When the Second World War broke out, Warwick already had public air raid
shelters planned, gas masks were being distributed, and there was even a
power struggle when Warwickshire County Council took over Air Raid
Warden training from the police. Although Warwick was not a prime target
for the Luftwaffe, nearby Coventry was and minor blackout regulations
were rigorously enforced. St Mary`s Church was believed to have been
used as a marker for the Luftwaffe, and when Coventry was attacked in
November 1940, the flames could be seen from Warwick. Afterwards,
refugees soon began arriving from the stricken city.
Visiting American and Canadian troops were welcomed in their thousands,
although other temporarily stationed service personnel were not always
so popular, as their arrival coincided with a shortage of other local
young men in the town and bigamy cases were not unknown. Meanwhile,
rationing brought its own problems; the stealing of both petrol and
ration coupons was not unheard of, while the shortage of petrol resulted
in a rise in offenses involving the use of bicycles, usually by service
personnel.
By late 1944, it was apparent the Allies had won the war and the Home
Guard was stood down. Indeed, the celebrations for VE Day had been
prepared long before victory was declared.
