The Civil Defence Corps and the Floods of 1960 - Part One, Autumn.
The Autumn and Winter of 1960 were the wettest on record (at the time) for several parts of Britain. There was significant flooding and very damaging flash floods across the country. Devon, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Wales and the Welsh Marches were particularly badly affected.
As part of the emergency response in these places, the various parts of Civil Defence stepped up to help.
30th Sept.- 3rd Oct. Devon
A vast lake at Collumpton, Devon floods 1960
This widespread flood destroyed several properties and made over 1,400 people temporarily homeless. At least 1,500 telephone lines were down and some railway bridges were severely damaged.
The Women’s Voluntary Service set up rest centres and provided tea and two hot meals a day for around 1,000 people of the homeless and 50 Firemen. This work continued for some time afterwards at Exmouth, Crediton and Axmouth. They also gave out stock of clothing taken to the affected area. Members of the W.V.S. and C.D.C checked up on local people and made sure that any requests for assistance were passed on to those that could provide it.
The Fire Service and Auxiliary Fire Service used 'Bikini' transportable water units and dinghies to rescue people from floods and collapsed houses.
7th - 11th Oct. Horncastle, Lincolnshire.
On Friday 7th October, the official figure, for rainfall in Horncastle was 7.24in (183mm) in the six hours between 11.00am and 5.00pm. Today in 2020, the Meteorological Office states that the town still holds the UK record for "highest 180-minute total" rainfall of 178 mm, measured on that day in 1960.
The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire, set up an emergency HQ in the town. He assembled 14 fire appliances, including some from neighbouring Fire Brigades, 2 “bikini”raft units and other support vehicles.
C.D. Rest Centres were established at Holmleigh on Spilsby Rd and The Drill Hall on Boston Road. Bowl Alley Lane School became a feeding centre staffed by the W.V.S. and Civil Defence Welfare,for the volunteers that came to assist in the emergency.
The week before, the Civil Defence Corps had made a recruitment drive in the town. Their vehicles returned to the town to help with the situation and bring bedding, clothing and food for the affected population.
Lincoln City C.D.C.provided a radio net and link to sub-area control at Lincoln. Wireless communications were set up for a 24 hour watch on key points of local rivers. The Lincoln Rescue Section played their part in helping flood victims, with the Ambulance Section standing by if required. Various detachments from across Lindsey took part.
Sadly as the water receded, the body of Mr Frederick Holmes (aged 70) was found. He had drowned after being hit by a large shed and trapped near Stonewell Row, Horncastle.
During a debate, on the flooding, in Parliament on 15th December 1960, Sir John Maitland MP for Horncastle said:
….and the tragedy would have been much greater had it not been—so many hon. Members have said this—for the magnificent work of the local authority, the Civil Defence, the police and all concerned. It was a magnificent team job, and I am proud to represent people of that sort in this House.
The Civil Defence people were quite magnificent. They were on the spot in under two hours after the floods had occurred, with the rest of the team, although there was, of course, no warning. Horncastle is quite a small town, with a population of about 4,000 people, yet the whole of our Civil Defence services were engaged in coping with this disaster. They were able to cope with it and to do their job well, but it is not something to be too pleased about when we think that Horncastle is only one small town in the very large area which those services have to cover. It indicates both the value of the Civil Defence services and the need to strengthen and improve them.
27th & 28th Oct. Exeter
For the month leading up to 27th October 1960, the Exeter area had received 15.69 inches (398mm) of rain in 30 days. On the 25th and 26th October, 2.36 inches (60mm) of rain fell. This means that further 12,800,000,000 gallons (2,813,186,813 litres) fell in the River Exe catchment area in just 48 hours.
A decision was made that the Civil Defence services of the Exeter Division should be not be deployed and they were allocated to a role as reserves for the Local Authority services which were thought to be adequate for the situation.
By 3.00pm on the 27th October, the river levels had already reached over five feet in streets of the St. Thomas area of the city. The telephone lines from this part of Exeter were also cut by the water.
As the situation worsened, the C.D. had not been called but their headquarters decided to send out a Reconnaissance landrover to see if help was needed and “Show the C.D. flag”. This vehicle met the City Surveyor (the Controller-designate for the Exeter sub-area) and he joined them, realising that the C.D. communications were of great value in the situation.
By 6.30pm, after a meeting at the C.D. HQ, with the Town Clerk, the C.D.C. undertook to make a continuous reconnaissance with wireless equipped vehicles.
They were briefed to:
1. Contact all the services working in the area. (Police, Fire, Military etc).
2. Contact all officials ans their parties.
3. Look out for persons in need of rescue.
4. Look out for dangerous structures etc. And to report back all items of interest or importance, all requests for help or equipment, the conditions of the roads, depth of the flood water etc.
The message received at C.D. HQ were then sent by ‘phone to the Information Centre set up at the Police HQ.
By midnight on the 27th, the water was subsiding but assistance was still required. A C.D. Signal Office vehicle with wireless transmitter was set up at a “sub-Information Centre in the flood area to help with communications to the main Centre. C.D. Signals also helped install extra ‘phone lines at the Centre too. C.D. equipment vans and ambulances were used to ferry mattresses and furniture to and from the local Gas Works as part of the Emergency Washing and Drying Service.
Three Rest Centres opened and emergency feeding operations put in hand. These provided support to the homeless and emergency workers but due to the “Good Neighbour” spirit of the area, only 15 people needed overnight accommodation.
Sources:
Devon Floods:
Some information and photo from this post on the Not A Lot Of People Know That blog which has details of a copy of a Booklet “Devon Flood Story 1960” which provides more information.
Civil Defence Volunteers Pocket Book, printed by the Middlesex Division, 1962.
Horncastle Floods:
The Horncastle Holyday blog page on the Flood of 1960
Civil Defence magazine Vol. 13 No.1 January 1961
Civil Defence Volunteers Pocket Book, printed by the Middlesex Division, 1962.
Hansard HC Deb 15 December 1960 vol 632 cc607-70
Exeter Floods:
Civil Defence magazine Vol. 12 No.12 December 1960
Civil Defence Volunteers Pocket Book, printed by the Middlesex Division, 1962.
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