  The expected gravitational wave (GW) signal due to double degenerates (DDs)
in the thin Galactic disc is calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation. The
number of young close DDs that will contribute observable discrete signals in
the frequency range $1.58 - 15.8$ mHz is estimated by comparison with the
sensitivity of proposed GW observatories. The present-day DD population is
examined as a function of Galactic star-formation history alone. It is shown
that the frequency distribution, in particular, is a sensitive function of the
Galactic star formation history and could be used to measure the time since the
last major star-formation epoch.
