DeptName
Documents

IDNO
1318

OtherNumber
87/14/1

ItemName
Private Papers of E Warren

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms exercise book (135pp) containing entries for the period 3 September 1939 - May 1941 concerned primarily with war news but with a few useful references to the outbreak of the war, her employment at Ealing Auxiliary Fire Service station, civilian conditions and evacuation, together with a ts account (12pp) in which she recalls her training and service in the Women's Auxiliary Fire Service and National Fire Service prior to and during the Second World War and relates the experiences of some of her fire service colleagues, and papers relating to her service including duplicated ts student's notes on various aspects of the NFS; also miscellaneous correspondence comprising 4 ms letters (in English with one incomplete) from a French sailor (dated October 1940 - April 1941) serving in the Free French Sloop(?) SAVORGRANDE BRAZZA off the coats of French West Africa with interesting references to clashes with Vichy forces off Dakar and Libreville including the sinking of the Vichy Sloop BOURGAINVILLE and 7 ms/ts letters from two Dutchmen (dated June 1945 - February 1946 and an ms postcard, October 1939) containing a few references to civilian conditions in postwar Netherlands.

MakerName
Warren

Forenames
E

Style
Miss

RelatedIWMItems
See DCAR (DPB\DEAF\DPH)

RelatedImageFile
WarrenE_001318_2.jpg

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
12/09/2006 05:50:12

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Ealing, Middlesex, England, UK
French speaking Africa
West Africa
Netherlands
Dakar, Senegal, French West Africa
Libreville, Gabon, French Equatorial Africa

IndexEvent
Mobilisation, September 1939, Second World War
Home Front, UK, Second World War
Evacuation of British children 1939-1944, Evacuation
Operation Menace, Landings at Dakar 1940, West Africa, Second World War

PDF
WarrenE_001318_2.pdf

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
1578

OtherNumber
87/40/1

ItemName
Private Papers of M Dineen

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms diary in 4 volumes covering her experiences as an LCC (London County Council) helper with a group of Streatham schoolchildren (one of them her son) during their evacuation to Eastbourne, September 1939 - June 1940 and Llansadwin, South Wales, June 1940 - May 1945 with useful details of her life as an evacuee, her welfare work and involvement with fundraising activities and salvage operations, her billets, rationing and civilian conditions generally as a well as references to war news, Welsh customs, contact with locally based American forces, her strong religious convictions and thoughts on being separated from her husband, a London ARP Warden; also a photograph album and various loose prints, postcards and presscuttings associated with her two periods of evacuation.

MakerName
Dineen

Forenames
M

Style
Mrs

RelatedIWMItems
See DCAR (DEAF/DPH HU 53092-53094)

RelatedImageFile
DineenM_001578_1.jpg

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Streatham, London, England, UK
Loch Ailort, Argyllshire, Scotland, UK
Llansadwin, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK
Eastbourne, Sussex, England, UK
London, England, UK

IndexEvent
Evacuation of British children 1939-1944, Evacuation
Home Front, UK, Second World War

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
179

OtherNumber
89/19/1

ItemName
Private Papers of R C Desch

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Two ms log books of the YMCA Mobile canteen, Wimbledon, March 1940 - July 1945, complied by her and recording in very personal terms the experiences of and the reception given to the civilian men and women delivering refreshments, bibles and comforts such as cigarettes, chocolates and clothing, in all conditions and despite shortages, to the RAF, WAAF, the Home Guard and the balloon, searchlight and AA units sited at isolated locations in and around London, to demolition and rescue squads, the Ambulance and National Fire Services, homeless people, policemen and railwaymen during the air raids of the Blitz, and to local events such as the Merton and Morden War Week procession (May 1941) and the Youth Display at the Technical Ground, Wimbledon (August 1942); and who ran a mobile lending library for the troops from April 1944. Included are photographs, poems, Christmas cards, cartoons and letters of appreciation relating to the long and efficient service provided by the mobile canteen and library.

MakerName
Desch

Forenames
R C

Style
Miss

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
1129

OtherNumber
91/5/1

ItemName
Private Papers of J G Markham

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Photocopy of a well-written and informative ts memoir (50pp) entitled 'The Church Under Fire', concerning the author's involvement with Civil Defence when he was Rector of St Peter's, Walworth (South East London) prior to and during the Second World War, with descriptions of his work organising rudimentary Civil Defence for his parish at the time of the Munich Crisis, September 1938, preparing for the evacuation of local children and converting the crypt of his church for use as an air-raid shelter in early 1939, his appointment as ARP Post Warden in early 1940 and his responsibilities for training ARP wardens and Fireguard parties under his control, the evacuation of the church school, the effects of the Blitz, with references to conditions in public shelters and looting, his work as a Bomb Reconnaissance Officer, and final promotion to District Warden before moving to another parish outside London in 1944.

MakerName
Markham

Forenames
J G

Style
Reverend

RelatedImageFile
MarkhamJG_001129_3.jpg

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
12/09/2006 05:50:12

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Walworth, London, England, UK

IndexPlaceDetail
St Peter's Church, Walworth

IndexEvent
Munich Crisis 1938
Home Front, UK, Second World War
Evacuation of British children 1939-1944, Evacuation
Blitz, United Kingdom, Second World War

PDF
MarkhamJG_001129_3.pdf

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
4734

OtherNumber
Con Shelf

ItemName
Private Papers of M J Shean

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms correspondence (circa 230 letters) written 2 September 1939 - 21 August 1940 between a young girl, her little sister and their parents in London following the children's evacuation with Woolwich Central School to Ryarsh, Kent concentrating principally on family news, school activities, anticipated visits and parcels sent but with useful references to Christmas festivities for the evacuees, ARP practices (from May 1940), the fitting of filters to gas masks (July 1940), the increasing incidence of air raids (August 1940), comments on light entertainment radio broadcasts and on war news and details concerning civilian conditions in general.

MakerName
Shean

AlternativeName
later Mrs Tucker

Forenames
M J

Style
Miss

RelatedIWMItems
See also SR

RelatedImageFile
SheenMJ_004734_1.jpg

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Woolwich, London, England, UK
Ryarsh, Kent, England, UK

IndexPlaceDetail
Woolwich Central School

IndexEvent
Evacuation of British children 1939-1944, Evacuation
Blitz, United Kingdom, Second World War
Home Front, UK, Second World War

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
5554

OtherNumber
96/28/1

ItemName
Private Papers of E M Green

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Photocopy of a well-written and interesting ts memoir (233pp) of her evacuation with Walthamstow High School from her home in Walthamstow, east London to Wellingborough, Northamptonshire (September 1939 - December 1942) including good comments about the initial implications of evacuation for young children, their anticipation of the train journey and the treatment of the evacuees upon their arrival in Northamptonshire, the commendable preparations and organisation of the staff of the school in arranging accommodation, her own peturbation at being placed in a comfortable billet and trying to conceal her own poor background, the advantages given to her through her evacuation and the difficulties of seeing her family in poverty and danger from air raids, the influence of radio programmes such as ITMA in raising morale, the increase in rationing and the pride of housewives in coping with the restrictions, and the education system and the career opportunities available to her as a girl through her grammar school education. The school returned to Walthamstow in December 1942, bringing to an end a very happy and successful evacuation.

MakerName
Green

Forenames
E M

Style
Mrs

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
9155

ProductionDate
5/Dec/1985

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Holden, Barbara Constance xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Berkshire
GB, England & Woking, Surrey

IndexUnits
GB.O & Auxiliary Fire Service

ShortSummary
British civilian served with Auxiliary Fire Service in Surrey, 1940s

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of family background and education. Recollections of life and work, Berkshire, 1940-1941: employment at Dame School; air raids; social life; bombing of family home; voluntary work; ARP work; preparations to join services. Recollections of work with Auxiliary Fire Service, Woking, 4/1941-1946: joining Fire Service as telephonist; working shifts; reasons for joining; training; duties; equipment.
REEL 2 Continues: routine; fire crews; attitude of firemen towards women in fire service; stirrup pump drill; fires in area; problem of false alarms; work of Fire Service; impact of war on Fire Service; nationalisation of Fire Service; administration; welfare; uniform; daily routine; night duty; accommodation.
REEL 3 Continues: social life; attitude towards night duty; duties; shifts; pay and promotion; move to Guildford Division Office, 1943; duties; V1 raids; air raid precautions; practise exercises; training part time staff; work of part time staff; fire-watch; training; promotion to Assistant Group Officer; arrival of reinforcing personnel from Midlands.
REEL 4 Continues: leaving fire service, 1946; reasons for leaving; employment opportunities for women post war.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945

Duration
120

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
Full : 39pp

MakerName
Holden, Barbara Constance

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photo in transcript

RelatedSoundFile
Holden-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
11578

ProductionDate
4/Oct/1990

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Delve, Frederick W xxx
Anderson, John

IndexPlaces
GB, England

IndexUnits
GB.O & Fire Service, Croydon
GB.O & Fire Service, London
GB.O & Fire Service, National

ShortSummary
British civilian fireman and Chief Officer of Croydon Fire Brigade, 1933-1941, including Blitz; adviser to Home Secretary on wartime recruitment and training in London, 1936-1939; Deputy Inspector of National Fire Service, 1941-1942; Chief Regional Fire Officer of London Region, 1942-1947; also involved in fire defence of Liverpool and Coventry, 1941

ContextDescription
Civilian Life And War Work Since 1945
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945

Duration
120

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
Full : 38pp

MakerName
Delve, Frederick William

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Delve-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
11732

ProductionDate
28/Nov/1990

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
flying bomb, German: V1
rocket, German: V2

IndexPeople
Barlow, John W xxx
Courage, Richard H

IndexPlaces
GB, England

IndexUnits
GB.N & RN Southwick Park, Portsmouth, Hants
GB.O & Bletchley Park
GB.O & Air Raid Precautions

ShortSummary
British civilian worked as Air Raid Precautions warden in Dartford, Kent, 1939-1944 including blitz and V weapon attacks; worked as engineer at Erith on message conveyor systems installed at Bletchley Park, Bucks and Royal Navy, Southwick Park, Portsmouth in GB, 1944-1945

ContextDescription
: Civilian Life And War Work, 1939-1945

Duration
75

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Barlow, John William

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Barlow-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
13651

ProductionDate
13/Dec/1993

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Peat, Raymond xxx
Peat, Jim

IndexPlaces
GB, England

IndexUnits
GB.O & Air Raid Precautions

IndexConcepts
Anti war
Bereavement

ShortSummary
British civilian Air Raid Precautions bicycle messenger and relief worker in Hull during blitz 1940-1942, injured in 1941 and brother killed.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life And War Work, 1939-1945

Duration
75

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Peat, Raymond

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Interview with younger brother Gordon Peat SR 13944

RelatedSoundFile
Peat-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
17834

ProductionDate
4/Feb/1998

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Witty, Peter xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England & Beverley
GB, England & Hull
GB, England & Bovington

IndexUnits
GB. A & Woodmansey Home Guard
GB.A & Royal Armoured Corps

ShortSummary
British civilian served with Woodmansey Home Guard in GB, 1940-1941; trooper served with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1943-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Beverley, 1924-1939: family and education; how family made living; meaning of term 'freemen' in Beverley; reaction to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939. Period with Woodmansey Home Guard, 1940-1941: age range of platoon; exercises; opinion of commanding officer; anticipation of German invasion and raids; Home Guard weapons including 'Blacker Bombard'; training with Commandos, Bishop Burton. Recollection of German air attacks on East Riding, 1940-1942: bombs which fell on area; bombs and land-mines which fell on Beverley; stick of German bombs which hit Flemingate, Beverley, 8/1942.
REEL 2 Continues: use of air raid shelters; refugees who came out of Hull to stay night in Beverley; provision made in Beverley for refugees; question of seeing little of devastation of Hull; fire brigades from different parts of GB which stayed in Beverley to help fight fires; concern that Germans would send such numbers to "finish us off"; disbelief of Germany winning war; lack of privation in Beverley; Government permission to kill a pig a year; sprit of co-operation in Beverley. Recollection of how ancestors originally came to Beverley. Period of training in Beverley: call up 18/2/1943; basic training; question of being used to wearing boots; incident of how NCO who bullied recruit was dealt with. Period with Royal Armoured Corps, 1943-1945: posting to 55 Training Regt, Farnborough, 1/4/1943-12/10/1943; posting to Armoured Fighting Vehicle School, Bovington, 1943-1945; question of why Witty never got into action; reaction to not getting into action; test driving Comet tank. Joining Yorkshire Hussars, 5/1945.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945

Duration
60

NumberOfParts
2

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Witty, Peter

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Witty-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
Private copyright - check copyright holder

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
20463

ProductionDate
14/Jul/2000

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Fitzpatrick, Paula xxx
Sustrová, Paulína xxx
Havel, Vaclav

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & London
CS
CS & Moravia
AT & Vienna

IndexUnits
CS.O & Young Communist Pioneers
GB.O & Museum, Imperial War, London

IndexConcepts
Cold war
Nuclear warfare

ShortSummary
Czech civilian living in Czechoslovakia, 1973-1992

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of family background, Moravia, Czechoslovakia: father's employment; grandfather's internment in concentration camp. Recollections of life in Czechoslovakia, 1970s-1992: growth in awareness of politics at school; learning about communism; education system; negative image of west promoted in schools; absence of privately owned business; attitude towards communism; official account of Prague Spring 1968 taught in schools; image promoted of US; desire for western consumer goods particularly jeans.
REEL 2 Continues: obtaining pair of western jeans from family friend; membership of Young Communist Pioneers; role directing slogan sessions; activities of pioneers; importance of membership of youth groups for future career; father's political stance, 1968; necessity of membership of communist party; attitude towards communist system; opinion of Gustav Husak's leadership; lack of knowledge of Alexander Dubcek and Vaclav Havel; uniformity of life; problems caused by business monopolies; black market; lack of contact with west; reaction to visiting Vienna (after 1989); knowledge of events leading up to revolution, 1989; impact on her village; impact of revolution on school.
REEL 3 Continues: job in accountancy helping new private businesses and privatisation project; difficulties adapting to capitalist system; influx of world consumer goods; changes in traditional lifestyle; lack of knowledge of English music; good access to culture i.e. opera, concerts, under communist system; attitude towards new President, Vaclav Havel; father's situation; decision to come to leave Czech Republic. Recollections of life in London, 1992-2000: first impressions of London; employment as au pair; meeting and marrying husband; contrast between her and her Czech friends lives; attitude towards capitalist system; western attitudes towards people from former Eastern bloc.
REEL 4 Continues: families attitude towards her marriage to Englishman; impressions of Czech Republic on return, 2000; impact of capitalist system on Czech society; work as press officer for Imperial War Museum; school visits to Terezin and Lidice; attitude towards division of Czechoslovakia. Recollections of nuclear attack drill in her Czech school.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work Since 1975

Duration
110

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Fitzpatrick, Paula

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photograph (2000) in file

RelatedSoundFile
Fitzpatrick-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
Czechoslovakian

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
22202

ProductionDate
c1980s

ObjectType
Recording

IndexPlaces
GB, England

IndexConcepts
Nuclear warfare

ShortSummary
'Protect and Survive', Central Office of Information public information broadcast detailing the precautions people should take in the event of a nuclear attack

ContextDescription
Broadcast programmes

Duration
60

NumberOfParts
2

OtherFormats
None

ProductionCompany
COI

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Negatives of Protect and Survive information for publication in newspapers etc in Photograph Archive, HU 88775-HU 88776
Copies of negatives in Sound Archive file also

RelatedSoundFile
022202S01.mp3
Protectandsurvive-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
Private copyright - check copyright holder

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
23173

ProductionDate
8/May/2002

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Williams, Sonia xxx
Bech, Sonia xxx
Ryder Richardson, Colin
Davies, Eric
Partridge, Barbara
Bech, Barbara

IndexPlaces
GB, England
AC, North

IndexUnits
GB.O & Merchant Navy & City of Benares

IndexConcepts
Evacuee

ShortSummary
British civilian schoolchild survivor of torpedoing of evacuee ship SS City of Benares, 9/1940

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of family and educational background. Recollections of life in Sussex, 1939-1940: memories of outbreak of war; arrival of Canadian troops; preparations for war; impact of war on father's work; plans for her and her siblings to go to Canada with mother; preparations for evacuation; journey to Liverpool; air raids. Recollections of period on board SS City of Benares, 13-17/9/1940: impressions of ship; relations with Indian crew; lack of contact with evacuees on ship; lifeboat drills. Recollections of torpedoing of City of Benares and rescue, 9/1940: sounding of alarm; preparing to evacuate ship; sister's descent into lifeboat.
REEL 2 Continues: jumping onto raft; witnessing sinking of ship; story of how Eric Davies pulled their raft away from sinking ship; people on raft; clinging on to raft; falling from raft and near death experience; rescue by sailor; rescue from raft by lifeboat from sunk SS Marina; arrival of HMS Hurricane; treatment by crew of Hurricane; fate of other passengers from City of Benares; fears for sister Barbara; reunion with Barbara; story of how one lifeboat spent a further 7 days at sea; life jackets; conditions on raft; arrival in Scotland; acquiring new clothes; telling her story to journalists; story of how her father learnt of the disaster; media interest in City of Benares.
REEL 3 Continues: reunion with sailor on their raft, Mr Lewis, post-war; remembrance of disaster; memories of Colin Ryder Richardson; reunion with other survivors; experiences of Colin Ryder Richardson; media coverage of sinking of City of Benares in Denmark; return to Bognor Regis; talking about her experiences; impact of experience on her life; reunion with sailor on their raft, Mr Lewis; reasons why their escape from the ship was delayed.
REEL 4 Continues: mother's reaction to seeing stunned mother and young girl during escape who were later drowned; memories of Eric Davies; physical effects of period on raft; description of raft.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life And War Work, 1939-1945

Duration
120

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Williams, Sonia

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Interview with Sonia Williams' sister, Barbara Partridge, on 20490
Interview with Colin Ryder Richardson on 20805
Recording (1940) of Eric Davies on
Photograph of Sonia Williams with siblings, mother and Colin Ryder Richardson in file
Photograph (2002) in file
Memoir of childhood, in file

RelatedSoundFile
WilliamsS-civilians.mp3
WilliamsS-remembrance.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
RemembranceCommemoration
CivilDefence

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 916

ItemName
tape, adhesive, Israeli ARP

ObjectType
misc

FullSummary
Used to protect windows and seal them against gas, during Iraqi missile attacks during the Gulf War.

RelatedIWMItems
EPH 917

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
Access by prior appointment

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 1743

ItemName
curtain, blackout: British

IndexPeople
Waller, C

IndexPlaces
GB, England & Aylesbury, Bucks

FullSummary
The curtains were used during the Second World War by the donor at 25 Temple St, Aylesbury.

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
black curtain with 10 curtain rings

Access
Access by prior appointment

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
OMD 3826

ProductionDate
1941

ItemName
George Medal & GM

ObjectType
medal

IndexPeople
Bick, Charity Anne (Miss)

IndexPlaces
England & West Bromwich

IndexUnits
GB.O & Air Raid Precautions (ARP)

FullSummary
Charity Anne Bick (1927-2002) was fourteen years old when she performed the act of bravery that resulted in the award of the George Medal (GM). The official citation published in the London Gazette of 14 February 1941 reported the events as follows: `Miss Charity Bick, ARP Despatch Rider, West Bromwich. During a very heavy air raid, Miss Bick played an heroic part under nerve-racking conditions. At the outset when incendiary bombs began to fall she assisted her father, a Post Warden, to put out one of these, in the roof of a shop, with the aid of a stirrup pump and bucket of water. The pump proved to be out of order, but nothing daunted she proceeded to splash the water with her hands and eventually put out the fire. While endeavouring to get out of the roof the charred rafters gave way and she fell through to the room below and sustained minor injuries. Miss Bick and her father then returned to the ARP Post. Almost immediately high explosive bombs began to fall and a terrific explosion nearly shook them off their feet. They discovered that a bomb had destroyed two houses opposite and another one nearby. The Wardens attached to the Post were all on duty, so she borrowed a bicycle and rushed out to take a message to the Control Room amidst shrapnel from guns and falling bombs. She made repeated attempts to get through and several times had to dismount and fall flat on the ground for safety. Covered with dirt and grime she eventually delivered the message. She made three journeys from her Post to the Control Room, a distance of approximately one and a quarter miles, during the height of the raid, and made further journeys afterwards. Miss Bick, by acting as a means of communication between the Wardens' Post to which she was attached and the Control Room, did very valuable work and released other Wardens for duty. She displayed outstanding courage and coolness in very trying circumstances'. Although the papers reported Charity Bick's age at the time as 16, she had in fact falsified her real age, which was 14, when she applied to join the ARP Services Despatch Riders Team - as the minimum age for service was 16. Following her short but eventful association with West Bromwich Civil Defence, Charity joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (later Women's Royal Air Force) and served with them for 22 years retiring as a Warrant Officer.
A portrait of Charity Bick GM, by Alfred Reginald Thomson RA, (IWM ART LD1207) is held by the Museum's Art Department.

ProductionCompany
Royal Mint

RelatedIWMItems
OMD 3827-3829 : DOCS

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
silver medal, 36mm diameter. Obverse design (by Mr Percy Metcalf): the crowned head of King George VI, facing left with the legend 'GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP:'. Reverse design: the figure of St. George, a glory around his head, on horseback facing right, driving his lance into the body of a writhing dragon. The combat is depicted on the coast of England. In the distance, forming the horizon line, the sea. Around the edge, the text 'THE GEORGE MEDAL'. Circular suspension ring. The ribbon is red with five equidistant narrow vertical stripes in `Garter' blue. The medal is named (engraved) on the rim: 'MISS CHARITY ANNE BICK.'.

Access
On display at IWM North

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
OMD 3833

ProductionDate
1940

ItemName
George Cross & GC

ObjectType
medal

IndexPeople
Alderson, T H

IndexPlaces
UK & England & Bridlington

IndexUnits
GB.O & Air Raid Precautions Service

FullSummary
Mr Thomas Hopper Alderson, Detachment Leader, Heavy Rescue Party, Air Raid Precautions Services, Bridlington, Yorkshire. Alderson’s was the first George Cross to be 'Gazetted' following the institution of the award on 30 September 1940. Thomas Hopper Alderson was born at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear in 1903. By the outbreak of war in 1939, he was working in the Borough Engineer’s Office in Bridlington. At the beginning of the Blitz in 1940, Mr Alderson and other members of his party rescued many people trapped under the wreckage of demolished houses. In just one of these incidents six people were trapped in a cellar beneath the debris of two five-storied buildings which had been totally demolished. Alderson worked his way into this cellar by tunnelling up to 14 feet under the main heap of wreckage and for three and a half hours he worked unceasingly in an exceedingly cramped position and managed to free all the trapped people, although one later died. Alderson died at Driffield in 1965 aged 62.

ProductionCompany
Royal Mint

RelatedIWMItems
OMD 3834-3836

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
silver cross, of Greek form, with the mounted figure of St George (on horseback) and the dragon in a central raised roundel surrounded by a band bearing the text: 'FOR GALLANTRY' . At the base of the circlet bearing the text is a small Tudor rose. The whole superimposed upon an edged cross. In each angle formed by the arms of the cross a small 'GVI' cipher. The cross is suspended from a straight (laurelled) suspender bar and the ribbon is dark blue, often referred to as 'Garter' blue. This Cross is named and dated on the reverse to: 'Det.Ldr. THOMAS HOPPER ALDERSON, R.P. BRIDLINGTON. 30th September, 1940.'

Access
On display at IWM London

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 2229

ItemName
identity disc, Children's Overseas Reception Board

ObjectType
misc

FullSummary
No. 1619 was issued to Miss Margaret Barkes, age 13, evacuated from South Shields to Canada.

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
Children's Overseas Reception Board printed on the obverse and 1619 printed on the reverse

Access
Access by prior appointment

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 3270

ProductionDate
1939

ItemName
bell, ARP

ObjectType
ARP equipment

IndexPlaces
North Wales

IndexUnits
GB.O & Air Raid Precautions & ARP

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

FullSummary
Second World War period British Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden's 'all clear' hand bell. If a gas attack was suspected warning was given locally by means of the ARP warden's hand rattle and the all clear was announced through the ringing of hand bells.

RelatedImageFile
EPH_003270.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
07/11/2007 05:50:18

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
wooden-handled bell (H 260 mm x diameter 125 mm) bearing the following engraved inscriptions: 'FIDDLAN' (on top) and 'A.R.P.' (base).

Access
On display at IWM North

Theme
British Home Front 1939-1945

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 1062-8

ProductionDate
(?) 1915

ItemName
BERLIN NEWS SERVICE REPORTS [Main]

IndexEvents
12/3(261.2)
31/3(43)
31/3(43)
31/3(43)
31/3(43)
01/3(4-15).4
01/3(4-15).4
31/3(43)
01/3(4-15).4
01/3(4-15).4
01/3(4-11)
31/3(43)

IndexObjects
ships, German auxiliary - assistance: hospital ship
delegations, German national - goodwill
medical, German military - hospital
buildings, German - military: hospital
transport, German military - rail: hospital train
delegations, German national - state
buildings, German - military: hospital
medical, German military - hospital
medical, German military - movement
transport, German military - rail: hospital train
society, German military - sustenance
recreation, German military - casual
propaganda, German - inflammatory
operations, German military - movement: road
operations, German military - preparation: [+]
training, German military - combat: artillery
weapons, German - gun: 77mm field gun
defences, German - emplacement: dugout
society, German military - sustenance
supplies, German, storage [FA] - food
delegations, German national - state
delegations, German national - goodwill
transport, German military - rail: hospital train
medical, German military - movement

IndexPeople
Alexandra Victoria, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein
Ludwig III, King of Bavaria
Marie Therese, Queen of Bavaria
Ludwig, Prince of Bavaria
Wilhelm II, Kaiser of Germany
Auguste Viktoria, Kaiserin of Germany

IndexPlaces
Germany
Germany & Munich, Bavaria
Germany
France
France
Belgium
Germany
Belgium & Ypres, West Flanders <Ypres Ridges>
France
Belgium
Russia & Russian Poland (?)
Germany & Berlin, Berlin (?)

IndexUnits
DE.O & Red Cross
DE.A & Medical Service
DE.A & Medical Service
DE.A
DE.A
DE.A
DE.A & [gunners]
DE.A
DE.A
DE.A
DE.A & Medical Service

ShortSummary
I. English language version of a German newsreel item on a nurse on the bridge of a hospital ship in home waters, 1915.
II. English language version of a German newsreel item on a visit by Princess Alexandra Victoria to a military hospital in Germany, early 1915.
III. English language version of a German newsreel item on a visit by the King and Queen of Bavaria to a military hospital in Munich, early 1915.
IV. English language version of a German newsreel item on cooking food by chemical means, probably early 1915.
V. English language version of a German newsreel item on troops resting, early 1915.
VI. English language version of a German newsreel item on horsemen assembling a transport column, probably Western Front, 1915.
VII. English language version of a German newsreel item on troops about to leave for the front lines, Western Front, early 1915.
VIII. English language version of a German newsreel item on a field battery in training, probably in Germany, 1915.
IX. English language version of a German newsreel item on German troops on the Ypres Ridges, Western Front, probably early 1915.
X. English language version of a German newsreel item on a field bakery and butchers, probably Western Front, 1915.
XI. English language version of a German newsreel item on the Kaiser visiting his troops, probably Eastern Front, winter 1914-1915.
XII. English language version of a German newsreel item on the Kaiserin visiting a hospital train, possibly Berlin, 1915.

FullSummary
The hospital ship is at anchor, with other vessels in the far distance. On the bridge a nurse, assisted by a sailor, is handling the wheel.
Princess Alexandra Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, wife of Prince August Wilhelm, inspects ambulance drivers on parade in the snow, then looks over a hospital train in a siding.
King Ludwig III of Bavaria and his wife inspect the exterior of the hospital buildings. Their son, Doctor Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, a qualified medical officer in charge of a hospital train, meets them beside the train as it starts to unload wounded soldiers.
The demonstration is given in close-up, in the open, by a soldier wearing thick protective gloves. Quicklime has been inserted into the base of a tin of food. After a few minutes the soldier opens the tin with a can-opener and shows that the stew inside is boiling.
The men appear to be holding a joke pageant, which seems to be mocking the British Army.
The men dash about in all directions, harnessing and setting up the column, which then moves off. The caption, describing this as "German militia occupy a French town", is incorrect.
The men are the reserve battalion of an Infantry regiment. They line up in a column and an officer moves from man to man checking the condition of their rifles - a battle-check, not a parade.
Six observers for the battery ride up, dismount, and take up a stance with binoculars. 77mm field guns are galloped into positions in the open and ready to fire. The captions describe this as being at the front.
Snow is falling quite heavily, and some of the men go down into their dugouts. Others, including some pipe-smoking veterans, remain on the surface.
The open-air Army bakery is in the rest areas, producing loaves while nearby butchers start to cut up carcasses draped over their tables.
The men are drawn up on parade beside a road in the snow. The Kaiser's car arrives and he talks with his officers before again driving off.
The train is in a main-line station. Kaiserin Auguste Victoria inspects the train (outside only) talking with the officers and nurses.

ContextDescription
Title: this may be a first caption rather than a release title
Production: apparently German official material intended for the USA and other English-speaking countries
Series continuity: there is no film held as IWM 1062-09

Duration
13 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
745 ft

ProductionCountry
Germany

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
English

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
LFB 158

ProductionDate
1944 (after)

ItemName
the NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE LONDON REGION FIGHTS THE FLYING BOMB [Main]

FullSummary
(Reel 1) Preparations are made for the anticipated new German secret weapon - a National Fire Service Task Force is set up, various training activities are undergone and observation posts are established. In early 1944 incendiary attacks are made on the capital, then in June the first V1s arrive. (Reel 2) There is film of damage resulting from some V1 explosions. The NFS procedure for tackling such incidents is shown - the local "Home Cover" force sets out, followed by the Task Force, search and rescue is organised on the spot. (Reel 3) Clearing and salvage work is shown (clearing a damaged hospital, salvaging furniture, making temporary repairs to a building). More V1 incidents are shown.

ContextDescription
Preservation: preservation of the nitrate elements of the London Fire Brigade collection was undertaken in 1991-1995 thanks to a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Technical: IWM also holds several reels of offcuts and sections of this film under LFB 158X.

Duration
23 mins

Format
F 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Sound

NumberOfParts
3

Dimensions
2073 ft

ProductionCompany
London Fire Brigade Film Unit

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
English

LanguageMainTitles
English

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
NON-IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
UKY 207

ProductionDate
10/1940

ItemName
WAR AND ORDER [Main]

IndexObjects
law and order, British - enforcement
society, British - precautionary: Air Raid Precautions
training, British civilian - specialist: police

IndexPlaces
GB, England & Hendon, Middx <Peel House>

IndexUnits
GB.O & War Reserve Police

ShortSummary
The rôle of the police in wartime, emphasising the giving of aid to civilians, particularly during air raids.

FullSummary
Illustrates the way war reserve police take over routine duties (eg traffic control), freeing regular police for specialised duties (eg gas drill, firefighting, alien control). A long sequence shows ARP procedure, coordinated by an area central office; others show war reserve police before, during and after issue of uniform; their training (drill and duties) at Peel House; police activities in checking bona fides and receiving weapons for the LDV/Home Guard; restriction of the Italian colony; guarding defence areas and checking identity cards etc.

Duration
12 mins

Format
P 1/35/N

Colour
B&W

Sound
comopt

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
1062 ft

ProductionSponsor
Ministry of Information

ProductionCompany
GPO Film Unit

ProductionTeam
Hasse, Charles: director
Watt, Harry: producer
Cross, Eric: cameraman
Hales, Gordon: film editor
Cameron, Ken: sound recordist

ProductionCast
Gamlin, Lionel: commentary spoken

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
English

LanguageMainTitles
English

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
LPU

DeptName
Film

IDNO
UKY 315

ProductionDate
1941

ItemName
POST 23 [Main]

IndexObjects
destruction, British military - area: bomb
society, British - domestic
society, British - precautionary: Air Raid Precautions

IndexUnits
GB.O & Air Raid Precautions

ShortSummary
A portrait of a 'typical' ARP wardens' post and of its predominantly volunteer staff.

FullSummary
Although containing a documentary picture of the post's work (including an air raid, digging casualties out of a bombed house, etc) this aspect of the film is overshadowed by its presentation of ARP work (and of the 'Blitz' experience) as having a role in community development. This theme is established by introductions to the wardens in a pub-scene (they range from a bus conductor to a stockbroker) and continued in their conversation (saying how they now feel part of their neighbourhood, before they just lived in it) - also in various aspects of their work (eg stressing local importance of incidents that might appear trivial on the national scale). This leads in to the concluding statement that this spirit must not be lost after the war: "The qualities we've learned from comradeship and common sufferings are not going to be wasted after this war."

Duration
10 mins

Format
P 1/16/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
comopt

NumberOfParts
1

ProductionSponsor
Ministry of Information
Ministry of Home Security

ProductionCompany
Strand

ProductionTeam
Bond, Ralph: director
Marlborough, Charles: cameraman
Gordon, Michael: film editor
Tasto, Charles R: sound recordist
Alwyn, William: ARP adviser
Bond, Ralph: script

ProductionCast
Longden, John: actor

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
English

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
None

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
LPU

DeptName
Film

IDNO
MGH 246

ProductionDate
1940

ItemName
WESTWARD HO!

ShortSummary
Evacuation of children during the early years of the war.

FullSummary
I. Blackboard showing the announcement of the evacuation with children's drawings.
II. Children get medically examined before evacuation, off-screen voice explains that the government's evacuation scheme is sending children from London to the countryside in the West.
III. Children at the railway station. Off-screen voice tells what they were supposed to take with them, including warm clothes and their gas masks.
IV. Parents walk their children to collection points. Party organisers are shown at work. Off-screen voice explains that nobody knew where the transport would be going to.
V. Children on the train, view out of the window on the countryside which is for many London children the first time they have seen it. When the train stops, volunteers give water to the children.
VI. After they arrive at their destination (Torquay), the children are driven to a close local school, registered, fed and then sent in twos or threes to their new families. Welcoming scenes.
V. On the next morning the children write special "evacuation cards" to their parents to tell them their new addresses. Then they are distributed into their new classes.
VI. Children are shown playing outside, working on fields and playing on the beach (Torquay). Off-screen voice tells that they are experiencing a new world.
VII. Shift to "old world": a world map is shown, which focuses on northern Europe. Mothers from Norway, Holland, Belgium and France tell that they did not have time to evacuate their children and encourage the families in Britain to do so. The scene ends with the statement of a soldier saying that the armed forces would fight better knowing their children are safe.
The film ends with the line "Controlled Evacuation, planned and executed in good time, is right".

Duration
9 mins

Format
35mm

Colour
B&W

Sound
Sound

ProductionSponsor
Ministry of Information

ProductionCompany
[Ministry of Information]

ProductionTeam
Dickinson, Thorold: director
Dickinson, Desmond: cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
English

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
None

RelatedIWMItems
Also contained in: "Keeping the Wheels Turning. Women and Children at War 1939-1945. Film number EXH 110 V1

OtherReferences
Review in KW 18/7/1940

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
CivilDefence

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM