Perhaps the most obvious hardship for many people, especially in cities, was the threat of air raids. These could happen at any time, so it was important to always carry a gas mask, and know the location of the nearest air raid shelter.

These ranged from a Morrison Shelter, which was essentially a reinforced table under which people could lie, albeit uncomfortably, to an Anderson Shelter, built in gardens out of corrugated iron, wood and earth. These varied greatly in size and design according to the materials available.