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St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 3. 2 November 1940 - 17 February 1941. Pages 1-8
The third of nine volumes of the St Margaret’s ARP logs. This volume covers the period from 2nd November 1940 to 17th February 1941.
During this period heavy enemy shelling and bombing of Dover Strait and the Dover area led to this stretch of the Channel being nicknamed ‘Hellfire Corner’. This activity is reflected in the ARP log entries.
The Air Raid Warden Service was set up in 1937 dedicated to the protection of civilians from the damage of air raids. The St Margaret’s ARP Post was set up 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. These 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 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 that 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 had received the PRELIMINARY CAUTION.
‘AIR RAID MESSAGE PURPLE’ Means EXTINGUISH ALL LIGHTS.
This item covers pages 1 to 8, 2nd November 1940 to 8th November 1940.
For the rest of Volume 3 see also items 5612 to 5627
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