (she had eight living at this time) as had been passed on through the family grapevine. Some letters were signed by Mother and Nellie. Nellie being the unmarried daughter who lived at home and worked in the NAAFI.