Author Julie's shock at city bomb damage
When Shropshire local historian Julie Phillips was asked by publishers to write a book about Birmingham during the war, she didn't need to look far for help in getting started.
Because her husband Dave was born in the city and had a collection of wartime family memorabilia.
But he had left at the age of six, and even he was surprised as she uncovered the extent of the bomb damage inflicted during the Blitz.
Julie, who lives in Lawley, Telford, has already written several books for military publisher Pen & Sword, covering Newport, Ludlow, and Kidderminster.
"When those projects came to an end I was asked if I wanted to do a bigger book, on a bigger area - Birmingham.
"My husband's family was from Birmingham and Dave could tell me quite a bit about the family history on that side.
"I spoke to various evacuees. A lot of them moved out to Telford and I was able to go and visit quite a few of them in the local area and they gave me their stories. On Facebook I found a lot of people whose families had lived in Birmingham during World War Two who were able to give me a lot of information.
"I knew that Birmingham, as well as other areas, had been badly hit in the Blitz, but I didn't realise to what extent until I went into the archives at Birmingham library where there are three or four photograph albums full of photographs of bomb damage all over Birmingham."
With Spitfires being made at Castle Bromwich, and the city being a major industrial centre, it was a prime target for the Luftwaffe.
"When you see photographs of bomb damage it brings it home to you. You think, goodness me, how did anyone survive. It was quite an emotional moment.
"Dave came with me to the archives. He left Birmingham when he was six and didn't know the area well. He was surprised to see the areas he remembered that were targeted. He was born in Winson Green."
Dave had kept family memorabilia from those days.
"Luckily he kept all the bits in a shoe box and brought it with us when we moved. His dad Reg Phillips had spoken to him about the war quite a bit."
The items included letters and cards.
Having completed the Birmingham book, Julie is now looking to do another book, this time looking at suffragettes in Birmingham.
"Birmingham At War 1939-45" is published by Pen & Sword and costs £14.99.
