Air Raid Warning Red

This story was submitted to the People’s War website by Doreen Bennett on behalf of Phyllis M Rowe and Ivan Rabey the authors, and has been added to the site with their permission. The authors fully understand the site’s terms and conditions.

Air Raid Warning Red

The first bombs did not fall over Cornwall until 29 June 1940, but during the months following 3 September 1939 the sirens often wailed as the air raid warning red alert was given.

This was time when an almost continuous stream of circulars and telegrams was issued from Whitehall deal with such diverse matters as the detention of aliens, the reception of evacuees, producing food in the back garden (digging for victory) and the removal of signposts and other means of identifying locations. One of specific recorded in the Cornwall County Constabulary War Diary dealt with the provision at of meals and bedding for twenty-one German nationals who landed at Falmouth on 15 November, 1939.

At the outset the Chief Constable, Major Edgar Hare was responsible for ARP but, as increased duties were laid on the Constabulary, a new appointment was necessary.

Major George Johnstone was appointed as County Controller with a full supporting Area Staff. During the months of “phoney war” the administration of Countyarp as it was called, was organised, and by the time of the real onslaught began Cornwall was as ready as it could humanly be to cope with the emergencies that were bound to arise.

Eileen Proctor who was secretary to Captain T W Hodkin, the Air Raid Precautions Officer, recalled that they started:
”In a very cold dark room and after acquiring some of office equipment, set about co-ordinating the services that would be involved in AR, including the Fire Service, Police, Highways, Medical Services, Hospitals and Gas Identification Service.

As the work grew, accommodation was provided in a hut at County Hall; more staff was appointed including Doris Gunmow of Falmouth and Phyllis Trewhella of Truro. Soon there was a framework of services which could be co-ordinated and operational. Captain Hodkin rejoined his regiment, but with Major Johnstone’s appointment the “on-paper” organisation became a reality.

The roof of the basement of the County Hall was strengthened and this became the Civil Defence Control Room for Cornwall. There were disadvantages; the boiler room was next door and sometimes obnoxious fumes and roaring noises were a little off-putting, whilst only being able to glimpse the outside world through little that existed between the people working together for a common cause offset the hazards. The team included the deputy Controllers, Col. E N Willyams and Col. D Grant-Dalton of Place Manor, the Police representatives Inspector R B Ivey and PC F Irish and a number of ladies who helped with the records.

Mrs Alison Johnstone visited the Control room offer and brightened the gloomy basement with arrangements of flowers and blossoms from Trewithen gardens. Miss Grace Moffat was a tower of strength in whatever calamity seemed to be overtaking us. The Bishop of Truro — Bishop Hunkin — was a frequent visitor and
countless VIP’s came from London. As well as working down below, the weekly all-night fire watching often entailed climbing onto the roof, so it was certainly a varied life.”

The esprit-de-corps encouraged at Countyarp spread and as will be seen, even in wartime, life in Cornwall was not without humour.

Phyllis Rowe (nee Trewhella) recollects that the Control Room walls were covered with maps on which incidents were marked by multi-coloured pins. The Message Room where Joan Sloman (nee Sutton) worked has six telephones for In and Out messages to Sub-controls throughout the County, and there were two direct lines used by the Police who were responsible for all messages. Here also, in a protective wire case was the vital switch to operate the siren for alert and all-clear messages. Another room, used as a general office, also contained a camp bed with grey army blankets, so that if all was quiet at night, one person could get some sleep.

The Deputy Controller, Mr T R S Lloyd, has his own room on the ground floor of the county Hall, which he also used by day in his other capacity as Chief Clerk of the Department of the Clerk of the Peace and of the County Council.

In the quieter days of 1939 and 1940 much time was spent in dealing with training, exercises and the issue of uniforms and equipment. One amusing incident occurred when the men in the Rescue and Decontamination Squads were issued with all-wool vests and long underpants as necessary items of equipment. There was no Government issue, so stocks held by local outfitters were commandeered, resulting in the arrival of quantities of underwear of all sizes and shapes. From this stock and men’s vital statistics the staff did their best to find a reasonable fit, but often without great success. The ARP berets did not always please the recipients, one volunteer in particular saying that he was glad his ears were so prominent to keep the beret from covering his eyes.

Some of the reports of incidents were colourful, one elderly man who described seeing a German ‘plane drop a bomb near Truro, said “There she was — booming and banging and buzzing.” In another case a local farmer reported that he had found an unexploded bomb, and he “had heaved and heaved with all his might, but the b_______ wouldn’t move.”

So much for the official preparations, but this is mainly about the way in which ordinary Cornish people were affected. How did they prepare for war? How did the outbreak of war, and thought of conflict to come affect their lives over half a century ago? The recollection of Mrs Kathleen Hawkes of Trethurgy, St Austell put those early days in context.

“Following the outbreak of war it soon became apparent that our lives were to be disrupted in many ways, especially for us, living at Hillway Farm, Fowey. Some of our fields overlooked the riverside where ammunition was loaded on to ships, after having been brought by rail along the line below the farmhouse. When soldiers of a Devon regiment were billeted in our fields, no one, not even my husband was allowed there without a permit. Later they were replaced by American soldiers, some of whom frequently strayed as far as the farmhouse and exchanges were made for large tins of fruit and dishes of cream!

The formation of the War Agricultural Committee resulted in farmers having to adjust their farming pattern. Strict records of the number of animals kept on the farm had to be produced annually. Feeding stuff, other than that produced on the farm, was rationed. Large acreages of land were put under the plough, which necessitated employing extra labour, provided by German prisoners billeted at Lanescot POW Camp. Although language problems sometimes made communications difficult, Otto, who had been accustomed to farm work, would instruct the others, and when Erhard, who spoke fluent English, arrived it helped considerably.

I saw the bombs being dropped on Polruan School, almost completely demolishing it, but luckily it had been vacated shortly before. One day after a German bomber flew so low over our farmyard I could see the swastika on the outside and the pilot inside. I took refuge in a nearby fowl’s house but not hearing any explosions I think the bombs fell in the river. Later a barrage balloon was erected in the meadow near our homestead. We also acquired a Morrison shelter in which the children slept in a downstairs room

My husband was a member of the Home Guard and one night when he and other members were on guard at a railway tunnel near Lostwithiel, a land mine exploded in the area. It did little damage but for a time we feared for their safety. School children took their gas masks to school daily and air raid drill became part of the curriculum.”

Among the humorous recollections of those who worked in Countyarp, the Controller’s cake episode is still remembered with affection bordering on nostalgia. Dried fruit being in very short supply, any gifts or acquisitions were always jealously guarded. The Controller managed to obtain supplies which were baked in his favourite fruit cake. The presence of such a delicacy was always a temptation, and it is known that on a number of occasions the odd slice or two would disappear, eaten with relish, albeit also with a slight qualm of conscience, by an ‘unauthorised person.’ Mr Dick Sloman of Truro recalls this incident in some detail — from first-hand knowledge perhaps? The war did not stop for fruit cake or any other diversions and on the morning of 5 July 1940 the first damage and casualties occurred, when The Grove at Charlestown was the target for three explosive bombs.

There was damage to property and nine people were injured. Later that day five bombs were dropped near Falmouth Docks causing slight damage and two minor casualties, and two hours later three bombs fell in a field perilously near the oil yanks at Torpoint, causing damage to telephone lines.

The bombing at Charlestown was probably intended for the docks there, the comparative importance of which may not have been full evaluated at that early stage, but the other two incidents certainly were intentional and heralded the systematic bombing of main target areas.

The blitz came to Cornwall’s north coast on 7 July 1940 when early in the afternoon four bombs fell on Penhale Army Camp at Holywell Bay. Here some soldiers were killed and damage was done to a number of Army huts. A lone raider dropped three bombs on Rosehill farm, Goonhaven on 12 July killing one bullock and injuring several others.

It was in this rather casual way that bombing of non-strategic targets began but the air war was soon to intensify as the Battle of Britain itself was waged and won in the skies above Southern England.

The Fowey area came under attack on 15 July, three bombs doing little harm, but one that fell in a garden at Bodinnick caused some damage.

During the early hours of the 19 July, twelve bombs were dropped. Most of them fell in the river, but three fell on Polruan damaging the school, destroying a partly built bungalow and injuring two people.

The first incident is clearly remembered by Mr R C Hicks who now lives at Falmouth, but at the time he was a 16 year old pupil at Fowey Grammar School. At about 4pm he had just arrived home when he heard a low-flying aircraft. He ran through the house and, looking out through the front, saw four bombs released; two fell in the river and two on the bank opposite Albert Quay. Fortunately a ship had been loaded with ammunition for the British Expeditionary Force in France had sailed the previous day. Windows were broken and craters appeared on the river bank and hillside. The late Sir Arthur Quiller Couch, who was in his garden, was blown over by the blast; he was not injured but severely shocked.

Newlyn Harbour was attacked on 21 July when magnetic mines were dropped just outside the harbour.

Widely scattered incidents occurred during the night of 27/28 July with bombs being dropped in rural areas around St Allen, St Erne, Kenwyn, Ladock, St Wenn and St Columb, all resulting in slight damage to property but no casualties. Fifteen bombs and one magnetic mine were reported near Kingsand; bombs also fell near the electricity sub-station at Sea View, Fraddon damaging insulators in the power house. At Bartinney Downs, St Just in Penwith a farmhouse and several cottages were damaged.

A cottage was damaged when four bombs fell near Scrasdon Fort, Antony on 30 July after which there was a lull until 7 August when twelve bombs were dropped to no effect on Nanijizel Farm at Lands End.

A more serious raid occurred on 8 August when twenty-one bombs were dropped in a triangle bounded by Truro, Helston and Cambourne. Damage was caused to property and the noise of an enemy aircraft diving on to a bungalow at Gweek, where one person died, was heard throughout West Cornwall. On the following day glass and growing crops in the village of Altarnum and St Juliot ‘shared’ the damaging effects of nine bombs dropped in ten minutes raid just before midnight.

Tolvaddon, Pool and Penhaluric Farm, Stithians were targets for raids on the night of 10 August. Ten days later another widely-scattered raid took place with something like sixty-five bombs and literally scores of incendiaries being dropped on such widely scattered places as Colan, St Breock, St Issey, Carharrack, Carthew, St Austell and Falmouth. Twenty-two bombs failed to explode, to present problems in the future.

During a rather hectic hour late on 22 August, 120 high explosive and 130 incendiary bombs fell in the Perranwell area. Some also fell on Tolcarne near Cambourne, at
Coverack and at Nancegollan; three persons were slightly injured and damage was caused at Mancaccan and Bissoe.

The next day, again in the late evening, 83 high explosive and 130 incendiary bombs fell at widely scattered points between Porthleven, Redruth, Lezant, Saltash and Looe. Little damage was caused although a bomb through the roof of Manaccan Institute destroyed the billiard table.

On 25 August came the first real attempt at precision bombing with a stick of thirteen bombs being dropped in a line from Spit Beach to the Clay Dry on Par Moor. No damage or casualties resulted, although during the night bombs fell on many parts of Cornwall including Carclew Woods, Porth Kea, Pencale Point, Portscatho, Merrymeet, Draynes, St Gluvias and Halton Quay, which was the only place where damage occurred.

A direct quote from the official record tells the story of the following day in a way which cannot be bettered:-
“A widespread series of raids occurred on the night of 26 August, upwards of 45 HE’s and hundreds of IB’s (including oil bombs) being dropped at places between Cleave Camp near Bude and Rame Head and Cambourne. Fires were more numerous on this occasion and three brigades attended fired in the village of Budock. Some bombs dropped around Pentillie Castle and the occupier of a cottage on the estate took shelter under the stairs. It was at first thought that his death was caused by direct enemy action but at the inquest he was unmarked and the Coroner returned a verdict of ‘death through shock’. A total of 5HE’s failed to explode. Senior Warden Williams of Ladock had the nasty experience, whilst driving his car to the scene of the incident, of entering a crater in the main road about 100 yards from Brighton Cross. His car was extensively damaged but apart from shock he was none the worse for this unpleasant happening.”

On 28 August high explosive and incendiary bombs dropped in the Stenalees, Roche and Withiel areas; very little damage was done and there were no casualties. The next evening six farms around Fowey were bombed and local firemen dealt with a fire of some magnitude at Lescrow Farm.

The next day raids occurred at Whitstone, St Teath, St Columb and Coverack. No damage resulted, except for a hayrick and a few small heath fires. St Teath caught it again the next morning but the bombs all failed to explode; an incendiary attack, probably intended for Falmouth, resulted in a dwelling house at Budock Vean being burnt out, as the first year of total war took its toll.

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