Today I want to continue finding out a little about what life was like on the Home Front during the Second World War. This time I want to look at the Morrison shelter. Most people have heard of the Anderson shelter, but less know about the Morrison shelter. It became a vital form of protection for thousands of families during the war.
By 1940, Britain was dealing with the Blitz. Night after night, the air raid went off across towns and cities. The constant threat of bombs made life so much more challenging.
Many families initially relied on the Anderson shelter for protection. These shelters were outside and did help to save many lives. But they were not always practical for everyone. Firstly not all families had gardens, especially people living in flats or crowded city housing. For elderly people, the sick, or parents with young children, going outside at night, in the rain, or when it was freezing cold was extremely difficult. Some people could not get to an outdoor shelter.
The government realised that people needed another option, one that could be used indoors. In 1941, a new type of shelter was introduced. It was named after the Home Secretary, Herbert Morrison. He played an important part in improving civil defence for people at home.
Unlike the Anderson shelter, the Morrison shelter was designed to stay inside. It was made from a strong steel frame with a solid metal top and mesh sides. It looked like a large metal table. It may not have looked comfortable but it was designed for practicality and survival.
The purpose of the shelter was not to protect people from a direct bomb hit, as very little could do that. But, it was designed to protect families if their house partially collapsed on them during an air raid. If the ceilings came down or walls gave way, the steel frame could help to prevent people inside from being crushed by falling rubble. It gave people a much better chance of survival.
The shelters were provided for free to lower-income families, others could buy them for around £7 , the same as an Anderson Shelter. Eventually, around half a million Morrison shelters were distributed across Britain. That shows just how important they became.
Some people used them like ordinary furniture, perhaps as a table with a cloth draped over the top. But at night, blankets, pillows, and mattresses would be put underneath, and entire families would climb inside together. A little like camping indoors, but far less fun.
Home is supposed to be where we feel safest, but during the war even your home could be dangerous. The Morrison shelter saved many lives during air raids. It gave families something important and that was hope. It could not entirely remove the danger, but it gave people a sense of protection.
Overall the Morrison shelter was seen as a success and it did help to save many lives during air raids. But sadly, some families did actually become trapped inside them under debris and had to wait to be rescued, which must have been terrifying. But being inside a Morrison shelter gave them a much better chance of survival than having no protection at all.
When the war ended, the shelters were no longer needed. Many were dismantled, sold for scrap, or even reused around the home.
Can you imagine trying to sleep every night under a steel shelter,?
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