Published: 22/07/2010 12:00

Gassing over the fence

GERALD Hanrahan of Wolverhampton Photographic Society has kindly sent us these two photographs that were taken during and just after the war in the Bradley area of Bilston, underlining just how important a good old gossip over the garden fence was for morale at home, despite the circumstances.

Gassing over the garden fence in Bradley during the war

Judging by a line full of washing blowing in the wind behind one of the women, the first picture was probably taken on a Monday, during a break between chores. The three young children look as though they’re having a whale of a time and the woman behind the fence leaning on the gate is in thoughtful pose. The second picture takes the prize as the ultimate portrayal of gassing over the garden fence with two neighbours wearing their regulation gas masks whilst trying to get the jobs done.

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