Few could believe that within twenty years of the war to end all wars being won
the world was once more at war. Veterans of the Great War feared going through
the same horrific experience again and, even worse, many knew that this time their
children would also be involved in the fighting. What had all the sacrifice been for?

Manchester had been badly hit by the Great War with many lives lost, families
ripped apart, industries destroyed. The cotton industry never recovered; especially
since Japan, China and India offered cheaper cotton goods. Building and economic
recovery had been hindered by the Great Depression.

The city was not ready to face another war, nor for the ferocity of the aerial attacks
unleashed, nor for the treachery of the Black-Shirts. Yet somehow Manchester found
the strength to unite against the enemy once more and ensure that Germany would
never be victorious.

This book chronicles the difficulties, hardships, restrictions and morale of the
city year by year as the war dragged on, and is a timely reminder of how the local
community strived to fight the odds that were stacked against them.