Toymaking during the Second World War

An issue of morale

Following the end of the Blitz in May 1941, fire service personnel, the ‘heroes with grimy faces’ returned to their long duty periods – 48 hours at a stretch – in often cramped conditions at their fire stations and substations. Following the incessant excitement and terror of the Blitz it must have been difficult to transition to relative periods of quiet and hard to pass the time.

The Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) had, by August 1941 transitioned into the National Fire Service (NFS) to provide a UK wide Civil Defence structure. The men and women of the NFS in London undertook a variety of activities to pass time and increase morale including sports, gardening and crafts. However, perhaps the most successful 'spare time' scheme for the NFS during the war involved toymaking.

Members of the AFS show stoicism during the height of the Blitz

Waste not want not

There was little resource available in cash-strapped wartime Britain for toy making so a lot of resourcefulness was required. The huge amounts of Blitz wood was an initial source of material for the Fire Service toymakers, although there were later restrictions on its use. Bannister rails made excellent boiler components for railway engines. Cotton reels could be used for many different elements. Ammunition boxes made in factories every day had holes cut out of them and these made fantastic wheels as did a sliced up curtain rail. In addition, scrap materials from manufacturing - in particular hardwood - was a strong material useful for hardwearing parts such as axels and handles. The toy makers used their creativity to the maximum to make good use of odd offcuts in unusual shapes.

Later, London County Council provided loans of basic tools, sometimes taken from evacuated schools, and support for materials such as paint, nails and screws was provided by organisations such as the American Red Cross.

Fireman Santa, a 1941 oil on board painting by Sidney Gallard, shows off duty firefighters creating toys.

Going soft

Soft toys were also made and appeals for donations were answered by clothing manufacturers as well as members of the public who packaged up parcels of spare materials for reuse. Although patterns were available, sometimes the women who created the soft toys used the size and texture of the material as inspiration. However, this free flow design process didn't always go to plan. 

Full time AFS firewoman Florence Tregoning Thomas, who had previously worked as a dressmaker, explained how she once tried to make a honey bear but it turned into more like a poodle so was nicknamed ‘honey-cum-poodle' and apparently became a great favourite.  

An illustration and pattern for soft toy 'Sammy the horse' from the wartime publication 'From Debris to Nursery', 1944

The movement spreads

Soon men and women of the NFS across the country were helping in the effort to provide joy and comfort to young children in the toymaking scheme. There would be regular exhibitions of the toys created at local shopping centres, community centres and even at Harrods. This photograph shows Queen Elizabeth meeting firefighters at a Nursery Schools Association exhibition there.

It wasn't just firefighters who created toys, many at home used their creative skills to provide toys for children affected by the war and other services including the Wrens and Royal Navy also created toys in their spare time.