Book - What life was like on the home front while war raged (S.Yorks)

When Britain was plunged into World War II, lives were turned upside down in many ways.

Obviously the disappearance of Doncaster people into the Forces and transfer of residents around the country with evacuations all meant major disruption to normal life.

But what about the home front, not the major cities where bombs wreaked havoc, but the ordinary villages and towns up and down the country? Towns like Mexborough for instance.

A Town at War is a fascinating publication which portrays perfectly the comings and goings in the town during 1940 as told through the pages of the council minutes.

Lots of mundane tasks and sometimes slightly bizarre decisions, bearing in mind there was a war on, but necessary to keep the community running, and of course there was always the perceived potential threat of invasion.

Harold Brearley was chief public health inspector and officiated at the council meetings. The following is an insight into what went on during those gatherings.

Twelfth June 1940 and decisions had to be made. At this time Roman Terrace consisted of 32 acres, 616 houses and a population of 2,440. The extra responsibility meant that sewage effluent problems had to be considered now the street had been transferred from Swinton Borough Authority to Mexborough two years previously.

Announcements were made that due to the war all national holidays should be cancelled and overtime payments should be considered where necessary. Council workers were paid for carrying out war duties and the average working week for council workers was 47-48 hours.

It was decided that no further post boxes should be erected, also that bus services to Thurnscoe should depart from West Street instead of Cliff Street - this was an alteration which remained until the 1980s.

More serious problems were the plans for hospitals to deal with Blitz and bombing victims. Stirrup pumps were distributed for firefighting use. Two nights a week were set aside for gas mask training in the Market Hall while all unassembled Anderson shelters were to be collected and erected.

Private homeowners were also contacted and questioned as to how many people they could accommodate in the case of bomb victims losing their homes.

The hospital carried on and there was a reported trend of an increasing population with 46 births registered (included one illegitimate boy), 17 deaths were noted. Notifiable diseases were two diptheria and 14 measles.

Finally, in this small snapshot of everyday life in war-time Mexborough enemy aircraft were becoming more frequent in the area and a resolution was passed that one council worker be paid for two hours loss of work when he had to turn out as convoy officer following the sounding of an air raid siren during his shift at work.

Some of the above may at first seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but were essential and meetings and decisions such as these were taken up and down the country as Britain settled down to an unsure and unpredictable future which in hindsight would last another four years.

From: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/community/nostalgia/what_life_was_like_on_the_home_front_while_war_raged_1_3998116

News - Blazing a new trail (Sheffield)

INSIDE, it’s not unlike like Steptoe’s yard – if Steptoe had had an unhealthy obsession with the emergency services.

Here there’s a Chesterfield fire engine from 1710 sitting next to a couple of 1960s police motorbikes; over there are two uniforms worn by New York City firefighters on September 11 2001; and through that door is a cell crammed with assorted Charlie Peace memorabilia.

On the walls are hundreds of police badges; in cabinets are matchbox models of world fire engines; and out the back, past a 1920s desk sergeant, is a World War Two Anderson shelter.

Welcome to Sheffield’s charming – and charmingly chaotic – Fire and Police Museum, West Bar.

Here, more than 30,000 rotating exhibits are crammed into the 29 rooms and courtyard of what was once the city’s combined police and fire station.

There’s just a couple of issues: since being set up in 1983 the centre has only opened Sundays, and until six months ago had faced falling visitor numbers.

Now, however, bosses have announced a £13.5 million plan to reverse its fortunes and transform it into the National Emergency Services Museum. It would be the first of its kind in the UK.

The five-year proposals would see the grade II* listed building completely restored, and expanded into land at the rear.

And the ball was started rolling yesterday with the museum now opening for six days for the first time in its history.

“We have one of the world’s biggest private collections of emergency service memorabilia here,” says director Matthew Wakefield, the only full time member of staff. “But because this is a volunteer-run charity, we’ve had no means of showing it off as it deserves. We’ve not been able to open during the week or even advertise. We once asked the council for brown road signs and they said we’d have to pay for them.”

The new proposals would change all that.

Trustees decided in April to run a one-off six-month advertising campaign to see if it attracted more visitors.

It did. Numbers shot up from an average of 90 each Sunday to about 400, with people coming from across the north. Among them were representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“It’s a listed building being used sympathetically so we thought they might be interested in what we’re doing,” says Matthew, a 21-year-old former Fire Cadet who had volunteered at the centre for eight years before being appointed director.

Turns out they were.

Matthew again: “They estimate it would cost £13.5 million to rennovate and they say in theory, if we can meet certain criteria, they would look to provide significant funding. Firstly, though, we have to prove the place will work as a six day operation. It’s early days but if we can do that, then I’m sure we’ll make quick progress.”

That attracting people shouldn’t be a problem.

Among the museum’s vast rotating collection – started by retired firefighters who wanted a place to house their private memorabilia – are 42 fire engines, five ambulances and 10 police vehicles. They include Sheffield’s first fire engines from 1884 and a 1960s engine from German twin town Bochum.

“Kids love it,” says Matthew, who previously worked at Magna in Rotherham. “It’s great fun because they can sit in the vehicles but it’s also interesting for adults. It’s educational. It’s amazing there isn’t a combined emergency services museum in the UK already. This would take advantage of that gap. I’m certain it can become a destination venue.”

The museum opens Monday to Friday 10am - 2pm until December 2 and Sundays 11am - 5pm.

A brief history of the museum

1900: The purpose-built combined Police and Fire Station is opened in West Bar in the city centre. It’s state-of-the-art facilities include a police camera and stables for the horses which pull the fire engines.

1929: The fire service moves to a new base in Rockingham Street.

1965: The police move to a new base, also West Bar.

1980: The derelict building is acquired by the South Yorkshire Historical Society to house firefighting memorabilia being stored at Rockingham Street.

1983: The museum opens one Sunday a month in just two rooms of the building.

2011: Two rooms have grown to 29. More than 30,000 exhibits, including 57 historic vehicles, are displayed on a rotational basis. It opens for six days a week for the first time.

2016(?): The museum is renamed the National Emergency Services Museum after a £13.5 million expansion and upgrade...

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/the-diary/blazing_a_new_trail_1_3858139

Event - Digging in for archaeology event (Edingley)

BUDDING historians and archaeologists can enjoy a Second World War Home Front and archaeology fun day in Edingley on Saturday.

There will be chance to see a replica Anderson shelter built by young archaeologists, visit a ‘Dig for Victory’ garden with vegetables which were available in the 1940s and take part in a real archaeological dig.

The event is being staged at Hill’s Farm Shop in the village and has been organised by the Newark & District Young Archaeologists Club. The event runs from 10am-4pm and for more information contact Sue on 01636 815394.

From: http://www.chad.co.uk/lifestyle/digging_in_for_archaeology_event_1_3709354

Article - Young Get a Taste of War (Edingley)

A second world war Anderson shelter complete with dig-for-victory garden has been recreated at an Edingley farm by a group of young archaeologists.

The Newark and District Young Archaeologists’ Club has built the wood, earth and corrugated iron structure as part of an active historical project into life in the 1940s.

The shelter was built to original plans and all materials are authentic and to scale.

The garden has been planted with potatoes, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot and herbs — all original varieties and not the array of international vegetables we see on our plates today.

Money for the structure and garden, which took a little over two months to erect and plant, was provided by Southwell Lions and Nottinghamshire county councillor Mr Andy Stewart.

The club leader, Sue Rodgers, said: “This has been a tremendous learning experience for the young people here. Building the shelter has made history come to life for them.

“The physical making of the shelter and the planting of the garden makes the whole experience of learning about history real for them.

“That is something you just can’t get from reading a book or looking at pictures.”

From http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Young-get-a-taste-of-war