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The Bourne Archive
Warfare
5th. October, 1942.
BULLETIN
NO: 27 : SEPTEMBER, 1942.
The number of Special Constables reported
as having performed effective duty this month is 3,763. 569 special constables
completed their training in regard to the new type of Incendiary Bombs, and 7
in Police Duties.
|
Division |
No. sworn in |
H.E. & I.B. |
Anti-Gas |
Police Duties |
First Aid |
|
Cleethorpes |
510 |
202 |
387 |
401 |
378 |
|
Gainsborough |
433 |
67 |
417 |
417 |
406 |
|
Louth |
463 |
80 |
378 |
305 |
304 |
|
|
619 |
220 |
444 |
420 |
346 |
|
Skegness |
347 |
- |
244 |
333 |
229 |
|
Sleaford |
377 |
- |
303 |
322 |
297 |
|
|
412 |
- |
365 |
342 |
320 |
|
Spalding |
649 |
- |
527 |
556 |
447 |
|
Total |
3810 |
569 |
3065 |
3096 |
2727 |
The following members of the
service have been thanked during the month of September, 1942:-
Special Constables C. Andrews and
F. G. Plaskitt, for their good work in excluding unauthorised persons from the
scene of the German aircraft crash as Aylesby.
Special Constable A. Barks of the
Skegness Division, for his good work in searching over a wide area and later
recapturing at Stickney, a youth who had escaped from the North Sea Camp,
Frieston. 1
Special Constables H. R. Dick, R.
A. Gilbert, J. W. E. Hawley, H. C. L. Hibbitt and H. Warren of the Stamford
Division, for the valuable assistance they rendered to the regular police in a
case of gaming at Stamford.
Inspector F. L. Gutteridge and
Special Constable A. Gadsby of the Stamford Division, for the prompt manner in
which they came to the assistance of the regular police in dealing with two
violent Czechoslovakian airmen.
Special Constable R. Lockwood of
Cleethorpes Division, for his good work in detaining the crew of a German
aircraft which crashed in Alyesby.
Sergeants F. A. Mann and J. W.
Sargeant of the Skegness Division, for valuable assistance rendered by them,
and the men of their sections, in turning out at a late hour and searching for
two youths who had escaped from the North Sea Camp at Frieston.
Special Constable F. Oldham of the
Sleaford Division, for his keen observation and attention to duty in detecting
the larceny of cash from a workmans coat pocket at
Special Constable E. L. Tupholme
of the Stamford Division, for his good work and initiative in detecting two
youths stealing apples at Bourne.
Special Constable C. A. Wallis of
the Gainsborough Division, for his observation and attention to duty, in
detecting a number of boys committing wilful damage to crops at Bunkers Hill.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SERVICE
(a)
Proceedings originated by Special
Constables
|
Division |
Cleethorpes |
Gainsborough |
Louth |
|
Skegness |
Sleaford |
|
Spalding |
TOTAL |
|
Proceedings under the Lighting
Order |
4 |
16 |
4 |
15 |
13 |
48 |
8 |
13 |
121 |
|
Other summary Proceedings |
2 |
25 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
12 |
8 |
4 |
58 |
(b)
Other Duties Performed
On the 27th September,
1942, the special constables at Brigg took part in a combined Military and
Civil Defence exercise. The special constables at
(c)
Social
Dances have been organised by the
special constables at Scunthorpe and Ashby, a large proportion of the proceeds
being donated to the
SPECIAL NOTICE
The Paper Controller has intimated
that the Special Constables Bulletin is subject to the restrictions imposed by
article 1 (i) (a) of the Control of
Paper (No. 36) Order, 1941. Accordingly, it can no longer be published as a
periodical, and, in the present form, this will be its last issue.
Administrative Orders, information relating to enemy activities and
instructional articles on police work will, in future, be issued to the special
constabulary in the form of training pamphlets as and when required. 2
WEARING OF GUMBOOTS 3
The attention of all special
constables is once more directed to the order that, owing to the rubber
shortage, gumboots in their possession are only to be worn as a protection
against gas and must not be used for any other purpose, whatever the weather
conditions might be.
RETURNS OF HOURS OF DUTY
In some country sections, returns
of the hours of duty performed have not been submitted promptly, with the
result that the applications of the other sections for boot allowance have been
held up. Sergeants and Inspectors are requested to see that there is as little
delay as possible in this connection.
TRAINING FIGURES-INCENDIARY BOMBS
All special constables will
observe that the old training figures for H.E. and I.B. training have been
cancelled. As is the case with the other services, no member of the special
constabulary can now be considered as trained until he has attended a lecture
of one hours duration on the new German incendiary bombs, in addition to
previous instruction laid down for these subjects.
NIGHT PLOUGHING
The Ministry of Home Security have
amended the law relating to the lights which may be carried by tractors and the
following is a copy of Home Security Circular 171/1942, dated 31st
August, 1942, which explains the position fully.
1. In order to facilitate night
ploughing it has been decided that tractors being used for any agricultural
purpose otherwise than on a road should be permitted to display, instead of the
lights authorised under paragraph 51 of the Lighting (Restrictions) Order,
1940, two masked headlamps complying with sub-paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e)
of paragraph 17 of the Order.
2.
The lamps, one of which will show light to the front and one to the rear
of the tractor, may be mounted on any part of the tractor and the beam directed
in accordance with the wishes of the driver, provided that no direct light is
projected above the horizontal.
3.
In addition, the driver of the tractor may use, when necessary for
carrying out adjustments, etc., a torch or handlamp not complying with
paragraph 50 of the Lighting (Restrictions) Order, 1940, as amended, provided
that it is hooded with a semi-circular hood projecting at least three inches,
that, if electric, it is of a power not exceeding 1 watt, and that the light
emitted is white and is at all times directed downwards.
4.
The necessary amendments to the Lighting Order will be made in due
course. Neither relaxation will apply
within half-a-mile of an R.A.F. Aerodrome.
5.
This circular is issued by direction of the Ministry of Home Security.
GAS POINTS FOR WARDENS
A note on Gas Points for Wardens
issued by the Inspector-General of the C.D. Services, is appended hereunder for
the information of all special constables.
1. A gas bomb will presumably be heard by
wardens as it falls. It will not explode with the violence of an H.E. bomb.
2.
The warden relies on his sense of smell to detect gas. If this is acute
he should carry the respirator at the Alert, being prepared to stop breathing
for a few seconds while he puts the respirator on if gas is detected. Otherwise
wardens may prefer to seek gas whilst wearing the respirator, testing for gas
in the prescribed manner.
3.
Once a warden is reasonably certain that gas is present the rattles should be
sounded vigorously. After the initial sounding to warn the neighbourhood the
warden should, if necessary, continue to sound the rattle at intervals, particularly
whenever pedestrians or traffic approach the danger area. A report should be
made at the first opportunity but the main effort of the wardens should,
however, be directed from the first suspicion of gas to warning the public (a) to put on their respirators, (b) to take immediate cover and remain
there until the danger has passed.
4.
Under favourable weather conditions the greatest danger arises with
non-persistent lethal gas. A dangerous gas cloud of this kind from a single
bomb may take 5 minutes to pass a given spot, whilst it is still of lethal
concentration. At high wind speeds the rate of travel is faster and the time of
exposure is correspondingly shorter.
5.
Should blister gas be used, the warden has to discover where the
contamination has occurred and isolate the area. From a 50 kilo bomb falling in
a street the splashed area should not extend more than 15 or 20 yards along the
street. Traffic, particularly downwind, should at first be stopped much further
away, say 100 yards. At this distance respirators must still be worn to protect
the eyes and lungs from vapour, but no other protection is necessary, provided
the period of exposure does not exceed about 15 minutes. If a warden has to
remain on duty in the area for longer than this he should wear anti-gas
clothing.
6.
The need to protect the eyes is paramount. Once the enemy has used gas,
wardens should always wear eyeshields when on patrol.
UNEXPLODED BOMBS AND PARACHUTE MINES
The following are the new safety
distances for Unexploded Bombs and Parachute Mines and are appended for
information.
Unexploded Bombs
The distinction between a buried
bomb and an unexploded bomb will be that the bomb may be treated as buried
unless it is above ground level or some part of it is still visible.
For all buried bombs the following
precautions must be taken :-
(a) Initial
Evacuation. All buildings within 50
yards of the bomb should be cleared. In unevacuated houses within 100 yards of
the bomb the rooms on the same side of the building as the bomb should not be
used.
(b) Opening of Windows. In order to reduce the risk of injury form
glass all windows in the walls of the buildings on the same side as and within
100 yards of the bomb, should be opened wide.
(c) Traffic Restrictions. No
vehicular or pedestrian traffic should be allowed within 50 yards of the bomb. Between
50 yards and 100 yards of the bomb, traffic should be confined to persons or
vehicles requiring access to the unevacuated houses, which should be entered by
a door on the side of the building remote from the bomb.
For unburied bombs of 1800 kg. or
more :-
(a) Initial Evacuation.
All buildings including industrial premises within 200 yards of the bomb
must be evacuated. Rooms must be vacated up to 400 yards from the bomb site if
they have either exposed doors or windows unscreened from the bomb site by
intervening buildings, of it screened from the bomb site only by flimsy
constructions such as walls of asbestos-cement or corrugated iron sheeting, lat
and plaster partitions, etc.
(b) Windows. Windows
within 800 yards of the bomb should be opened wide.
(c) Traffic. No
vehicular traffic and no pedestrian traffic (other than persons requiring
access to the unevacuated houses within the area) should be allowed within 300
yards of the bomb unless screened by intervening buildings of brick walls. If
so screened, the distance may be reduced to 200 yards.
In all other cases of unburied
bombs :-
(a) Initial Evacuation. All buildings should be cleared up to 50
yards from bombs up to 250 kg. and up to 100 yards for bombs over that size.
Rooms must be vacated up to 150 yards from bombs up to 250 kg. and for 300
yards for bombs of more than 25o kg., if they have either exposed doors or
windows unscreened from the bomb site by intervening buildings, of it screened
from the bomb site only by flimsy constructions such as walls of
asbestos-cement or corrugated iron sheeting, lat and plaster partitions, etc.
(b) Opening of Windows. Windows
should be opened wide in rooms referred to in sub-para. (a) above, and preferably to rather greater distance.
(c) Traffic Restrictions. No
vehicular traffic and no pedestrian traffic other than persons requiring access
to the unevacuated houses within the area should be allowed within 300 yards of
the bomb unless screened by intervening buildings of brick walls. If so
screened, the distance may be reduced to 100 yards for bombs over 250 kg. and
to 50 yards for bombs of 250 kg. or less.
Relaxation of safety precautions.
The following relaxations may
subsequently be made in the case of buried bombs :-
(i) All safety precautions may be relaxed and
occupants may return to their houses 96 hours after a bomb falls unless a
railway, including an underground railway, passes within 50 yards of the bomb,
in which case full restrictions must be maintained until the bomb is finally
disposed of.
(ii) The following immediate relaxations may be
permitted where a buried bomb can be certified by a Bomb Disposal Officer,
R.E., as of 50 kg. :-
(a) Evacuation. The measure of relaxation of safety
precautions will vary with circumstances, but it should be possible to allow
the immediate re-occupation of all houses except those within 10 yards.
(b) Windows. Where persons are
allowed to return to their houses, windows need no longer be kept open.
(c) Traffic. Traffic may be
allowed to pas unless the bomb is within 10 yards of the road.
In the case of unburied bombs none of the safety precautions must be
relaxed until the bomb is rendered safe.
Parachute Mines
The following rules for safety
precautions in the case of unexploded Parachute Mines should be strictly
observed :-
(i) All buildings including industrial premises
within 200 yards of the mine must be evacuated. No loud noise or vibration must
be caused within 400 yards of the mine, and this restriction will normally
involve the cessation of industrial work up to that distance.
(ii) Rooms must be vacated up to 44 yards from the
mine site if they have either exposed doors or windows unscreened from the mine
site by intervening buildings, or if screened only by flimsy constructions such
as walls of asbestos-cement or corrugated iron sheeting, lath and plaster
partitions, etc.
(iii) All windows within 800 yards of the mine
should be opened wide.
(iv) No traffic will be allowed within 400 yards
of the mine except pedestrians requiring access to the unevacuated houses which
should preferably be entered by a door on the side of the building remote from
the mine. This restriction applies also to rail traffic and to vehicles of the armed
forces.
(v) Fire fighting, rescue work and first-aid will
be allowed to continue where necessary within the area evacuated.
(vi) No stakes are to be driven into the ground
(e.g., for the purpose of making barriers) within 400 yards of a mine which has
not been rendered safe for transportation.
(vii) When a mine has been rendered safe for
transportation a barrier must be erected round it to prevent people touching
it.
REPORTING OF INCENDIARY BOMBS
To avoid confusion, the following
abbreviations should be used in the future to report the fall of Incendiary
Bombs to Report Centres and Police Stations.
1
kg. with explosive tail EXP.
I.B.
1
kg. with explosive nose IBEN
H.E.-cum-Incendiary
(marked Spreng-brand C.50)4 Firepot
I.B.
Phosphorous Oil Bomb PH.
I.B.
DISPOSAL OF UNIGNITED INCENDIARY BOMBS
Should an unexploded bomb be
identified as a 50 kg. phosphorous-oil bomb special precautions may be
necessary. If the bomb is found intact it will be dealt with by the Bomb
Disposal Unit as in the case of and H.E. bomb. Should, however, the case have
been split open on impact and any of the contents be spilled, it will be
necessary to keep all exposed portions of the filling wet, pending the arrival
of the Bomb Disposal Unit. The latter will be responsible for uncovering the
bomb and rendering it safe, insofar as the fuse and any explosive charge is
concerned. Where the bomb can be allowed to burn under control without causing
serious damage to property this course will be followed. In all other cases the
N.F.S. will be responsible for the subsequent disposal of the incendiary
material. Until this task can conveniently be undertaken, Wardens and Fire Guards
should be employed to keep wet all exposed portions of the filling. Care must
be taken not to touch the bomb or its contents.
Unignited incendiary bombs of the
1 kg. type or any of its variants should be picked up by hand, carried
horizontally, and deposited outside buildings. The local authority or by the
police will then remove them to a place of safety. They should preferably be
stored in a shallow trench in open ground to which access by unauthorised
persons prohibited. With certain types of filling used in these bombs, drying
out after immersion in water may cause spontaneous ignition or even
explosion. They should not therefore be
immersed in water but should be kept dry until they can be collected by the Bomb
Disposal Units which are responsible for their ultimate disposal. Unignited
bombs which, however, have fallen in water or have for any reason become wet,
should be kept in water until they can be collected by the Bomb Disposal Unit. The above instructions apply also to
unignited 1 kg. incendiary bombs with an explosive nose but it is important
that they should be reported immediately by the police so that they may be
collected by Bomb Disposal Units at the earliest opportunity.
BLACK-OUT AND LIGHTING-UP TIMES
|
Date |
a.m. |
p.m. |
Date |
a.m. |
p.m. |
|
15th October |
6.58 |
6.37 |
16th November |
7.58 |
5.35 |
|
16th |
7.00 |
6.35 |
17th |
7.59 |
5.34 |
|
17th |
7.01 |
6.33 |
18th |
8.02 |
5.34 |
|
18th |
7.03 |
6.30 |
19th |
8.04 |
5.31 |
|
19th |
7.05 |
6.28 |
20th |
8.06 |
5.29 |
|
20th |
7.07 |
6.26 |
21st |
8.07 |
5.28 |
|
21st |
7.09 |
6.23 |
22nd |
8.09 |
5.27 |
|
22nd |
7.11 |
6.21 |
23rd |
8.11 |
5.26 |
|
23rd |
7.13 |
6.19 |
24th |
8.12 |
5.24 |
|
24th |
7.14 |
6.17 |
25th |
8.14 |
5.24 |
|
25th |
7.16 |
6.15 |
26th |
8.15 |
5.23 |
|
26th |
7.18 |
6.13 |
27th |
8.17 |
5.22 |
|
27th |
7.20 |
6.11 |
28th |
8.19 |
5.21 |
|
28th |
7.22 |
6.09 |
29th |
8.20 |
5.20 |
|
29th |
7.23 |
6.07 |
30th |
8.22 |
5.19 |
|
30th |
7.25 |
6.06 |
1st December |
8.24 |
5.18 |
|
31st |
7.28 |
6.03 |
2nd |
8.25 |
5.17 |
|
1st November |
7.30 |
6.01 |
3rd |
8.27 |
5.16 |
|
2nd |
7.32 |
5.59 |
4th |
8.28 |
5.16 |
|
3rd |
7.33 |
5.57 |
5th |
8.29 |
5.16 |
|
4th |
7.35 |
5.55 |
6th |
8.31 |
5.15 |
|
5th |
7.37 |
5.54 |
7th |
8.32 |
5.15 |
|
6th |
7.39 |
5.52 |
8th |
8.33 |
5.14 |
|
7th |
7.41 |
5.50 |
9th |
8.34 |
5.14 |
|
8th |
7.42 |
5.48 |
10th |
8.35 |
5.14 |
|
9th |
7.45 |
5.46 |
11th |
8.37 |
5.13 |
|
10th |
7.47 |
5.44 |
12th |
8.38 |
5.13 |
|
11th |
7.49 |
5.43 |
13th |
8.39 |
5.13 |
|
12th |
7.51 |
5.41 |
14th |
8.40 |
5.13 |
|
13th |
7.52 |
5.40 |
15th |
8.41 |
5.13 |
|
14th |
7.54 |
5.38 |
16th |
8.42 |
5.13 |
|
15th |
7.56 |
5.37 |
17th |
8.43 |
5.13 |
[Facsimile signature] R. H. Fooks
Chief Constable.
J.W. Ruddock & Sons, Ltd.,
Printers, Lincoln 22251
Commentary
From early in the Second World
War, after the Fall of
France, special
constables (part-time volunteer policemen) in Lincolnshire were informed of
wartime developments and their morale maintained, by a small (typically 8 pp.
215 x 139 mm) booklet, issued to them by Lincolnshire
Constabulary. The earlier issues were however, foolscap sheets (328 x 203
mm), stapled together at the top left corner. It appeared monthly until No. 27,
the present issue, when restrictions on the use of paper ended its run.
Abbreviations :-
A.R.P. = Air Raid
Precautions This was a branch of the Civil Defence organisation, as well
as the precautions themselves.
C.D. = Civil Defence.
H.E. = high explosive.
H.M. Forces = His Majestys Forces.
I.B. = incendiary bomb.
N.F.S. = National Fire Service.
This replaced the local authority organization of fire services and the Auxiliary Fire
Service (A.F.S.).
R.A.F. = Royal Air Force.
Footnotes
1.^ This is on the north side of the mouth of
Boston Haven. At this period, it was a Borstal institution. Youths
frequently absconded from it. It was at around the time of the leaflet or a
little before, that one of those absconders stole an old coat from my parents
back porch in Skirbeck (RJP4).
Freiston is the usual
spelling of the parishs name.
2.^ These instructional pamphlets were just like
the bulletins but they were produced slightly irregularly: about once in two
months. The first is dated 19th November, 1942.
3.^ The great frugality in the use of paper which
ended publication of the bulletin and the care in the use of rubber illustrate
the shortages from which the country suffered at this period. Rubber was
product of the tropics and 1942 was a particularly difficult time with regard
to the German blockade of
4.^ Sprengen
= to blow up or explode: ein Brand =
fire out of control (burning houses etc.) cf.
French incendie.
Links to other issues of the Bulletin
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