Long before war was declared on 3 September 1939, Brighton had steadily
and carefully prepared for the coming conflict by building shelters,
organising defence and rescue services, and providing the population
with advice of its own or from government sources. These precautions
stood the town in good stead when the first bombs fell on it in mid-1940
and during the many subsequent attacks.
The resort did not, admittedly, suffer as grievously as some others on
the South Coast, yet civilian casualties totalled nearly 1,000, of whom
over 200 were killed, 357 were seriously injured and 433 slightly
injured.
This is not the first book to reveal the toll of the bombs locally, but
it is the first to describe, in parallel, day-to-day events and societal
responses during the nearly six years of conflict. As elsewhere,
restrictions often made life arduous for residents. Yet despite the
hardship, the town's citizens even marshalled sufficient resources to
'adopt' two battleships and generously saved towards assisting with
other wartime causes, such as help to our ally, Russia.
The hospitality trade and resort-related services suffered greatly
during the periods when the defence ban on entering the town was
enforced. In many respects, however, life went on largely as before,
particularly in the spheres of entertainment, leisure and some sports.
Douglas d'Enno, an authority on the history of Brighton and environs,
shows in meticulous detail, in absorbing text and numerous pictures, how
life in wartime Brighton was a struggle for many, but never dull.
