These were referred to as ‘UXBs’ and had to be dealt with by trained specialists.Īt first, these objects, lying dormant either due to a delayed fuse or having failed to detonate, were a cause for concern to mainly military targets. After these attacks, clearance parties would move in to repair damage and clear away the rubble, but in doing so they revealed a new danger in the form of the unexploded bomb. At first, it was the airfields used by the RAF, later extending to port facilities such as Portsmouth and Dover. Then, in early July, after the Dunkirk evacuation, the Luftwaffe was ordered to attack targets on the British mainland. When the Germans attacked west in May 1940, their fleet of bomber aircraft was used to attack centres of civilian residences such as Rotterdam and Calais. By extension, the roles of the Air Raid Precaution (ARP), Royal Observer Corps, Women’s Institute (WI) and the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS), were all vital in keeping the country running.
Although the term has come to be seen as describing the experiences of the civilian population, and how they coped with the Blitz and food rationing, it also covers the duties of the emergency services.
The Home Front is a popular theme among re-enactors who do not want to depict a military unit, whilst also providing an opportunity for collectors who are interested in the social history of this unique period of the war.
