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St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 1-10
The first of nine volumes of the St Margaret’s ARP logs. This volume covers the period from 1st September 1939 to the 24th July 1940 and includes the period of the evacuation of Dunkirk in late May and early June 1940.
This volume also reflects the increased ARP activity recorded as a result of the commencement of the Battle of Britain on 10th July 1940 when the Luftwaffe attacked shipping convoys in the English Channel and Channel ports and coastal radar stations on the South coast, and made widespread night-time raids all along the coast.
The Air Raid Warden Service was set up in 1937 dedicated to the protection of civilians from the damage from air raids.
The St Margaret’s ARP Post was situated in the Cliffe Hotel in St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe High Street. The Chief Warden was Major Hornsby until his retirement in February 1941 when Charles Groves, who was also the Cliffe Hotel proprietor, took over in a voluntary capacity.
Given St Margaret’s proximity to the French coast air raid warnings figure prominently in these logs
Air raid warnings were colour coded which is how they are recorded in the log. They are as follows:-
‘AIR RAID MESSAGE YELLOW’. A PRELIMINARY CAUTION that raiding aircraft are approaching the UK. Sent to recipients on the district warning list of districts in which raiders appear to be heading. This message is only a preliminary warning and was confidential. It was neither to be passed on from one warning district to another nor to be conveyed to the public.
‘AIR RAID WARNING RED’ An ACTION WARNING that raiding aircraft are heading towards certain districts which may be attacked within from five to ten minutes. Sent to recipients on the direct warning list of districts threatened. Message passed by telephone to certain authorities on the warning list, who will sound the Air Raid Warning.
‘AIR RAID MESSAGE GREEN’ RAIDERS PASSED. Raiding aircraft have left districts warned or no longer appear to threaten those districts. Sent to all recipients of an ACTION WARNING. Message passed by telephone to certain authorities on the warning list, who will sound the RAIDERS PASSED.
‘AIR RAID MESSAGE WHITE’ CANCEL CAUTION. Sent to all recipients of the PRELIMINARY CAUTION (whether they had received the ACTION WARNING and RAIDERS PASSED or not). This message was confidential. It was to be passed on only to those who received the PRELIMINARY CAUTION.
‘AIR RAID MESSAGE PURPLE’ Means EXTINGUISH ALL LIGHTS.
This item covers pages 1-10, 1st September 1939 to 12th September 1939 For the rest of Vol 1 see also items 5448 to 5460
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