ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the intergenerational communication of memories of war, including those concerning children's need for shelter and protection, enemies and friends, domestic life and the different expectations of men, women and children. Intergenerational memories of war are selective and convey events associated with humour, fear, sadness, care and particular allegiances. This chapter analyses selective silences and uses of humour to understand how childhood memories of war are bound up in themes of nationalism, parenting and everyday life. The chapter argues for the importance of locating indirect experiences of war alongside personal experience to fully understand children's social worlds. The chapter has drawn on research based on memories to explore war and childhood. The research discussed in this chapter has been strengthened by themes from the study of war writing for children and by ideas from the sociologies of social memory, space and time.
