A COLLABORATIVE endeavour by Neil Storey and Fiona Kay, Faces of the Home Front 1939-1945 utilises an eclectic mix of never-before seen photographs and gripping first-hand accounts to bring to life the stories of everyday Britons during the Second World War, writes Ethan Heppell.

The book delves deep into aspects of the historic conflict seldom focused on, such as the exploits of those serving on the Home Front - with a particular interest in the roles undertaken by women such as those who were a part of Devon’s Amazon Defence Corps.

With a handful of historical and rather remarkable exceptions, the art of war has been a practice typically reserved for the menfolk.

However, during the Second World WarGreat Britain faced a seemingly insurmountable opponent in the Nazis and so were in dire need of more... for want of a better word... manpower.

Women from across the country stepped up to fill many of the roles traditionally held by men in the name of sticking two fingers up to Hitler; from driving ambulances to manufacturing munitions, women’s contributions were nothing less than vital to the war effort.

Faces of the Home Front 1939-1945 also details extensively the numerous civilian-led groups active throughout the conflict such as Air Raid Wardens and the Auxiliary Fire Service to name two.

The book details how the ordinary person got on with their life during the war: everything from the changing of dress to the organising of weddings in a time where one had to ’make do’.

The history documented in Neil and Fiona’s book is beautifully brought to life thanks to the inclusion of a range of truly stunning photographs, images of posters of the period as well as advertisements and other similar visuals.

Most importantly perhaps, the book highlights that in spite of the death and destruction typical of war there is much joy and laughter to be found in-between such unpleasantness.

=Faces of the Home Front 1939-1945 can be purchased online via Pen and Swords Books, a British publisher specialising in books detailing military history.