Introduction

The historic city of Chester in Cheshire, in the north-west of England, experienced tragedies and hardships during the two World Wars. In the First World War many young men called up to fight in the conflict lost their lives, leaving communities bereft. On the Home Front, food shortages and the demands of wartime work in manufacturing and other vital wartime industries changed life for all. In the Second World War the city of Chester was a direct target for aerial bombing raids, destroying many homes and familiar buildings with a significant loss of life. Communities learned to deal with rationing, air raids and large numbers of evacuees.

Both wars had a devastating effect on local communities, but both were also a time of courage and fortitude in an effort to continue with everyday life. In this book, historian Mike Royden has captured the tribulations of the times in words and pictures, telling the stories of many local men, women and children during these trying periods.

Tribute to the People of Chester

Chester at War pays tribute to the people of this city who served, died and lived through the two World Wars, and how they managed to endure in the face of the horrors of conflict.