Second World War Rhymes By Gwen B Jones

This lady was quite a character and her poetry reveals much of the thinking, as well as the frustrations, experienced by civilians at that critical time. Many subjects are covered including: clothing coupons, wardens, the blackout, rationing, shirkers, allotments, queueing, black market and beer.

I have my favourites and here are two - as printed:

[1] Pay As You Earn

After several years of War,

In April, Nineteen Forty Four,

Income tax was changed about

All previous methods put to rout.

You have a code and separate table,

Your payments are not always stable.

For instance, if you have a rise,

Deductions then, increase in size.

But if your weekly pay is small,

You do not pay tax at all!

Instead, your packet holds far more

Than you bargained for.

The system is, as you can see,

The essence of simplicity! ! !

But many people, full of doubt,

Still wonder what it's all about.

[2] Torch Batteries:

Number Eight was the size that appealed to us all,

It wasn't too large and it wasn't too small,

For we all had to carry our torches about,

And often when needed they just flickered out.

Number Eight was the size; it was always on call -

Can you wonder there were not enough for us all?