The Second World War as Experienced by a British Schoolboy

At ten years old, young Douglas M. Gebbie witnessed the igniting spark of World War II firsthand. As Douglas and his family listen intently to the BBC radio broadcast, the world-altering news rings out: Hitler has invaded Poland. In the town of Hull in Yorkshire, England, Douglas’s father serves as The Medical Officer of Health, a position of major responsibility as he is to ensure safety across two hospitals, organize the ambulance service, and oversee the quality of the water supply and the elimination of sewage. With the country thrown into a tailspin, the Gebbie family must learn to adapt to a new reality—one with shortages, rations, and raids. As a teenager shaped by the events of WWII, Douglas Gebbie offers a vital account of the era, a perspective that uniquely captures the reality of families and children during a most significant time in world history.