Bombardment, Public Safety and Resilience in English Coastal Communities during the First World War

This book makes the case for a unique coastal-urban experience of war on the home front during the First World War, focusing on case studies from the north-east of England. The use of case studies from this region problematises an often assumed national or generalised experience of civilian life during the war, by shifting the frame of analysis away from the metropolis. This book begins with chapters related to wartime resilience, including analysis of pre-war fear of invasion and bombardment, and government policy on public safety. It then moves on to a discussion of power relations and the local implementation of policy related to bombardment, including policing. Finally, the book explores the 'coastal-urban' environment, focusing on depictions of war damage in popular culture, and the wartime and post-war commemoration of civilian bombardment. This work provides a multi-faceted perspective on civilian resilience, while responding to a recent call for new histories of the 'coastalzone'.

Analyzes wartime experience of coastal communities in Britain in WWI Examines wartime ephemera, including pieces of shrapnel, decommissioned ordnance and ornamental objects Argues for interdisicplinary approach using social and cultural history methods

Auteur

Michael Reeve is a Lecturer in History at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, UK. He received his PhD in History from the University of Hull, UK, in 2019, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Contenu

1. Introduction.- 2 Constructing Fear of Invasion and Bombardment.- 3. Public Safety and Home Defence: The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) and Central Government Policy.- 4. Local Interpretation and Implementation of Central Government Policy on Home and Civil Defence.- 5. Policing DORA.- 6. Representing War Damage and Destruction Following Bombardment.- 7. The Wartime and Post-war Legacies of Civilian Bombardment.- 8. Conclusion.