SECRET WARTIME BRITAIN

SECRET WARTIME BRITAIN 
By Colin Philpott.

Author Colin Philpott takes readers to a variety of locations across Britain and explains the secret wartime roles for which they were chosen. 
Such was the importance of security at that time, information about these locations in the second world war has only recently come to light.

Many locations like Bletchley Park and the Churchill War Rooms will be familiar to most readers, but do you know what Arkley View in North London or Madresfield Court in Worcestershire were used for? 
It is in the latter's case that its wartime role was only learnt in 2006.

It is also rather well known that many factories completely changed from their initial manufacturing, for example building cars, to instead building aircraft, tanks and other armaments. These shadow factories, along with new purpose built factories, would have their roofs and grounds disguised so as to be less noticeable from above. Although some were still bombed during the war, the Germans never found out about a great many of them.

Back to Bletchley Park whose role is now far more widely known today. Yet I wasn't aware of just how many other additional locations it had around Britain that also decoded enemy signals. Known as 'outer stations' or 'Y stations', hundreds of people also worked at these sites too and having previously signed the official secrets act, most never spoke about the work they had done.

Readers will also learn about how both the government and the Royal Family would have been moved to other locations away from London. As a German invasion of Britain seemed likely in 1940, a move further north to stately homes and underground networks was planned for.

Sadly whilst some of these buildings, especially the factories, have mostly now disappeared, there are still many locations that have become museums, visitor attractions and protected stately homes. 
It is a fascinating subject and this book has revealed much that I wasn't aware of previously, with some really interesting revelations. 
For readers wanting to learn more about some of Britain's wartime role here at home and some of the historical sites that played such an important part in the second world war, then this book is a great place in which to start.

The book is available now and published by Pen and Sword Books. I thank P&S for this review copy. 


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