Homefront Collection

William Heath Robinson drawing showing soldiers unaware of the camouflaged famous Stonehenge moving around in Wiltshire. Date: 1941

Christmas parcels for the trenches 1916
Army Post Office in Regents Park, was receiving a rate of half a million parcels for Christmas a day for the soldiers in the trenches

St Pauls Bomb Damage
20th October 1940: St Pauls Cathedral after a direct hit during the blitz in London. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Woman sewing
Woman sitting down sewing. Date: 1917

Women as electricians WWI
Women in London electric station. During World War One there seemed to be no limit to the number of civilian occupations that women showed themselves cabable of replacing men

Broadside regarding knitting mittens and gloves
3028960 Broadside regarding knitting mittens and gloves; Private Collection; (add.info.: Broadside regarding knitting mittens and gloves for the 4th New Hampshire Volunteers); © Don Troiani

Original First World War postcard
2915213 Original First World War postcard; Photo © Hilary Morgan.

A Family emerging from the Anderson Shelter. Date: circa 1941

Preparatory Training Centre, Rathbone Road, Liverpool, 2nd July 1940. The school is now being expanded for use as a training centre for the instruction in the engineering trades

Artist Norman Keene replicating the original drawings done by William Heath Robinson on boarded up shop fronts in London. Heath Robinson designed pictures to illustrate the particular merchandise

Auxiliary Territorial Service using search lights at night to spot on coming aircraft. Date: 1943

Moving Famous London Statues to Safety 1941
The Burghers of Calais by Augustave Robin, in Victoria Gardens, Westminster being moved to a place of safety. As a precaution against possible bombing precious art

Mrs Robert Hudson wife of Minister of Agriculture and member of the Women's Voluntary Service, in East End, London. Giving out hundreds of articles of clothing

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visiting the East End of London, which suffered fierce bombing. They walked over debris examined the damage

Londoners sleeping in the Underground during the Blitz
German bombing campaign against Britain between September 1940 and May 1941 mainly targeting London and industrial places

Local Defence Volunteer Force 1940
Local defence volunteer force turns out to defend towns and villages if German attempt to parachute in Britain. Volunteers wearing two-piece khaki uniforms

The Whole Art of Anti-Dive-Bomber Camouflage
British military tanks and soldiers in disguise as civilians, so when seen from above the bombers don't attack. Date: 1941

The Roof Raising Defence to Defeat Dive-Bombers
Latest device drawn by William Heath Robinson to defeat the dive bombers is a roof-raising by system of cogs, balloons and other lifting machinery. Date: 1941

Camouflage v Camouflage During Invasion Practice
William Heath Robinson has come up with a solution to save on man-power in the East Coast of England. Revolving helmets being paraded around on a primitive pulley system with the locals clapping

Camouflaging the Colonel's Breakfast
Under elaborate cover the regimental cooks get to work, invisible from the air by a table of cabbages. Date: 1941

Invasion Bells and the Fifth Column
A suggestion that a Gang of Spies could attempt to disguise themselves as innocent country folk and succeed in stopping the ringing of the church bells used in warning of attempted invasion

Camouflaged civilians, home guards and dogs in a London park hiding from the enemy above. Date: 1941

Suggestion by William Heath Robinson for defence of London, a spinning platform land with camouflaged anti-aircraft guns. Date: 1941

Defence during the summer months from the beach, home guards hiding with their gun ready. Date: 1941

Trying to carry on as usual! Tennis players camouflaged from above in case of invasion. Date: 1941

German soldiers spotting buildings far in the distance, not realising that it's a setup consisting of a miniature country town coursing the perspective to be all wrong. Date: 1941

As a precaution against possible bombing precious art, relics, sculptures and memorials where moved out of London to a secret place. This was given to the Nation by the National Art Collections Fund

Couples ingenious device so they don't wake up the baby. A makeshift pump that extinguishes incendiary bombs that have landed in your home without leaving the comfort of your bed. Date: 1941

How to Make Roof-Spotting a Pleasure
William Heath Robinson invention for keeping watch from attack. A warden perched up high above the streets with an umbrella for protection, tea-cup-holder and an easy chair. Date: 1941

The New Top-Flat Rescue Apparatus in Action
Apparatus for rescuing people from high buildings that have been damaged from heavy bombing. Date: 1941

From Bedroom to Shelter in One
Kind warden sets the machine in motion to allow people to sleep through a air-raid. Swinging from bedroom to living room to shelter without waking. Date: 1941

British soldiers had landed in Italy by parachute, here is an illustration by William Heath Robinson showing how they returned! Date: 1941

The Home Front by Frank Reynolds
All clear, dear! Mothers gone, Date: 1940

A Warm Welcome for Every Parachutist
Sixth column strategy: Foresight plans, if London gets invaded by landing Germans dropping from the skies dressed as British civilians they would be collected up by cyclist with tubs of hot boiling

Frustrating an Attempt to Disorganise London
Sixth column strategy: Disguised as Gothic pinnacles the famous clock, Big Ben is being altered by an odd contraption, to confuse the general public. Date: 1940

Rational Gadgets For Your Coupons by William Heath Robinson
Customers are put on scales to determine how much butter they are entitled to, the heavier the person is, the more butter they are given. Date: 1940

Uncrossing the Crosses on a Hot + Bun
A contraption for removing the cross on a hot cross bun left over from Easter. Date: 1922

Food will win the war - You came here seeking freedom, now you must help to preserve it - Wheat is needed for
5854215 Food will win the war - You came here seeking freedom, now you must help to preserve it - Wheat is needed for the allies - waste nothing, 1917 (lithograph) by Chambers

The Bystander - keeps pace with the times
What we may soon see if the present shortage of paper grows even more insistent. Date: 1917

Are we uprooted? No! by G. L Stampa
Are we uprooted? No! Despite the fact that a three storey house has had a huge explosion near by and shrapnel has pierced through their home

Papa to shopwalker: Oh er -I wanta Noahs Ark. Date: 1914

He: "I seed some of these ere Belguims to-day. They re a funny speakin people
He: " I seed some of these ere Belguims to-day. They re a funny speakin people; some on em yer can t understand what thay say." Date: 1914

Artist Paints Scenes Amidst the Ruins 1940
Mr. Rudolf Haybrook who designed dresses and scenery for the Gaiety Theatre before World War Two, was given special permission to capture the scenes of West End in London in a blaze during the Blitz

Brightening up the London Peepshow windows
It was suggested that artist of repute should be invited by West End shopkeepers to design distinctive decorations on surrounding shop windows, during the Blitz

A Game of darts - Civil Defence Workers recreation. Date: circa 1942

Evacuees in the grounds of their Hostel. Date: circa 1942

A Tactical Table made by Men of the Auxiliary Fire Service (A.F.S.). Date: circa 1942

Making Toys at a Fire Station. Date: circa 1942

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"Homefront: Unseen Heroes and Resilient Spirits" Amidst the chaos of war, the homefront became a battleground of courage and compassion. In 1916, Christmas parcels filled with hope were sent to the trenches, reminding soldiers that they were not forgotten. The devastating bomb damage inflicted upon St Paul's Cathedral in London served as a haunting reminder of the enemy's relentless attacks. In this tumultuous era, women emerged as unsung heroes on the homefront. With determination and skill, they sewed uniforms for their loved ones serving at war. Breaking barriers further, women took up roles as electricians during World War I, proving their invaluable contribution to society. Artistic endeavors also played a role in boosting morale amidst adversity. Norman Keene meticulously replicated William Heath Robinson's original drawings on boarded-up shop fronts in London. These whimsical illustrations showcased the merchandise inside these shops - a glimpse into normalcy during uncertain times. The Auxiliary Territorial Service employed searchlights at night in 1943 to spot incoming aircrafts - an act of bravery that safeguarded countless lives from bombings overhead. Similarly, famous statues were moved to safety in 1941 to preserve history while protecting them from destruction caused by relentless air raids. Mrs Robert Hudson exemplified selflessness through her work with Women's Voluntary Service in East End London. Distributing clothing and comforts to those who had lost everything due to bombings brought solace amidst despair. During King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's visit to East End London – an area ravaged by fierce bombing – they walked over debris, examined craters firsthand, shook hands with survivors and demolition workers alike; their presence symbolizing solidarity and resilience. Londoners found refuge underground during the Blitz when sleeping quarters turned into makeshift shelters against constant bombardment - united by fear but unwavering resolve. The Local Defence Volunteer Force formed in 1940 demonstrated ordinary citizens stepping forward bravely to protect their homeland.