The Protection of Your Home Against Air Raids; Read This Book Through Then Keep It Carefully

London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1938. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Wraps. Format is approximately 4.75 inches by 7 inches. 36 pages, plus covers. S. O. Code No. 34-9999. 51--2269--2. Opening statement on page one signed by Samuel Hoare. Contents include: Section 1, Things To Do Now; Section 2: Things To DO If There Should Ever Be A War; Section 3: Things To Do In An Air Raid; Section 4: Extra Precautions; and Section 5: What To Do If Anyone Is Hurt. As the threat of conflict again overshadowed Britain in the 1930s, the nation began to take measures to prepare itself for the possibility of war. One of a series of official publications issued by the Home Office, The Protection of Your Home Against Air Raids offers a glimpse of the precautions all households were urged to take in the event of aerial attack. Addressing problems such as "Things to get for your refuge-room" , and "What the head of the household should do", this allows the reader a glimpse into the general public's experience of wartime Britain. The Civil Defence Service was a civilian volunteer organization in Great Britain during World War II. Established by the Home Office in 1935 as Air Raid Precautions (ARP), its name was changed to the Civil Defence Service (CD) in 1941. The Civil Defence Service included the ARP Wardens Service as well as firemen (initially the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) and latterly the National Fire Service (NFS)), fire watchers (later the Fire Guard), rescue, first aid post and stretcher parties. Over 1.9 million people served within the CD and nearly 2,400 lost their lives to enemy action. Publication such as this supported the members of the Service and the civil population at large. Air Raid Precautions (ARP) refers to a number of organizations and guidelines in the United Kingdom dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air raids. Government consideration for air raid precautions increased in the 1920s and 30s, with the Raid Wardens' Service set up in 1937 to report on bombing incidents.[1] Every local council was responsible for organizing ARP wardens, messengers, ambulance drivers, rescue parties, and liaison with police and fire brigades. From 1 September 1939, ARP wardens enforced the "blackout". Heavy curtains and shutters were required on all private residences, commercial premises, and factories to prevent light escaping and so making them a possible marker for enemy bombers to locate their targets. With increased enemy bombing during the Blitz, the ARP services were central in reporting and dealing with bombing incidents. They managed the air raid sirens and ensured people were directed to shelters. Women were involved in ARP services through the Women's Voluntary Service. The Auxiliary Fire Service was set up in 1938 to support existing local fire services, which were amalgamated into a National Fire Service in 1941. From 1941 the ARP officially changed its title to Civil Defence Service to reflect the wider range of roles it then encompassed. During the war almost 7,000 Civil Defence workers were killed. In all some 1.5 million men and women served within the organization during World War Two. Over 127,000 full-time personnel were involved at the height of the Blitz but by the end of 1943 this had dropped to 70,000. The Civil Defence Service was stood down towards the end of the war in Europe on 2 May 1945. Condition: Good.

Keywords: Civil Defense, Air Raids, Home Protection, Refuge-room, Warning System, Mustard Gas, Gas Burns, First Aid, Explosives, Bombs, Fire, Gas Warfare, Damage Assessment, Damage Control, Samuel Hoare

[Book #83835]

Price: $50.00

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