100th anniversary of the first meeting about Air Raid Precautions in Britain.

 100th anniversary of the first meeting about

Air Raid Precautions in Britain.

Last weekend, we went to the commemoration for the 100^th anniversary of the first Air Raid Precautions committee of the Imperial Defence which sat on 25^th May 1924, under the Chairmanship of the Lord Privy Seal, Sir John Anderson. That meeting led to the formation of the first civil defence organisation in Britain. After this meeting, Wing Commander Sir John Hodsoll, C.B, worked on the development Air Raid Precautions and is known as the ‘Father of Civil Defence’ of Civil Defence in Britain.

 

(Picture from JCAC FB Page)

Held at the Chrysalis Theatre in Milton Keynes, this event was organised by the Joint Civil Aid Corps and the Civil Defence Association (CDA).  It was also announced that a “Council of Civil Defence” has been created and several organisations have already agreed to join.

 

(Picture from JCAC FB Page)

Music for the commemoration service was provided by the Waterloo Band & Bugles of The Rifles.

 

We were asked to provide a small display of CD equipment & memorabilia as a part of the CDAs mission to support and promote Civil Defence’s Past, Present and Future.

999 Fun Day, Sheffield, 12th May 2024

999 Fun Day, Sheffield,  12th May 2024

 

Firstly, on 12^th May, we, once again, joined our friends at the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield for their annual “999 Fun Day.”  As usual it was held in The Moors in the city centre.  It was a warm, sunny day to be in nice thick serge uniforms, though I took my jacket off later.   Not sure of the visitor figures but it was by far the busiest one we have been at.

 

 

 

Working inside the Headquarters vehicle.

 

 This year, we were able to make use of the Civil Defence Headquarters vehicle which belongs to the museum. This vehicle was first used by the Civil Defence Corps and, when the Corps was disbanded in 1968, it was used as a mobile operations control vehicle by the Coventry & Warwickshire ambulance service until the late 1970s and kept in reserve by them well into the 1990s.

 A crucial operational meeting in progress.

 

This very nice Auxilary Fire Service Landrover & pump was next to us.

An update on CDC events in 2022 & 2023.

 An update on our CDC reenactment events in 2022 & 2023.

I have realised that it is nearly two years since I last made a post on this blog.  Time flies! I haven’t been doing a great deal of Civil Defence Corps re-enactment during the year, just three events plus one the year before.

 

Our setup, conveniently under a Victor nuclear bomber 

(albiet one that was converted to a tanker later in its career).

 

 

Just to keep me on my toes, the 4 minute warning was just next to me.

 Way back in October 2022, I was at the RAF Museum Cosford, to take part in the National Cold War Exhibition event for the 60^th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The two day event brought together several re-enactors with displays covering the Civil Defence Corps, Royal Observer Corps and RAF aircrews from the 1960s.

There was also a simulation of the Crisis in which the public could make the decisions that could de-escalate the situation or lead to World War Three. Unfortunately, out of 40+ sessions during the weekend, only two avoided Armageddon!

 

On 21^st May 2023, we, once again, had the pleasure of attending the National Emergency Services Museum’s 999 Family Fun Day at The Moors shopping centre in Sheffield. It was well attended as usual and rather hot so my nice black serge blouse got discarded quickly.

A minimalist CDC display as the site is small. 

Down in the Hole. 

On  23rd September 2023, there was an open day at the Buckminster Royal Observer Corps post. I only took a few things along and we had around 25 visitors which was more than we expected for a liitle event.

 

Our spot in the hanger at Newhaven Fort.

I went down to Newhaven Fort on 15th October 2023 to meet up with some members of "Civil Defence Corps - South East. At some point, we are hoping to larger joint events - looking forwards to that! The fort is closed for renovation in 2024 but has already asked both groups back to do something when it re-opens.

Civil Defence Corps Regional Rallies

Civil Defence Corps Regional Rallies

 Across the country, the Civil Defence Corps regularly held Regional Rallies with public exhibitions and competitions in the various skills of each section.

In general, these rallies all followed a similar format and as I have acquired a copy of the programme for the North Western Civil Defence Region (please note that this Region includes the Isle of Man).  Tourney & Rally held at Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester on Saturday 10^th July 1965, I will use this as an example. This was the fifth rally in the region but the last one had been held six years earlier in 1959. I also have the write up on the event in Civil Defence - The Fourth Arm magazine dated October 1965 which gives more details and lists the winners of the competitions.

The programme of events for the day.

As you can see in the programme, there were exhibitions by “allied” services.

The Police brought a Mobile Control Van and showed photographs of a Police Mobile Column in training.

The Fire Services provided a Mobile Control Unit & a small portable pump on a “Bikini” raft.

The Central Electricity Generating Board displayed a model power station indicating possible problems that could be caused by nuclear fallout. They also had several teams in the competitions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food showed Food Flying Squad vehicles and a model of am Emergency Feeding Centre.

The Women’s Voluntary Service put on an exhibition of their peacetime activities and also ran a crèche for visitors on the event.

Manchester Regional Hospital Board had a stand depicting a ward in a wartime emergency hospital.

The Casualties Union demonstrated some of their techniques in casualty faking.

The British Red Cross Society showed their three membership categories: the Voluntary Aid Detachments, nursing members and first aiders.

The St. John Ambulance Brigade displayed their work and also gave demonstrations of the “Kiss of Life” method of artificial respiration (note- this was quite new at the time and a little controversial).

The Royal Observer Corps exhibited the equipment from their post and showed how it would be used to detect nuclear explosions.

The Army stall displayed modern weaponry and the locations where the Lancastrian Brigade had been stationed in recent years.

The Civil Defence Corps' own exhibition consisted of how convert a small room in an ordinary house into a refuge and how to equip it for a family of four for a period.

 So there was plenty to see.

 

The Earl of Derby inspecting the Civil Defence Corps Guard of Honour commanded by Mr. W. Bryant.

With Civil Defence describing itself as being “the Fourth Arm,” the organisers were keen to have representatives from the other three arms.  The Royal Navy provided an honour guard of Sea Cadets, the Royal Air Force had a display stand manned by the Royal Observer Corps and the local Territorial Army 127 (Manchester) Brigade provided a massed band to beat the retreat.

In the evening, after all the competitions and prize giving, there was a social event, The Regional Civil Defence Dance.

The organisers stated that the event was attended by thousands of people including hundreds of Civil Defence members and their families.

A plan of the event at Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester.

 The Competitions.

The competitions had teams from the various Civil Defence Corps (CDC) divisions in the region plus teams from the Industrial Civil Defence Service (ICDS) who were based at local companies. The competition categories included:

Headquarters Section (Intelligence & Operations).

A five member team consisting of a Staff Officer (Operations), an Operations Clerk, a staff officer (Intelligence), an Intelligence Clark and a Messenger.

The team will be in charge of a static control with written messages from Sector & Warden posts and Reconnaissance teams concerning a nuclear burst. These messages will be contrived to require the performance of a fair range of Control team duties.

23 CDC teams participated in this competition.

Headquarters Section (Reconnaissance)

This test involves the use of Landrovers on public roads near the venue. The Reconnaissance parties will have a local map and be accompanied by an Umpire who gives them information which they must act upon in accordance with procedure. Information on radiation will be given using a Radiac Fallout trainer.

19 CDC parties participated in this competition.

Headquarters Section (Scientific)

The teams will consist of a Scientific Intelligence Officer (SIO) and a trained assistant.

The SIO will provide details to the Controller based on Radiac information provided to them.

18 CDC teams participated in this competition.

Headquarters Section (Signals)

(a) Wireless/Signal Office practice.

Part I- Teams of five using two wireless sets & a simple line network to carry out three tasks drawn from a hat.

Part II- The erection of an ariel mast.

(b) Field cable

Carried out by a standard Field Cable Party of four.

Part I- The test is a combination of vehicle & hand-laying negotiating obstacles and making a simple joint. When done, the line is telephone tested and then recovered.

Part II- A fault location test for two of the party and an individual practical test for the remaining two.

The scores from all four parts provide an aggregate total score for each Signal Section taking part.

24 CDC teams participated in this competition.

Warden Section (including Industry)

Each team to have three members acting as Post Warden, Deputy Post Warden & Warden.

They will have to carry out a number of tasks including plotting hazards on a map, allocating forces to patrol areas, briefing a mobile force commander, using a Radiac Calculator, charging a dosimeter and recording activities in an operations log.

25 CDC teams and 6 ICDS teams participated in this competition.

Rescue Section (including Industry)

Each team consists of a full Rescue Party (leader & seven men).

Part I – Using a “tower”, the test will involve lifting a casualty from a simulated basement, using a stretcher, Tirfor winch and snatch block to a platform and then to the ground using a ladder hinge.

Part II- The Party Leader will deploy two of his team to a metal-cutting task, using flame-cutting equipment, while the remainder tackle a heavy lifting task using the hydraulic rescue kit.

21 CDC teams and 7 ICDS teams participated in this competition.

Ambulance & First Aid Section

Teams of nine: First Aid Party of a leader & six members and also an ambulance driver & attendant.

The First Aid Party will be tested on procedure, first aid and the blanketing of stretchers. The ambulance crew will answer questions on vehicle maintenance, the background of Civil Defence and vehicle handling.

The method of loading & unloading ambulance will be that laid down in Civil Defence Instructors’ Note A.4 and the employment of any other method by teams will involve loss of marks.

23 CDC teams participated in this competition.

Welfare Section

(a) Emergency Feeding

Teams of eight, not more than two may be men.

There will be a practical test in various aspects of Emergency Feeding Standard Training, using improvised equipment and oral questions on Emergency Feeding and background subjects. Teams will not be required to fire cookers as part of the test.

A standby test will be prepared in case the main test is completely ruined by the weather.

19 CDC teams participated in this competition.

(b) Care of the Homeless

Teams of eight personnel, each team selecting its own leader.

The following tasks will be included in the test:-

(1) setting up a village auxiliary rest centre

(2) billeting paper exercise

(3) reception of homeless into the auxiliary rest centre

 18 CDC teams participated in this competition.

Industrial First Aid

Each team will have four members.

The test will be based on “First Aid” the authorised manual of the the St. John Ambulance Brigade and the British Red Cross Society. The test will include oral questions on the background of Civil Defence.

20 ICDS teams participated in this competition.

Despatch riders

This will be an individual competition of a practical nature and will not count towards the team award.

It will comprise of a route run of about 20 miles, coupled with tests to assess riders’ skill in the control of their machines.

The final competiton results are shown below:

The overall competition results gave a win to Cheshire County Council (Civil Defence Corps) whose two teams took the prize for Winner and Runner-Up.

Note that the winner of the Dispatch Riders competition was a woman! A bit of a shock result for the mid-1960s.

The Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lancashire, the Right Honourable The Earl of Derby, M.C. presenting the winners of the shield for the Ambulance & First Aid Section competition to Cheshire County Council (Civil Defence Corps) team leader R.H. Barnett.

Sheffield Fayre, Norfolk Park on 29th August 2022

 Sheffield Fayre, Norfolk Park, Sheffield

29th August 2022

 

Once again we are working with our friends from the National Emergency Services Museum to show the history of the Civil Defence Corps and Auxiliary Fire Service at this event. 

We will have the "Green Goddess" as a backdrop to our display like last time (not the one in the picture) and will hopefully have our full rescue exhibit set up to demonstrate CDC rescue techniques and equipment.

 

The event is free!

. Come along & have a chat!
 

999 Family Fun Day in Sheffield - 15/5/22

 

999 Family Fun Day in Sheffield

15th May 2022

On a warm, thankfully dry but windy day we attended the 999 Family Fun Day at The Moors in Sheffield.

We were invited to take part by the National Emergency Services Museum and they provided a very nice Green Goddess fire engine as a backdrop to our display. The experts out there will notice it is in its 1970s paintwork but it is scheduled to be repainted to its original 1950s Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) one in the future.

 

 

 

Since we had the Green Godess for the day, Jed decided to get out his rarely worn 1960s Leicester City AFS uniform for the day

 

 

The AFS kit display & the nice lass from the Food Flying Squad.

Me as a rescue team leader pointing out that the bomb has gone off over the Tinsley power station. Of course, this brought many comments about "Threads" from the public who we chatted to.  I chose it as a major local landmark but hadn't remembered that the bomb in Threads had hit almost exactly the same spot.

On the table in front of me is radiation and chemical detection equipment used by the Scientific & Reconnaissance sub-section.

 

 A layout of Rescue section equipment:- manpack; first aid "pouch"; Tirfor winch; and the new addition, a 4 ton hydraulic ram which proved very popular with the young children as theye could operate it.

Thanks to  the National Emergency Services Museum for the invitation and we look forwards to working with you again in the future.

Manchester Ringway Air Crash, March 1957

 Manchester Ringway Air Crash,

March 1957.

Vickers Viscount G-ALWE, the plane that crashed.

At 1.46 p,m. on Sunday 17th March 1957, Flight 411, a British European Airways Viscount Discovery aircraft was nearing Ringway Airport, Manchester having flown from Amsterdam.  When the plane was about a mile from landing, it made a sudden right turn, at a steep downward angle and the right wing tip hit the ground. The plane disintegrated and smashed in flames into a house on Shadowmoss Road, Wythenshawe.

There were fifteen passengers and five crew on board the aircraft who were killed instantly along with a mother and her baby son who were in the house it has collided with. Three other houses in street were badly damaged and several people inside them were injured. 

The Manchester Civil Defence Rescue section was on the scene, eight miles from their headquarters,  just twenty minutes after receiving the call for help from the Police. Further CD volunteers arrived throughout the afternoon.

 This Pathe news bulletin shows the crash site and Firemen and Civil Defence workers making the building safe.

The CD section worked closely with the local Fire Brigade at the scene.  The Rescue section’s skills and equipment was particularly useful in moving heavy pieces of the aircraft wreckage and stabilising the damaged buildings so the grim work of recovering all the victims could continue.

A detachment from the Welfare section, a team of four members of the Manchester Women’s Voluntary Service set up a mobile canteen and provided food and refreshment to the workers on the crash site.

 

Part of the aircraft's  fuselage, note the Civil Defence Corps Rescue section vehicle on the left.

During the week that followed the crash, CD Rescue section men assisted in searching the site for buried fragments of the plane, at the request of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Ten days after the disaster, Rescue teams helped the occupant of one of the adjacent wrecked houses to retrieve furniture and belongings.

Mechanical failure was suspected as the cause of the crash, and in the days following the disaster British European Airways withdrew up to 25 of its fleet of Viscount 701 aircraft "as a precautionary measure", to carry out checks on its flap-operating mechanism.  Investigations after the crash discovered that the probable cause of the crash was "metal fatigue in the bottom bolt securing the starboard wing number 2 flap unit. The aileron locked when number 2 flap unit became detached from the wing trailing edge".

For further information,  see this BBC "On This Day" Article about this event  and the Aviation Safety Network reort on the crash.

Sources:

Wkipedia article on flight 411 

This article on the 60th annivesary of the crash in the Manchester Evening  News.

  "Civil Defence - The Fourth Arm"  magazine Vol. 9 No. 6 June 1957.