Due to its location on the coast and being a city dominated by industry and maritime, Middlesbrough was always going to be a target for the Luftwaffe. What we did see was the city being under regular attack throughout the war in an attempt to undermine the morale of the community, but also in the hope of hampering the British war effort. In the classic style of the Towns & Cities in World War Two series, we learn how the war affects all aspects of life, from having to rebuild after air raids and losing loved ones from the attacks. Seeing women having to work at the various factories and workplaces to replace the men who were having to go off to war. Then you have the various small organisations having to pick up and help in an hour of need and daily life structures being compromised and changed as everyone has to deal with some aspect of the war on the home front. As I have said before this series is, in my opinion, fantastic and the author here Dr Craig Armstrong has done another brilliant.. Read more
The History Fella

As I have said previously, this series published by Pen & Sword, Your Towns & Cities in World War Two is one of my favourite series. The authors they get to write for these towns and cities are excellent and succeed in writing so comprehensively about local history during the war with the war outside enveloping the story. What I love about these books is that we get the local story of a town and its citizens living through a world war, and how the war affects them in their town. In particular, this book concentrates on Civilians, The Blitz and the Military service of people from York which is fascinating but I actually think the conclusion in the book sums up the whole book. We learn more about Warrant Officer Harry Coates and how his death affected his family and those around him. This in my opinion summed up the war in which York was affected in small ways during the war, but for some of the people of York, the war brought huge effects and consequences. This is a really good book and.. Read more
The History Fella

As featured in 'Facing up to war'
The Courier (Fife)

As I have said before this ‘Your Town & Cities Series in WWII’ is one of my favourite history series to read. It’s the mix of everyday life in a British city and how it copes and deals with the effects of living through World War II. Each book revolves around a particular town or city and in this particular case it’s Brighton, which actually was involved a lot in the war due to its geographical position on the south coast. Although Brighton is the city in this book dealing with the effects of war, the book is full of local information pertaining to dealing with it. So there is lots of local news such crime, fire duty, local industry, dealing with bombing raids, the construction and planning of local air raid shelters, memorials, food production, sporting activities, recruitment of young men and so on and so on. I loved the bit about a ME-109 being shot down and as it was mostly intact it was put on display, where you pay to have a look and all monies raised went towards a local.. Read more
UK Historian

A comprehensive historical treasure chest is what awaits in Armstrong’s recent book. Black and white photographs interspersed with detailed explanations of life in Aberdeen during World War Two. This is an interesting read for anyone from the northeast. Armstrong successfully transports readers back in time in this poignant ode to the people of the Granite City and their contribution to the war effort. A must-read for history buffs.
Scottish Field, February/March 2021