Mexborough & Swinton Times, September 01, 1939
Conisborough Ready
Plans to Handle Evacuees
Pill-Box Shelters for Denaby
A Comprehensive statement on Conisborough and Denaby´s preparations to meet conditions which might arise in the event of an emergency was given to the “Times” on Wednesday by Mr. H. Thirlwall, Surveyor to the Conisborough Urban Council, and from other enquiries made by the Conisborough Representative of the “Times” the impression was gained that “all´s well” for the safety of the civilian population of the district if the worst comes to the worst.
Mr Thirlwall stated that they had three squads for decontamination, rescue and repair work fully trained and sufficient volunteers trained to fit the squads up in the shift system. They had 62 volunteers altogether, and in the event of an emergency call arrangements had been made for the squads to be put on duty at once.
Report Centre Prepared
The report and control centre at the Castle Farm House was ready. All the aid-movements for a black-out were being completed, and these included the marking of the trolley bus standards, kerbstones, and obstructions in footpaths. Fire Hydrants were also being painted round in white. The fire hydrants were being made distinctive for the use of the fire brigade during any black out period. The auxiliary fire brigade were sufficiently trained to take all necessary action. Two trailer pumps were available for us, but that did not represent the full complement of pumps which would be furnished in due course.
The new Council ambulance had been put into commission and the old ambulance would be kept in reserve for the time being. Sufficient commercial vehicles had also been earmarked for all the essential services.
With regard to air raid shelters, the first Government list of names and addresses covering 711 homes had been despatched on Saturday, and a second list involving 267 houses had been sent off on Tuesday. The remaining list of about 150 houses would be posted within 24 hours.
For the Denaby Main area shelters had been designed and approximately 300 of the pill-box type would be required for Braithwell Street, Maltby Street, Warmsworth Street, Ravenfield Street, part of Cliff View, Bolton Street, parts of Tickhill Street, Tickhill Square and Church Road. Each shelter would accommodate 43 persons, and would be shock, blast and splinter proof.
Detraining of Evacuees
Mr. Thirlwass explained that Conisborou gh had been made a detraining station for 4,370 children from one of the Yorkshire towns, and an organisation had been built up whereby arrangements had been made for the children to be taken in parties to the Balby Street Schools, Denaby, where they would receive a meal and then be loaded up on buses for their separate destinations. They would be accommodated in nearby villages adjacent to Conisborough..
One hundred people would be on duty to deal with the children, who would be provided with rations to last them 48 hours. They would be marshalled at the rear of the Conisborough railway station and would proceed along the Cadeby approach road and cut on to the main road by Kilner´s Bridge. The children would arrive in two days in three trains each day 2,185 children being brought the first day and a similar number the second day.
Coun. D. Sheldon would be marshalling officer with twelve assistants. Dr. D. T. Clark would be medical officer and would have the assistance of District Nurses Greaves or Harding, and ten ambulance men and women. Two ambulances would be in attendance. Coun. R. H. Shephard would be food control officer with 25 assistants who had already volunteered. Mrs. S. C. Urch would be canteen supervisor with Mrs. G. Oldfield and Mrs. J. T. E. Collins as assistants. They would have a staff of 58 helpers, while 30 scouts and senior scholars would act as messengers and guides.
Street lighting would immediately cease in the event of an emergency.
Dealing with first aid arrangements, Mr Thirlwall said that first aid parties had already been allocated to their stations and posts. They comprised fully trained personnel from the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Dr. D. M. Bell would be at the first aid station at the Church Hall, Conisborough with Mr. Norman Hulley to assist. At the Baths Hall there would be a temporary depot for Denaby, and Dr. Clark, who would have Mr. C. J. Pickett as assistant, would be on duty.
Mr Thirlwall concluded by stating that telephonic communication to all vital stations and posts had been finally set up or improvised to meet any emergency.
Ambulance Personnel Ready
Mr. G. R. Hill, the ambulance officer stated that his arrangements had already been completed and he had an ambulance emergency personnel of 32 available and warned for duty, and also had a reserve list of a similar number.
During the week air raid wardens have been busy examining gas masks and making sure that all property fit their owners.
On Monday evening the Urban Council held a meeting in committee to discuss emergency measures and plans, and on Wednesday evening a similar meeting was held in committee by the Conisborough Parks Parish Council.
At Fullerton Hospital
A.R.P. precautions are well in hand at Fullerton Hospital, Denaby. Mr Norman Hulley, treasurer of the Hospital, told the “Times”, yesterday that a dug-out was now in the process of being dug at the Hospital, large enough to accommodate 50 people. Steel arches were being used in its construction and these were being covered with a considerable depth of earth or sandbags, a supply of sandbags having already been received from the West Riding County Council.
The dug-out would be used by those members of the hospital staff no on duty and by such cases, such as “walking” cases, as could be safely moved into the dug-out. Those members of the staff were on duty would in the event of an air raid remain on duty to look after the patients in the wards.
Mr. Hulley added that the roof lights had been blacked-out by painting them and the windows had all been fitted with dark blinds. The hospital was fitted with its own emergency lighting unit for use in the operating theatre in case of a failure of the ordinary lights.