The political and military situation in the Second world war changed entirely in December 1941 when Japanese forces mounted a surprise attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbour; shortly after Germany and Italy declared war on America.  Although it took time for American might and industrial strength to be fully mobilised – and there were to be many setbacks ahead – it was no longer in doubt that the Allies would win the war against Germany and Japan: Italy was already struggling.

In Norfolk the lifeboats around the coast were kept very busy rescuing seamen and downed airmen. The military air sea rescue service involving high-speed boats and amphibious aircraft was still being built up to offer comprehensive cover. The Wells, Sheringham and Cromer lifeboats were particularly busy at this time. Decoy airfields had been established to draw any possible bombing away from military assets, one such being at the old airfield of Sedgeford. Blackouts were rigorously enforced and, as a result, road deaths rose alarmingly.

Due to the shortage of men, as many had been called up, women were recruited into the Land Army, the armed forces and essential industries to undertake tasks previously done by men. As far as farm work was concerned there was a degree of resistance from farmers about women working in agriculture. This soon gave way when the quality of work performed was demonstrated: women farm workers became a regular sight on the farms around Brancaster. School children were also recruited at harvest time, and this became acknowledged in Government legislation.

Food, of course, remained an important focus of people’s lives, particularly as rationing continued. The “national wholemeal loaf” was introduced, made from 85% extraction flour. Some types of fruit, such as oranges, lemons and bananas were very scarce, and prices rose as a consequence. Tinned foods, including meat, fish and vegetables, were brought under rationing and Communal Feeding Centres were set up in centres of population, serving basic cheap meals. Hot meals were also offered in schools, although for some reason Norfolk lagged behind in this provision. Fortunately, this was not the case in Brancaster school, where hot meals were available. Cats and dogs were increasingly abandoned, and many strays in the county that had been household pets had to be destroyed.

Following the disastrous defeat and surrender of the British army in Malaysia and eventually, Singapore, people in Norfolk became further sucked into the consequences of war. Among the surrendered troops were battalions of the Royal Norfolk Regiment and information on their fate was extremely hard to get for families. Soldiers from these battalions, along with others, were forced as slave labour to build the notorious Burma railway, which resulted in many thousands dying from malnutrition and mistreatment.

Clothing was rationed, with each adult allowed 48 coupons a year. Examples of how many coupons were needed for men’s/women’s clothing included raincoats 16/14 coupons, pyjamas 8/8 coupons, shirt/dress 4/11 coupons and shoes 7/5 coupons.

American servicemen began to arrive in numbers across Norfolk, as the 8th Air Force had several airfields in the county. German E boats started to appear off the Norfolk coast, laying mines and attacking the coastal trade. The county was also bombed, with Norwich hard hit, but King’s Lynn, Sheringham and Cromer suffering too. In retaliation, the RAF began to mount more serious bombing raids on German targets; the drone of aircraft became a common sound in the county. This was particularly the case in Brancaster, with Docking and Bircham airfields close at hand.

Men continued to be scarce, and women began to take on an increasing number of jobs such as post delivery, bus driving and telephone engineering. Those men who chose to be conscientious objectors were given a choice of a non-combative service role or prison. Boys of 17 were required to register prior to being called up at 18, and the services started cadet forces for those younger to provide some military experience. Children over 12 were now allowed to miss up to 20 school sessions per year to help with the harvest, working not more than 7 hours a day. Fire-fighting became compulsory for those men not in the armed forces.

As the war moved on in years, events gradually began to turn in Britain’s favour in the Middle East, and America began to fight back strongly against the Japanese invasion of Pacific islands and the Philippines. Britain was slowly being turned into a giant aircraft carrier and soldiers’ camp as massive American industrial and manpower resources were gradually activated.