|
Gas Masks Gas masks were also given to every person in the country and it was law that the Gas mask be carried at all times from the article below it would seem some Bacup parents were alarmed by the lack of protection for their babies. Yet others were reluctant to be seen carrying the boxes containing their gas masks. The official dictum was " With your gas mask you are an asset"
"Without it you are a liability to those working for your safety", and with that in mind several people turning up for work in Bacup mills without their masks were turned away.
Buckets of Sand Sand bins throughout Bacup and Stacksteads had been filled by the Corporation for householders were encouraged to use their entitlement of a Free Bucket of sand to be kept in the house in case of fire. Warnings were given that the sand must be kept dry because wet sand was no good for Incendiary Bombs.
Other Restrictions
Kite flying, and the firing of Fireworks were banned as there was a possibility that large kites or balloons could be mistaken for enemy parachutist or in the case of fireworks used for other purposes other than peaceful fun. Birds were not forgotten either 49 pigeon fanciers had to register with the local police and have their pigeon lofts inspected and any birds not wearing a ring of identification had to be destroyed.
|
Digging Trench Shelter At Thorn. Whilst the first Air Raid warning in Bacup didn't come until 18.00pm on the 20th June 1940 and lasted till the all clear was given at 3.44am. Bacup had been well prepared for such occasions. September 1939 saw the cellars of St Johns church on Burnley Road made ready to hold up to 150 people should the need arise. Sandbagging under the Market Hall had given access to the cellars of four of the former shops which would hold up to 180 people. In Stacksteads the cellars of the working men's club were ready to hold up to 100 persons. By May 1940 three types of Air Raid Shelters had been built and prepared for the residents of Bacup and Stacksteads. These consisted of Semi Sunk shelters, Basement Shelters and Trench Shelters.
Preparing Air Raid Shelter On Western Park 1939. Semi Sunk Shelters were in position at: Weir Recreation Ground, Sandfield Rochdale Road, Brick Street Tong Lane, Heyworth Street Todmorden Road, Lane Ends Road Newline, Toll Bar Newchurch Road, Brunswick Terrace, Lee Mill, Queens Terrace, Alder Street Burnley Road, Opposite Farholme Lane, Corporation Yard Henrietta Street, Commerce Street and Esther Place and the Square Bankside Lane. Other shelters were in the course of erection at Springholme Mill, Sheephouses, Wesley Place and King Street. Basement Shelters: The following Basements had been strengthened. 511/513 Newchurch Road, Mount School Lane Head Lane, Weir Branch of Cooperative Stores.
Air Raid Advice
The 22nd to 23rd December saw the longest air raid warning of the war lasting from 6.38pm to 6.27am. Sunday 24th December 1944 saw the Air Raid siren sound again after a lapse of 28 months a new type of missile was now being used known as The Flying Bomb. Leaving in its wake many casualties and extensive damage in surrounding districts. The last Air raid to be sounded in Bacup was on the 5th March 1945 from the start of the war to the end of the war a total of 240 alerts with a combined duration of 108 hours 20 minutes had been heard. By February 1941 rest centres included Christ Church Sunday School, Wesley Place Sunday School, Stacksteads Working Men's Club, Waterbarn Baptist Sunday School, Heald Methodist Sunday School and Beulah Methodist Sunday School Britannia. A booklet was issued advising residents on what help was available should they find themselves a victim of a Air Raid.
|
The Blackout Blackout rules had been in effect since the beginning of the war and to break the law was a serious offence which could result in a fine of up to £100.00 or 3 months in prison. Because of the Blackout restrictions Bacup Market closed at 7pm throughout September and the Bacup Trades Council advised that it's members would be closing at 8pm on Saturdays rather than the usual 9pm. Several people found themselves fined for breaking the blackout.
Jane Elizabeth Jones of 33 Ribble Street found herself fined 15s because she had a light shinning from her stairs window.
Harold Shaw of Deansgreave Farm Britannia received similar fine for not making sure his curtains were pulled fully.
Percy Forest of Todmorden Road Bacup was fined 20s when light shone from his house after he had opened a window due to the room being to warm and his daughter being ill.
Nora Shaughnessy of 49 Plantation Street was also fined 15s when officers saw a light shinning from her house on her return home.
Alfred Heyworth a slipper worker from 7 Brearley Street Stacksteads found himself receiving a £1 fine for a breach of the Blackout regulations.
|
