War Fair

A fair in 1943 London, set up in Russell Squre as a part of the Holidays at Home Campaign. All the classics, like raffles, ice cream substitute and hammer-the-nail-into-Hitler's-coffin!

The attractions at the fair. Source

A WAAF woman plays a penny rolling game. Source

Adults and children enjoy a horse racing game. Source

A civilian, soldier, and airman watch the festivities. Source

A little boy and his mother play a game of magnetic fishing. Source

A Dutch sailor buys a raffle ticket from Red Cross cadets. The prize is that model battleship. Source

A little girl tastes her chocolate substitute ice cream cone. Source

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For a Red Cross donation, people can take a ride around the square in a horse-drawn carriage. Source

Civilians watch a roulette-type game. Source

A woman takes aim in a shooting game. Source

A little girl eats a piece of cake and regards the photographer. Source

Actor Derek de Marnay leads an auction for a small green banana-- an extreme rarity in wartime England. Source

More of the auction. The banana ended up selling for 5 pounds! Source

RAF men play a game. Original caption:"The Royal Air Force is always on the target - even at a fair"!  Source

Two nurses play a shooting game. Source

 A Red Cross woman supervises a boy attempting to drive a nail into Hitler's coffin [you thought I was making that up?] Source