Abstract
This thesis examines society and culture in Scotland during the Second World War, exploring the evidence for a uniquely Scottish experience of war. The cultural narrative of the British home front during the Second World War has long centered on the notion of a People’s War: a civilian front line of high morale, confidence in ultimate victory, and united within a ‘national’ community. Historical research has, largely, concentrated on London, neglecting the home front experiences of those within other nations in Britain. This thesis addresses this shortcoming by investigating life on the Scottish home front. It explores Scottish responses to wartime disruptions, and examines the motivations, cultural trends, and internal fissures that influenced behaviour during the Second World War. Moreover, it reflects upon the underlying tension between conformity and resistance to both State and war.
Through a series of thematic chapters, this document details everyday life and work in Scotland between 1939 and 1945. It focuses on the evacuation scheme, the moral crisis, industrial discontent and anti-war activity, morale, holidays, everyday life and leisure, and the rural sector. It draws upon a diverse range of intelligence reports, official documents, newspaper and magazine articles, diaries, and questionnaire responses to shed light on Scottish home front life. The findings illuminate everyday life in Scotland during a time of war, but also add to a scant historiographical body of work on ‘ordinary life’ in Scotland. In addition, this study challenges the popular cultural narrative of the British home front as a united national community during the Second World War. Ultimately, this thesis concludes that the Scottish response to war was shaped by history, national identity, cultural legacy, and internal division.