A.R.P. "Post 14" Official log Epsom 27th October 1940 14th March 1941

Various

Published by Epsom 1940 - 1941, 1940

Covering a significant portion of the Blitz and unsurprisingly recording much activity, Epsom being an important strategic area of the home defence of London in the event of an invasion. A day to day account of the times of raids, the shift patterns of the air raid wardens and transcriptions of messages sent to A.R.P. posts, e.g. Oct 28th: "the enemy is using a new weapon in the form of a flare cylinder about 4 inches by 3 ins containing shot & an explosive charge operating by a spring lid.". There are also details of reports made by the public: "Oct 30th 22.40 Householder called regarding light showing at Little John's bungalow." And more alarmingly: "10th Nov DPW 12 reported that 21 Bs had been dropped in Ruxley Lane. 1 in the road outside Nos 7 & 9. Other at rear of same numbers. No damage.". There are also details of salaries and supplies and mention of the siren warning "Raiders passed" is frequent. As the log goes on there is an increasing sense of routine, confidence and competence, presumably an indication of the general mood in the country that we were getting through the worst and that the danger of invasion had receded. The log is bound in its original buff covers, which are very worn, stained and fragile with some loss. The pages are also toned, stained and dog-eared with minor loss, but it is all eminently readable. The log covers approximately 140 pages, written in a variety of hands, in a mixture of pencil, ink and crayon, mostly divided into two columns. Seller Inventory # 5165

Bibliographic Details

Title: A.R.P. "Post 14" Official log Epsom ...
Publisher: Epsom 1940 - 1941
Publication Date: 1940
Signed: Signed by Author(s)