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The Home Front in Tredegar

during the Second World War

A Key Stage 2

Educational Resource Pack

Part 3—The Home Front

& Civil Defence

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Tredegar’s Civil Defence Team

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The area’s Civil Defence Area Control Room and Report Centre was at

Bedwellty House. From here, defence and emergency responses were

organised. Rooms were heavily sandbagged inside the building and the

windows were protected by thick blast walls against bomb attack.

Blast walls The control

rooms were

divided with

partitions.

Rows of

phones were

installed to link

with 22 report-

ing posts.

Walls were

covered with

detailed maps

of the area.

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At Bedwellty House, a day and night control and reporting centre was

kept going throughout the war.

Tredegar’s Civil Defence Service was made up of 630 people:

1) Air Raid Protection Wardens—49 women and 262 men.

2) Rescue Parties

3) Mobile First-aid units

4) Mobile Gas unit

5) Decontamination squads—for poison gas cleaning

6) Control and Report Centre staff—70 people

7) Messengers

8) Transport Services

9) Hospital Services

The Civil Defence Service kept in contact and worked closely with the

Police, Fire Services, Home Guard and electricity, gas & water services.

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Air Raids

During the First World War, planes were mainly used for gathering

information on enemy movements. However by the time of the Second

World War, the designs and sizes of planes had improved so much so

that air forces became an essential part of war with aircraft used to

attack armies, ships, railways, bridges, factories and cities.

German and British air

forces used bombers

to attack targets far

beyond the reach of

their armies or navies.

At the start of the war,

the Government gave

advice to people on

what to do in the event

of an air raid.

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The Government’s greatest fear was that the German air force would

drop bombs containing poison gas upon towns and cities.

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At Tredegar, local newspapers included this short rhyme to help people

to remember what to do in the event of an air raid warning.

Right: Hand bell used to sound the ‘all clear’.

Left: Wooden rattle used to warn of gas attack.

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Left: Wooden rattle used to warn of a gas attack.

Right: An A.R.P. warden uses a gas rattle during a practice drill.

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Local councils displayed posters to

advise people what to do in the event

of an air raid warning.

Fortunately, bombs containing

poison gas were never dropped on

Britain. However the Government

believed that the risk of gas being

used was always there, even after

the war turned decisively against the

Germans; desperation could have

forced them to consider using this

dreadful weapon as a last resort.

Nevertheless, high explosive bombs

and incendiary (fire) bombs caused

great damage and death to civilians

in large towns and cities during the

Second World War.

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Air Raid Precaution (A.R.P.) wardens were responsible for ensuring that

everybody was safe during air raids. They were responsible for making

sure that no lights were used or seen after dark during the ‘black-out’.

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In the photo on the left on the last

page, an Air Raid Precaution Warden

is getting a stirrup pump ready for

action. A stirrup pump is also shown

on the photo on the right on this page.

Stirrup pumps consisted of a long

hose which could be used to put out

fires. One end of the pump was

placed in a bucket of water.

The pumping action was carried out

by one person who pushed the handle

up and down.

They could be used to put out fires in

situations where fire engines weren’t

around or when the mains water

supply wasn’t available.

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Look for a stirrup pump in the museum—

identical to the one in the photo on the right.

Ask one of the people in the museum to show

you how it would have been operated.

Label the photo to show:

A) That part of the pump which was placed in-

side a bucket of water.

B) That part of the pump which was held firmly

in position by someone’s foot.

C) That part of the pump which was operated

by hands moving up and down.

Tredegar’s ARP wardens received 536 alerts

between 3 July 1940 and 15 May 1944; the long-

est lasted 12 hours 18 minutes! Bombs were

dropped on 2 occasions but caused no damage.

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In the museum, look for part

of an exploded bomb that

landed in the Tredegar area

during the war.

Make a quick sketch of it.

It was part of what was

called an ‘incendiary’ bomb,

which was designed to

spread fires.

Fortunately, the bomb land-

ed far away from houses

and caused no harm or

damage.

During the war at Tredegar,

there were 49 women and

262 men ARP wardens.

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Right: Gwyn Walters’ card which

shows that he became an air raid

warden in August 1940.

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In the photo, label these objects: 1) Stirrup pump, 2) Bucket (for carry-

ing water), 3) Gas warning rattle, 4) Gas ‘all-clear’ bell, 5) Gas mask.

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Left: ‘Ernie’ Evans was a teacher who became Chief A.R.P. Warden for Tredegar.

Local children used to sing a song about him during the war.

If Tredegar has the Blitz

that knocks people from their wits,

and the bombs are falling sevens,

they will send for Ernie Evans.

Did you ever see,

did you ever see,

did you ever see such a funny thing before?

Trevor Jones MBE

Right: The ‘hush-hush’ was a secret build-

ing on the hill between Tredegar and Ebbw

Vale. If needed, it could be used to fire

‘decoy flares’ to draw enemy bombers

away from Ebbw Vale steelworks, which

was very important for the war effort.

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Gas masks

Before war was declared, the British Government gave everyone gas

masks to protect them in case the Germans dropped poison gas bombs.

Everyone had to have their gas masks with them at all times.

Practice drills

were carried out

at every school

to make sure that

all children could

put their gas

mask on quickly.

Right: Children

putting their gas

masks on.

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Right: Practice

drills were often

held in towns

and cities.

To make the

drills more

realistic, ‘tear

gas’ was

released during

the test.

This caused

discomfort

more than any

real harm and

only if someone

had removed

their mask or

had forgotten it!

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Right: Everyone was

expected to carry a gas

mask with them at all

times—even children.

In the photos opposite,

every child is carrying

their own gas mask in a

specially designed

cardboard box.

The mask would only be

put on if an air raid siren

was sounded or if a

practice drill was held.

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Below: On 10 May 1941, the Government wrote to all councils in Wales

to remind them of the need to make sure that school children carried

their gas masks to school where regular practices should also be held.

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Right: Children’s gas

masks hung up on pegs

at their school.

Below: ARP badge worn

by WVS member.

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Right: It was a serious offence not to

have a gas mask. For some reason,

Doreen Roberts’ gas mask was being

kept by someone else. This letter from

the council insisted that it must be

returned to her immediately, other-

wise the police would get involved!

Left: War-time advice telling people

what to do if they were affected by

poison gas. ‘Mustard’ gas burnt and

blinded thousands of soldiers during

the First World War. Fortunately, the

Germans never used gas as a weapon

during the Second World War.

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A wartime training

guide used to identify

the different types of

poisonous gases.

2 training exercises

are shown on the

next 2 pages.

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Right: Specially

designed gas masks for

babies and young

children were given out

in October 1939.

Why couldn’t they use

normal gas masks?

Look for examples of

gas masks in the

museum that were

intended for babies and

young children.

Make a quick sketch of

each one.

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Right: ‘Mickey Mouse’ gas masks

were specially made for small

children to wear.

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Photos of young children wearing ‘Mickey

Mouse’ gas masks during practice drills.

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Photos of young children wearing ‘Mickey Mouse’ gas masks during

practice drills.

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This looks like a deep sea diving helmet but in actual fact, it’s a gas

mask designed for babies! Look for it in the museum’s displays.

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Neville Mooney arrives home wearing a gas mask designed for babies.

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The babies’ gas

mask was made

for children up to

2 years old.

An adult placed

the baby into the

mask so that its

head was inside

the steel helmet

at the top, which

allowed the baby

to see through

the screen.

Then they wrapped the canvas part of the mask around the baby's body

with the straps fastened under its bottom like a nappy, so that its legs

dangled freely below.

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The canvas had a rubber

coating to stop gas seep-

ing through the material,

and the straps were tied

securely so that the mask

was airtight.

There was a filter on the

side of the mask, which

could absorb poisonous

gases. Attached to this

was a rubber tube shaped

like a concertina with a

handle. This was pushed

back and forth in order to

pump clean air into the

mask so that the baby

could breathe.

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Few parents were happy about

shutting their baby inside an

airtight chamber. There was

doubt about its safety as it

seems possible that the hand-

pump didn't really push enough

air into the mask!

Luckily, the gas masks were

never put to the test in a real,

emergency situation.

As well as the babies’ gas

mask, there was a gas-proof

pram that could be used to

protect babies from poisonous

gas attacks.

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Air Raid Shelters

Why couldn't people just stay indoors when bombs were being dropped?

Buildings often collapsed if bombs landed nearby and they could become

burning death-traps for the people sheltering inside them. Instead people were

encouraged to build shelters in their own gardens as far away from buildings

as possible. The shelters were partly dug into the ground and covered with soil.

This gave the best protection from shrapnel (sharp pieces of metal) and blast

damage.

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People without gardens or the

means to build their own air raid

shelters had to go into a public

shelter in the event of an air raid

warning.

Opposite is a list of the public

shelters that were available in

Tredegar in 1941.

Try to find as many of these

shelters as you can on a local

map or using google maps or

similar.

Plot their locations on a digital

map such as google maps.

Do you notice anything about

where the shelters are located?

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Private air raid shelters were

often cramped inside. People

slept on bunk-beds or on the

floor. Often families shared

shelters and it would be bitterly

cold during the winter.

I can remember being on a bus

going down Bromley High

Street and you’d be dozing off

then you’d suddenly hear this

tremendous din of glass break-

ing. All the shop fronts had

been blown out by bombs and

they’d be sweeping up.

You’d take the bus and a bomb would come flying over and you

put your head out and wait to see where it went. One went off just

behind us and our bus lifted up! The conductor just said, “Are you

OK? They didn’t get us this time”. Leslie Churchill

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Blackout!

The Government was concerned

that lights in towns and cities

might give away their position to

enemy bombers during the night.

In order to avoid this happening,

the ‘blackout’ was introduced,

which meant that no lights could

be used outside or be seen from

outside after dark!

Windows were covered with thick

black material to prevent light from

indoors escaping outside.

Streetlights were turned off for the

war. Deaths and injuries from road

accidents increased dramatically!

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Many people were killed by road vehicles at night because the blackout

rules meant that only dimmed headlights could be used! Rules were

brought in covering the use of hand torches as well.

You could use the moon, but

there were dark nights where

you literally could not see.

You walked along through

town with your hands out!

Peter M.Jones

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Look for the 2 torches shown below in the museum’s displays.

How have they been designed to meet the black-out rules on torches?

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Police and Air Raid Precaution wardens made sure that everyone

followed the rules; people who broke them were fined!

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Streetlights were turned off

during the war, which meant that

on nights when there was no

moonlight, it was impossible to

see anything at all!

People were asked to walk on

the left side of the pavement to

reduce the chances of bumping

into each other!

Kerbs of pavements, trees, lamp

posts and post boxes were

painted white to help people see

them in the dark!

The number of deaths caused by

the blackout in the first months

of the war was greater than that

due to enemy bombing!

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Due to the blackout rules, car and lorry

headlamps had to be altered, which greatly

reduced their light output. Combined with

the fact that road or street lights has been

switched off, this made driving a vehicle

during the war a dangerous experience!

Even traffic lights were switched off!

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Women's Voluntary Service

The Women's Voluntary Service

(WVS) began in June 1938.

In the beginning, the main task of the

WVS was to recruit women for Air

Raid Precautions duties.

The women who joined the WVS were

those could not join the armed forces

or the Land Army or work in a factory.

This may have been because, for

example, they looked after children.

All were volunteers and received no

wages. Although some of the duties

of the WVS may have seemed boring,

the women carried out vital war work,

helping Britain to run as normal.

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The WVS escorted children being

evacuated, helped with the billeting of

children and, cared and supported

evacuees and their mothers.

They ran ‘British’ restaurants and chil-

dren's shoe and clothing exchanges.

The WVS collected unwanted clothes

for those who had lost their belong-

ings through bombing.

The WVS organised salvage schemes

such as the ‘cog’ scheme for children.

They helped in hospitals and darned

38,000 pairs of socks per week for

British and American soldiers as well

as knitting of socks and gloves for

merchant seamen.

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Some of Tredegar’s WVS members.

During the war, there were 140 volunteers.

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The WVS ran knitting and sewing clubs to help the war effort.

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Tredegar’s WVS members formed the

majority of collectors for the War

Services Aid Fund which helped

Tredegar service men and women;

the War Comforts Fund for the Mer-

chant Navy; the Red Cross Penny-a-

week Fund for prisoners of war.

Almost every National Savings street

collector belonged to the WVS.

WVS teams also organised mobile

kitchens to feed evacuated children

and adults who had lost their homes

through enemy bombing.

Blitzed areas were ‘adopted’ by more

fortunate towns and Tredegar WVS

did its part in helping the people of

Dagenham in east London.

Above: WVS hat with badge.

Below: WVS armband

(British Restaurant)

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WVS volunteers running a mobile canteen.

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Fireguards

There were 3,583 ‘fireguards’ in town—ordinary people whose task was

to watch for incendiary (fire) bombs and to deal with as many as

possible as soon as they fell, so that any fires could not get a hold.

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Fireguards worked closely with the National Fire Service and Air Raid

Protection Wardens. Fireguards received training in the use of fire-

fighting equipment and in addition to practising regularly, competitions

were held between different teams—a team from the Sirhowy area won

the Gwent Relay County Cup competition in 1944.

At Tredegar, 161 fireguards were ‘Street party leaders’ who were put in

charge of watching over different streets and blocks of houses.

Leaders also looked after the fire-fighting equipment which normally

consisted of stirrup pumps, rakes, incendiary bomb shovels, ladders,

spades and hoses.

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National Fire Service

Early in 1940, there were

only 5 full-time firemen in

Tredegar plus around 100

part-time volunteers who

were trained in fire-fighting

methods.

Although Tredegar itself

was never bombed during

the war, fire crews from

Tredegar went in response

to requests for help to

Bristol, Birmingham,

Plymouth, Gloucester,

Newport, Cardiff and

Swansea during the

bombing of these cities.

Above: Swansea in 1941 after bombing.

Tredegar fire crews spent 2 nights fighting

fires during heavy bombing raids which

destroyed much of the centre of the city.

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Ambulance, Nursing and First-aid Services

At the start of the war, St. John’s Ambulance volunteers formed the civil

defence first-aid parties and manned the first-aid posts in Tredegar.

Right: Nurses

of St. John’s

Ambulance

Service.

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The Tredegar nursing division was formed in 1939 and had 28 members.

They reported for duty on every wartime ‘alert’ as well as manning a

first-aid post at Tredegar from dusk to dawn for over 3 years.

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All ambulance and first-aid teams attended regular practices and train-

ing throughout the war. Teams were on duty every day and night.

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Nurses carrying out a training exercise during the war

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Cadets

At its peak, there were about 80

boys in the Army Cadet Force in

Tredegar and Rhymney area.

They did useful work by carrying

messages for the Home Guard.

Many of its boys, when they

reached military age, were

called up into the army

In 1941, the Air Training Corps

was formed. Boys between 16

and 18 years were encouraged

to join and during the war about

80 boys joined the Royal Air

Force from the Tredegar Air

Training Corps.

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There were about 60 girls in the Girls Training Corps at Tredegar.

We're hear to help our country

Shoulder her heavy load

This is the way to victory

This is the surest road.

Chorus:

We are cadets of the GTC

Our youth to our country we bring

Willing and ready we'll always be

To serve our God and our King.

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At Tredegar, many children and

young people also joined the Am-

bulance Cadets and Nursing Ca-

dets. 66 girls were members of the

Tredegar Nursing Cadets in 1945.

They received training to prepare

them for work as a nurse.

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Invasion!

The threat of an

invasion of Britain

by the Germans

was expected from

June 1940 up until

the end of 1941.

Prime Minister,

Winston Churchill,

issued this appeal

which urged the

British people to

‘STAND FIRM’ and

‘CARRY ON’ in the

event of invasion.

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Left: Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of

Britain for most of the Second World War. In

this photo, he is wearing a military uniform

and making his ‘V for Victory’ salute to the

crowds of onlookers around him.

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In summer 1940 whilst the Battle of Britain was raging, the British

Government were extremely worried about an invasion of Britain.

France, Belgium and Holland had been defeated and occupied by

German forces. The coast of south-east England was only a few miles

from the French coast and landings by sea were expected soon. There

was also a great fear that the Germans might also fly in troops directly

by plane as well as landing troops by sea. Below: Coastal defences

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In July, the Ministry of

Home Security wrote to all

councils in Britain to make

sure that no easy landing

sites would be useable to

the Germans.

This meant identifying all

very large, flat expanses of

land or water that might be

used for landing planes.

Next obstacles were to be

placed or created in these

areas that would severely

damage any aircraft trying

to make an attempt to land.

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Monmouthshire County

Council reported that there

were a small number of

possible enemy landing

places in Tredegar which

included Trevil mountain,

Shon Jeffery reservoir,

Bryn Bach pond and

Scotch Peters reservoir.

On the next page, Tredegar

Council reported that it

had made appeals for

volunteers to help with the

work of creating obstacles

to deter any enemy land-

ings. A poster was also

produced at the same time.

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The Home Guard

Originally known as Local Defence Volunteers, Tredegar’s Home Guard was

created just days after an appeal for volunteers by Anthony Eden, Minister for

War on 14 May 1940. In all, 1050 men were enlisted in Tredegar’s Home Guard

Units. They were made up of men who were either too old to be called up to

fight in the regular armed forces or those who had ‘reserved’ occupations—

their work was so important to the war effort that they weren’t required to

fight. Coal miners and steel workers fell into this category.

The role of the Home Guard

was to organise local defences

in the event of an invasion

either by land or by soldiers

landing by parachute.

On the right is George Sydney

Williams’ application to join the

Local Defence Volunteer Corps

as it was known at the time.

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Captain Warren Jenkins, of the 6th Battalion Monmouthshire Home

Guard, which included Tredegar, wrote a history of the unit after the

Second World War. Below, is his description of the time of the radio

appeal by Minister of War, Anthony Eden, on 14 May 1940.

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Captain

Warren

Jenkins

writing of

the time

when the

Home

Guard

was set

up in May

1940.

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Nothing had so far been co-ordinated. The defence of the country

surrounding a built up area became the responsibility of the members

residing or employed there. Defence works were practically non-

existent ... Uniform consisted of an armband bearing the magic letters

L.D.V. [Local Defence Volunteers] Captain Warren Jenkins, 1940

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For arms—anything in the nature of a lethal weapon, safe or unsafe—

generally unsafe. A few rifles, for the most part museum pieces, which

on examination, led one to speculate which end constituted the greater

danger if anyone could be found foolish enough to fire them.

Revolvers—ancient and modern—chiefly ancient and generally devoid

of ammunition. Two of the latter proved to be a pair of duelling

pistols ... Captain Warren Jenkins, 1940

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‘It was about this time that the L.D.V. was to be considered part of the

British army. Arms, uniform, and equipment necessary would be

provided. The L.D.V. was to be trained and exercised with a view to

providing a second line of defence for the country.

The reaction of the German leader to this was violent and abusive. We

were a set of vagabonds and blackguards, not worthy of bearing arms

against the German army, and when captured would be shot on sight

without trial of any kind.’ Captain Warren Jenkins, 1940

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Home Guard units were trained to use lethal

force, often using home-made, improvised

weapons against an enemy that would probably

have better equipment and more firepower.

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Home Guard units regularly held

training exercises and from time

to time, carried out exercises

with regular army units.

The Home Guard was nothing at

all like the ‘Dad’s Army’ comedy

series that was first shown on TV

over 40 years ago!

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‘In the early days, the Road Blocks

formed the focal point for all L.D.V.

activities.

Profiting from the lessons learned on

the continent—delay—appeared to

be the correct reply to the Blitzkreig,

and in order to bring this about, the

Road Block system of defence was

adopted.

There, Identity cards were examined,

traffic brought to a standstill, any

suspicious person interrogated, and

all and sundry challenged until their

right to remain at large had been

established beyond doubt.’

Captain Warren Jenkins, 1940

188

Captain Warren

Jenkins, 1940

Right: A Home Guard training

exercise—capture of a German

parachutist or paratrooper.

189

‘The Battle of Albion

Square’

Captain Warren Jen-

kins, 1940

t

190

‘The Battle of Albion Square’

Captain Warren Jenkins, 1940

Right: German paratroopers

landing on the Greek island of

Crete in 1941.

191

‘One night, however, excitement did run high. A general order received

at 22.30 hours to man all blocks throughout the area, and as far as

possible patrol adjacent roads, put the whole of the available personnel

of the Battalion on their toes.’ Captain Warren Jenkins, 1940

Left: Road block of steel girders being

slid into prepared holes in the road.

Right: Road block created with

old cars and concrete blocks.

192

‘A look-out was to be kept for a grey car containing, we were informed,

4 real live ‘Fifth Columnists’, but what was far more important, we were

to load and fire if the challenge to halt was not complied with.

[However] they certainly made no attempt to pass through any of the

control points established throughout the Battalion area. “A very

disappointing night” was the general comment as the sentries

reluctantly unloaded their arms.’ Captain Warren Jenkins, 1940

Fifth columnists were believed to be a group of secret sympathisers, working for the

Germans, who were involved in sabotage, spying and spreading false information.

193

At the start of the War, most Home Guard units were desperately short

of equipment and weapons. Many of the older men in the Home Guard

had served in the armed forces during the First World War

194

The Defence Medal was awarded to people who had

served in the Home Guard or as an Air Raid Warden

or another part of the Civil Defence Corps.

Look for the collection of medals in the museum.

How many defence medals can you find?

Left: Handbook in the museum display.

Home Guard units received training in the

use of lethal weapons and tactics which

would have been familiar to soldiers

fighting in the British army itself.

In Tredegar there were special anti-tank,

machine gun and land-mine platoons.

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19 Platoon, E Company (Tredegar North) Home Guard

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20 Platoon, E Company (Tredegar North) Home Guard

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The Home Guard

‘stood down’ on 3

December 1944.

Although the war

had not ended,

British troops

were now fighting

in Italy, France

and Belgium.

The war had now

turned decisively

against Germany

and her allies; so

much so that an

invasion of Britain

was no longer

threatened.

210

Identity Cards

Shortly after war was declared, the

British Government created a register

of everyone living here. Name, date of

birth and address (including changes)

were listed in this national register.

It held the information needed for

issuing national identity cards and

ration books. The register was also

used for identifying children for

evacuation and adults for ‘call-up’ to

serve in the armed forces.

Everyone, including children, was

expected to carry their identity card

at all times to prove who they were

and where they lived.

211

People were required to show their

identity card alongside their ration

book before they could buy rationed

food to prove that they weren’t using

coupons that belonged to someone

else.

The shopkeeper made sure that the

correct person was claiming the food

by checking that the cards and ration

books matched.

There were strict rules concerning

carrying and caring for identity cards.

You were not allowed to give it to an-

other person. If lost or damaged, you

had to report this immediately to the

Police or local National Registration

Office.

212

Identity cards were important when

families became separated.

Cards showed changes in address

so were a way of keeping track of

children's movements and ensuring

that they could be reunited with their

families when the war ended.

Police and Home Guard often asked

to see identity cards at security

check-points in order to try to detect

spies or German paratroopers.

In actual fact, during the war there

never was any case of an enemy spy

being discovered due to the lack of

an identity card!

213

On one occasion, the Home Guard at Tredegar imprisoned most of the

local fire brigade in their guard room at Sirhowy!

The fire brigade refused to show their identity cards to prove who they

were whilst the Sergeant-in-charge of the Home Guard refused to let

them go until this had been done.

‘Tempers were somewhat frayed, words ran high, both sides were

determined to uphold their rights. Complete deadlock resulted, and

continued, until the arrival on the scene of the deputy chief of the

brigade—identification was established and the members of the

brigade departed.’ Captain Warren Jenkins