The Home Front 1939–1945 in 100 Objects

Austin J Ruddy • £25
pen-and-sword.co.uk

A lifesaving gas mask. A ration book, essential for the supply of food. A shelter stove that kept a family warm while they huddled in their Anderson shelter. A leaflet dropped by the Luftwaffe that was designed to intimidate Britain’s populace during the threat of invasion. A civilian identity card over-stamped with the swastika eagle from the occupied Channel Islands… The ordinary objects featured in this book, whether those produced in their millions to the far from ordinary or unique, all portray and exude the highs and lows of the British people during six years of war. This is the perfect book for students, historians, collectors and general readers, enabling a clear understanding of one of Britain’s most important historical periods.

Women on the Frontline

Kathleen Sherit • £20
amberley-books.com

Women on the Frontline explains how women went from unacknowledged participation in combat in the Second World War to the opening of all combat roles by 2018. It explores why regular service was offered after the war; the struggle to establish careers; the first crack in the non-combatant principle – the late 1970s decision to train servicewomen in the use of small arms; why the Royal Navy was the first to open its main combat role (seagoing in warships) to women in 1990; and the consequences for the RAF and the Army.

The non-combatant principle governed the number of women that could be recruited, roles they could be trained for, postings, promotion chances, pay and pensions. Being non-combatant also affected women’s status in the eyes of servicemen as they could not fulfil the complete range of duties that fell to men. But women’s careers were not only blighted by the principle that they were non-combatants. The second major obstacle was the treatment of married women and those who became pregnant. This book brings out the growing gulf between employment rights and armed forces’ policies. The armed forces’ assertion that they had a right to be different from society began to crumble. This made a crucial difference to servicewomen who acquired the opportunity to continue with their careers if they chose. Confronting policies on women’s employment led to recognition of wider issues such as treatment of ethnic minorities, bullying and sexuality.

Finding Your Scottish Ancestors

Kirsty F. Wilkinson • £16.99
crowood.com/

The availability of many records online means that those fortunate enough to have Scottish ancestors can easily access many of the sources they need to build their family tree. However, as research progresses, most family historians will eventually hit the dreaded ‘brick wall’ and find themselves unable to proceed further. This book provides a wealth of information, advice and techniques to help solve these genealogy problems and gives family historians the tools they need to track down even the most elusive forebears. Contents include: sources for Scottish family history research, both traditional archives and online resources; techniques for searching and interpreting genealogical records; planning and recording research and, finally, common genealogy problems and their solutions.

The Penmaker’s Wife

Steve Robinson • £4.99
amazon.co.uk

Birmingham, 1880. Angelica Chastain has fled from London with her young son, William. She promises him a better life, far away from the terrors they left behind. Securing a job as a governess, Angelica captures the attention of wealthy widower Stanley Hampton. But the past will not let Angelica go. As the people in her new husband’s circle, once captivated by her charm, begin to question her motives, it becomes clear that forgetting where she came from—and who she ran from—is impossible. An exciting new thriller from the creator of the Jefferson Tayte genealogy mysteries.