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AIR RAIDS 1938 - 45
TC23: 12 boxes
BOX 1 : 1938-39: PREPARATIONS FOR WAR, THE CRISIS, OUTBREAK OF WAR AND THE FIRST FEW MONTHS
23/1/A: Investigation into ARP
"The Sociology of the ARP " by Mass-Observation in New Statesman and Nation, 5.11.38
Newscutting : "What people think of ARP" by Mass-Observation, Daily Herald, 17.1.39
Letter from Daily Herald to Tom Harrisson re above article
Newscutting : "Deep Shelters Are Not Ruled Out", News Chronicle, 10.1.39
Questionnaire on ARP and underground shelters - various replies gathered by Observers AH. and LT. in London areas
Casual interviews in ARP, Bolton
Questionnaire : "What led you to join ARP or NFS. ?" Two pages of extracts from replies, with analyses
bookmark
23/1/B: The Crisis, August - September 1939
Observations at Victoria Station 26.8.39
Informal interviews, overheard comments and observations by JA in various London areas
Count of gas masks being carried, 13.9.39
Assorted oddments, conversations on the impact of the declaration of war
23/1/C: Behaviour during the blackout, September 1939
Observations made in various parts of London by three Observers (JA, WRL. and AH) who followed members of the public through the streets
Two letters to Tom Harrisson from people who had carried out "follows"
Notes on the "follows" with analyses
23/1/D: Reactions to the blackout, September - November 1939
Selected comments taken from Panel material and overheard comments in Bolton
Descriptions of incidents and conversations relating to the blackout
Effects of the blackout on leisure activities : dancing, cinemas, cafes, shops, colleges, sport, parks
Light counts September - November 1939 in London
Observations and accounts of conversations made on the underground and on the main line trains, October 1939 by NM
Cuttings and typed extracts from the press on the blackout, ARP, the progress of the war, October-November 1939
23/1/E: Preparations for air raids, August 1939
Questionnaire survey carried out in Hampstead asking people about blackout preparations, shelters, air raid alarms etc. (45 interviews)
Typed report of conversation with the Deputy Town Clerk of Finchley about the building of shelters, 30.8.39 (TH)
23/1/F: Opinion about the likelihood of air raids on London, October - November 1939
Questionnaire survey carried out at intervals in different types of areas
Report by CF. and qq replies
Questionnaires on the news, December 1939
23/1/G: Detailed observations of community life at the outbreak of war, September 1939
Letter and report by DMH. at Sidford, South Devon
Letter and report by BA at Glenfield, Leicestershire
23/1/H: Effects of the outbreak of war on ordinary life
Personal letters :
To Tom Harrisson from his mother in Winchester, August 1939
To Tom Harrisson from his wife Biddy (Clayton) in West Stafford, Dorset
To Tom Harrisson and Biddy from her mother, Elinor Pellatt, in Dorset
To Elinor Pellatt, from Mary Clayton (Biddy Clayton's first mother-in-law)
[Tom Harrisson married Biddy Clayton née Pellatt. Biddy's first husband was Michael Clayton and they had a son, John, aged about six in 1939]
To unknown person from Lady Anne Hill
Observations by Tom Harrisson, August - September 1939. Accounts of journey from London to Dorchester. Account of visit to mother-in-law's home, Dorset
23/1/I: Accounts of volunteer stretcher bearers
Report : Hampstead Rescue Party Depot 3 [stretcher bearers], HDW., September 1939
Report : Observers' experiences : ARP, Ealing, WRL, December 1939
Reactions to officials
Extracts from panel material referring to ARP wardens, 1939
Report on ARP wardens, Streatham, by Observer WP, September 1939
Observation of a war policeman on duty, West Ealing, September 1939
Report on the vigilance of ARP officials in Harrow, by CLB., September 1939
Reactions to the sound of the air raid siren, August - November 1939
Reactions to air raid warning and sight of German bomber in Bolton, November 1939
Assorted notes and observations on ARP
23/1/J: Shelters in Fulham, November 1939
Report by Observer KB on the state of Anderson shelters
BOX 2 : FULHAM ARP STUDY 1939 I
23/2/A: Attitudes to the ARP in Fulham, March 1939
63 Questionnaire replies to 4 questions on what people think of the local ARP, whether the Council is doing its best, whether Fulham is prepared for war and interviewees' own voluntary efforts. KB
23/2/B: Opinions of ARP volunteers in Fulham, April 1939.
50 interviews with volunteers about why they offered their services and what factors influenced their decision. KB (2 copies)
23/2/C Pilot study : ARP volunteers in Fulham, April -May 1939
Copy of questionnaire with 6 questions (as above), with 63 replies (KB) plus a further 8 replies from Observers MR. and LT
Analysis of results
23/2/D: Preliminary survey : ARP volunteers in Fulham, May 1939
Copies of questionnaire (8/9 qqs)
42 replies; interviews by KB, LT, EBC, MER
Brief summary of results by EBC
23/2/E: Personal accounts from ARP volunteers
8 short reports on ARP work sent to KB
23/2/F: ARP in Fulham May - June 1939
Various manuscripts describing Mass-Observation's major study, with sections on method and results, covering recruitment and propaganda, reasons for volunteering and attitudes to ARP work
Notes on ARP propaganda
ARP leaflets
23/2/G: Questionnaire : ARP Study, May 1939
Various drafts with notes by TH and KB
Questionnaire replies, May - June 1939 (Total 769)
23/2/H: From Observers DS (62) and AH (78)
23/2/I: From Observer HAC (116)
23/2/J: From Observer KB (413)
23/2/K: From Observer EBC. (96)
23/2/L: From Observer MER. (134)
BOX 3 : FULHAM ARP STUDY, 1939 II
23/3/A: Breakdown of results: Tables and analysis sheets
23/3/B: Tabulation of results
23/3/C: Address labels for ARP volunteers
23/3/D: Address list of ARP volunteers
BOX 4 : PRINTED OFFICIAL MATERIAL
23/4/A: Air Raid Precautions : official advice and information.
Air Raids : What you must do, What you must know. Ministry of Home Security, 1941
Posters: 3 Fougasse posters on ARP
Booklet : The Duties of an Air Raid Warden. HMSO, 1938
Selection of leaflets about ARP on home security, recruitment to voluntary services, the ARP card, the ARP button, warden's form for reporting air raid damage
Sudden birth in an air raid shelter: "instructions for persons in charge of air raid shelters...." Ministry of Health, June 1940
[Air Raid Precautions Memo No.16 Working after the siren. Ministry of Home Security (1940) - moved to Topic Collection INDUSTRY: 6/j]
23/4/B: ARP social functions
Miscellaneous notes and printed ephemera
23/4/C: ARP magazines
Correspondence between Mass-Observation and the producers of ARP publications, 1940 - 1
Report on ARP magazines (BW 26.7.40)
23/4/D: Gas : protection and advice
Booklets, leaflets, cuttings and posters on the use of gas masks and the identification of types of gas attacks
23/4/E: Commercial ARP products
Selection of advertising material and information booklets produced by commercial firms, including items on protecting the home, types of shelter, useful publications on ARP, blackout etc
23/4/F: Fire watching
Recruiting leaflets for the Auxiliary Fire Service, instructions for dealing with fire bombs, forms for volunteers
23/4/G: First aid
Recruitment leaflets, Red Cross enrolment forms, charity requests from Red Cross, Ministry of Health advice leaflet on first aid
23/4/H: Shelters
Selection of official printed items on shelters
23/4/I: Air raid damage and post-raid relief
Pamphlet : How to act after a raid, issued by the Dept of Health for Scotland (3 versions for different areas)
Assorted leaflets and forms with information on rest centres, claims for damages, relief, evacuation etc
23/4/J: Air raids
Cuttings from national and local press, 1940 - 1
23/4/K: Voluntary organisations
Assorted printed material produced by the Air Raid Defence League, the Friends Relief Service, the War Damage Claimants' Association and the National Council of Social Service
23/4/L: Spitfire Funds and salvage
Publicity and requests for support for Spitfire Funds
Items on salvage, waste and rubbish
23/4/M: National Service
Assorted leaflets on recruitment to Civil Defence and the armed forces
BOX 5 : PUBLIC REACTIONS TO AIR RAIDS IN LONDON, 1940. USE AND OPINION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHELTERS. OBSERVATIONS OF BEHAVIOUR IN SHELTERS
Public Shelters
Reactions to alarms; use of public shelters; types of shelters and facilities; descriptions of behaviour, dress, morale; accounts of overheard conversations and incidents. Observations made chiefly in London by full-time Mass-Observation investigators; some reports from voluntary observers. For further reports on air raids, see Directive Replies 1940
23/5/A: Observations gathered June - July 1940
23/5/B: Observations gathered August 1940
News Quotas (JS) August 1940
23/5/C: Observations gathered September 1940
File D: Observations gathered October - November 1940
23/5/E: Tube shelters : observations in the London Underground, September - November 1940
Reports, observations and impressions gathered in the underground shelters : descriptions of behaviour, clothing, noise, food, facilities, police presence and morale
23/5/F: Brick shelters, July 1940
Report on brick shelters with interviews and accounts of people's opinions on safety of shelters. Account of inspection of shelters by Professor JBS Haldane
23/5/G: Types of shelters, September 1940
Results of small survey asking people in London what they think of the shelters they use; questionnaire also on attitudes to bombing and death
23/5/H: Anderson shelters, September 1940
Reports from Observer LE on private shelters, particularly his family's Anderson shelter in Streatham
General note on Anderson shelters in Kilburn
23/5/I: Tilbury shelter, October 1940
Observations made on facilities, behaviour etc
Replies to questions on the Tilbury shelter - smell, food, organisations, charity efforts, first aid
23/5/J: Tube shelter publications, 1940
Note on papers The Swiss Cottager and Piccadilly Gazette produced by tube shelterers
BOX 6 : USE OF SHELTERS; EFFECTS ON PERSONAL LIFE OF AIR RAIDS; SLEEPING AND EATING PATTERNS; EAR PLUG USE; HEALTH AND FIRST AID; MORALE
23/6/A: Personal diary 5.10.40 - 9.10.40
An account by full-time Observer, KB of her trip from Bristol to London, her family home in Wandsworth and her flat in Fulham; includes information of London bomb damage and on people's attitudes. Description of the plight of friends who had been bombed out
23/6/B: Questionnaire on use of shelters, November 1940
Survey of sleeping habits, choice of sleep-place and opinions on the safety of shelters. Carried out in London areas; Shepherds Bush, Nottinghill Gate, Streatham, Finchley and Kilburn, approx. 200 interviews
Table of results
23/6/C: Household readjustments, October 1940
Small survey by NM and CF on domestic arrangements during air raids, including sleeping patterns, use of shelters, games played, food available, first aid, clothing and so on. Kilburn and Stepney areas
23/6/D: News Quota Survey October 1940
Questions put to people in Kilburn and Streatham about reactions to the latest news, amount of sleep they have been getting, getting out of London and sleeping in the Underground
23/6/E: Sleeping arrangements, August - September 1940
Detailed observations with interviews : bedding arrangements, people's sleep difficulties, shelter facilities etc
Various observations : effects of war on nerves; psychological strain of the bombing
23/6/F: Ear plugs 1940
Sample of ear plugs. Reports on use of ear plugs, including interviews on people's attitudes to them. (Questionnaire includes question on reactions to slogan : "Be like Dad, keep Mum".)
23/6/G: Health and first aid, 1940
Reports, observations and overheard comments on first aid facilities, ambulances, stretcher bearers, reactions to air raids in hospitals, recruitment of medical personnel (pamphlets), sales in chemist shops of ear plugs, first aid kits etc., casualties and funerals of air raid victims
23/6/H: Air raid morale, 1940 - 41
Reports and impressions of the way in which people cope with raids and behaviour in shelters
Printed pamphlet : Psychological Effects of Air Raids, by PE Vernon from The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, October 1941
Notes on government propaganda directed at people in bombed areas
Newspaper cuttings on raids, 1940 - 1
23/6/I: Miscellaneous notes and correspondence
Assorted papers relating to ARP, shelters and air raids
BOX 7: ARP AND ATTITUDES TO ARP WARDENS; THE EFFECTS OF AIR RAIDS; FEAR OF PARACHUTISTS; LOCAL DEFENCE VOLUNTEERS (LDV); PROSECUTION UNDER THE DEFENCE REGULATIONS; AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION APPEALS
23/7/A: Homelessness, rest centres and communal feeding, September - October 1940
Observations made in heavily blitzed areas of London, including Stepney, Paddington, and Walthamstow. Interviews with people whose homes have been bombed, impressions of morale, comments on post-raid services and availability of information
Official leaflets
Press cuttings on air raid damage
Leaflets of local Tenants' Defence Leagues, etc.
23/7/B: Post raid services, October 1940
Press cuttings, leaflets and correspondence
Leaflets from the Air Raid Damage Relief Fund
23/7/C: Quality of life during air raids, October 1940
Selection of letters from friends and relatives to Mass-Observation volunteer panel members: covers all aspects of life during air raids, including evacuation, reactions to news, shelter social life, sleeping habits, inconveniences caused by war conditions. Letters from all over Britain
23/7/D: Effects of air raids on leisure, entertainment and shopping
Assorted notes and observations relating to the effects of blackout on shopping habits, use of cafes, cinemas, libraries, colleges, clothing and fashion trends
Interviews carried out in September 1940 on visiting friends, domestic activities, radio listening, and newspaper reading, games, eating habits
23/7/E: ARP and ARP Wardens 1939 - 40
Impressions and accounts of incidents at wardens' posts including observations on the behaviour of wardens
23/7/F: ARP Questionnaire, June 1940
Report : "The ARP Card and its Effects". Information based on 105 interviews with householders in 4 areas of London about the ARP card distributed by the Ministry of Home Security. The card contained information of local ARP services
Press-cutting re ARP recruitment, The Star 10.6.40
ARP questionnaire with replies
23/7/G: Barrage, September 1939 - 40
Reactions to the sound of anti-aircraft guns. Note on blimps (barrage balloons)
Observations of reactions to blimps in Shepherds Bush Green (JA) 14.9.39
23/7/H: German bomber down, 1939 - 40
Report : local response to incident in small village
Report: rumours of an aeroplane being brought down near Romford, sent in by volunteer, 10.9.39
23/7/I: Fear of parachutists, May 1940
Impressions based on indirect interviews about the likelihood of German soldiers landing by parachute
23/7/J: Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), June - September 1940
General reports from Worcester and Fulham
23/7/K: Appeal for support of munitions and aircraft production, 1940 - 41
Report on Aluminium Appeal, 15.7.40
Account of an exhibition of Messerschmitt 109 at Croydon, in aid of Croydon "Spitfire" Fund
Assorted notes and reports on appeal funds, War Weapon Weeks, and propaganda including a Spitfire badge
23/7/L: Regulations and offences, 1940
Copy of Everyman's Guide to the War Regulations, 1940
Notes on cases of prosecutions under the Defence Regulations from the press, July 1940
BOX 8 : AIR RAIDS IN BRITAIN, 1940-41 TOWNS: A - D
Apart from the first file which contains general information about the bombing of provincial towns, the files contain reports, letters, leaflets, official forms and memoranda and other items relating to a specific town or area. Much of this material has been donated to Mass-Observation by members of the volunteer panel, but the main reports come from full-time Mass Observation investigators
- Further material on air raids is filed with the Directive Replies for 1940
- Additional town files which have been added after the first sorting have been interfiled alphabetically (hence C2)
- Other information about air raids may be found in the Topic Collection: TOWN AND DISTRICT SURVEYS
23/8/A: Effects of air raids
Report : The Effect of Air Raids in Great Britain published by The Economic League (Central Council). Duplicated copy, 1.7.40
Report : Reactions to Air Raids as Observed by Citizens Advice Bureaux (Home Intelligence, from Stephen Taylor to Mary Adams), September 1940 ? References to a number of cities and towns
Report by Lionel Fielder of Ministry of Food who accompanied Tom Harrisson to Southampton, 3.12.40. No title, but discusses reactions of civilians to bombing. Annotation "Lord Woolton took this to Cabinet"
Report (M-O) Plan for Survey of Blitzed Town, 8.1.41. Guidance for Mass Observation investigators (CF)
Report (M-O) : Re Morale in Blitzes by JF, 23.3.41. Suggestions for policy changes in reporting on blitzed towns
Report : Draft Plan (Mark III) for use in emergencies resulting from serious air raiding, MOI, 18.1.41
23/8/B: Aberdeen (printed material only)
23/8/C: Barrow-in-Furness (printed and duplicated material only)
23/8/C2: Billingshurst, Sussex
23/8/D: Birmingham
23/8/E: Bishop Auckland, Co Durham
23/8/F: Bolton
23/8/G: Bradford
23/8/H: Brighton
23/8/I: Bristol
23/8/J: Bromley
23/8/K: Campbeltown, Argyllshire
23/8/K2: Cambridge (rest centres)
23/8/L: Cardiff
23/8/M: Caterham
23/8/N: Chelmsford (duplicated material only)
23/8/O: Cheltenham
23/8/P: Chepstow
23/8/Q: Clacton
23/8/R: Clydeside, including Glasgow
23/8/S: Consett (poster and correspondence relating to the Citizens Advice Bureau)
23/8/T: Coventry
23/8/U: Croydon
23/8/V: Derby
23/8/W: Doncaster
BOX 9 : AIR RAIDS IN BRITAIN, 1940-41: TOWNS D - L
23/9/A: Eastbourne
23/9/B: "East Coast Village", Essex
23/9/B2: Exeter
23/9/C: Gateshead
23/9/C2: Great Malvern
23/9/D: Harrow
23/9/E: Hastings
23/9/F: Huddersfield
23/9/F2: Hull
23/9/G: Ipswich (printed material only)
23/9/H: Isle of Dogs
23/9/I: Kilburnie (printed material only)
23/9/J: Leatherhead
23/9/K: Leeds
23/9/K2: Leek
23/9/L: Leicester
23/9/M: Liverpool
23/9/N: London : general, including raids on City and Putney
23/9/O: London : fire watching
23/9/P: London areas: Fulham
23/9/Q: London areas: Hendon
23/9/R: London areas: Lewisham
23/9/S: London areas: Notting Hill Gate
23/9/T: London areas: Stepney
23/9/U: London areas: Streatham
23/9/V: Loughborough
23/9/W: Lowestoft
BOX 10 : AIR RAIDS IN BRITAIN, 1940-41 TOWNS M - Z
23/10/A: Manchester
23/10/B: Middlesbrough
23/10/C: Newcastle
23/10/D: Norwich
23/10/E: Northampton
23/10/F: Oxford
23/10/G: Petersfield
23/10/H: Plumstead
23/10/I: Plymouth
23/10/J: Portsmouth
23/10/K: Radlett
23/10/L: Redcar
23/10/M: Romford
23/10/N: Salford
23/10/O: Scunthorpe
23/10/P: Sheffield
23/10/Q: Southend
23/10/R: Southampton
23/10/S: Swansea
23/10/T: Swindon
23/10/T2: Trowbridge
23/10/U: Watford
23/10/V: West Bromwich
23/10/W: Wolverhampton
23/10/X: Woodbridge
23/10/Y: Worcester
23/10/Z: York and North Riding
BOX 11: AIR RAIDS 1940-42
23/11/A: Survey on attitudes to compulsory ARP work, January 1941
Small number of interviews in London area on following questions :
- Should ARP work be made compulsory ?
- If yes, should this apply to both men and women ?
- Should the army help with ARP work ?
- Should fire watching be compulsory for private premises ?
Tabulations of results included
23/11/B: Fire-fighting, 1939-41
Selected leaflets and duplicated instructions
Observations on fire fighting activities in London
Diary extracts (Harrisson) September 1941; (Smallbones) January 1942
23/11/C: Gas masks, 1941-42
Counts of numbers of people carrying gas masks.
Report on a mock gas attack, Putney High Street, London
Description of poster on gas
For detailed information see GAS MASKS
23/11/D: Bombs in Hendon, February - March 1941
Account of bomb incidents by full-time Observer including accounts of interviews with local people
23/11/E: Air Raid Questionnaire, July 1941
Survey carried out in Oxford and London on people's expectations of further heavy raids
Report of results included
23/11/F: News Quota, March 1941
Report on the effect on the public of hearing that 9 German planes had been brought down
23/11/G Shelters, 1941
Counts of people using public shelters, London areas, March 1941. Correspondence about sheltering and types of shelters
Survey on shelter preference: questions in the street about choice of shelter, brick or Anderson, February 1941
Survey results : questions on the Morrison (indoor) shelters
News cuttings on sheltering
People's views on the effects of fog on the likelihood of raids, February 1941
23/11/H Shelter Survey proposed by the British Journal of Psychology (Social Psychology Section), 1941
Comparison of plans for survey from Gertrude Wagner, Marie Jahoda and others. Critique by JF (M-O)
Report of discussion between psychologists
23/11/I: Chislehurst Caves, August 1941
Impressions and observations of people using the caves as air raid shelters. Includes survey on people's use of the caves
23/11/J: Fire Bomb Fritz Questionnaire, September 1941
Reactions to the new Ministry of Home Security advertisement on dealing with fire bombs
23/11/K: Warden's post, June 1941
Description of an ARP post, appearance, facilities, personnel, organisation, with an account of one evening's activities
23/11/L: Argument at a Warden's post, April 1941
Correspondence relating to a complaint against personnel at an ARP post in Twickenham
23/11/M: Home Guard, 1941
Report from a young member of the Home Guard (EG). Description of routines, incidents. May - June 1941
23/11/N: Police, 1941
Check by Mass-Observation to see how good were police directions for finding Citizens Advice Bureaux
23/11/O: "Blitz information", 1941
Article "Blitz information - the lifeline of Civil Defence" by Tom Harrisson in Local Government Service, August 1941
Criticism of availability of post-raid information
Replies and correspondence to criticism
Copies of local government information booklets
23/11/P: Wearing white in the blackout
Comparisons of counts 1940, 1941, and 1942
BOX 12: AIR RAIDS 1942-45
23/12/A: Reprisals
Comparison of public attitudes towards bombing reprisals, 1940, 1941, and 1942
23/12/B: Civil Defence workers, 1942
Indirect comments, mainly from Hampstead, on Civil Defence Workers' attitudes to be released to take part time jobs, April 1942
Fire watching registration Kilburn, October 1942
Assorted duplicated papers on ARP education
Assorted papers on ARP education
Assorted notes on fire watching
Forms issued by the National Association of Girls' Training Corps, with correspondence
23/12/C: Air raid alert and sheltering, 1942
Indirect comments and observations of people' reactions to air raid alerts in various parts of London, 16.3.42
Observation in air raid shelters : Regent Square, St. Pancras and Museum Tube Shelter, 30.3.42
23/12/D: Air raids and sheltering, 1943
Indirect comments and observations
23/12/E: Air raids on London, June 1944
Reactions to the pilotless planes : indirect comments, observations and letters
23/12/F: Air raids on London, 1944
Assorted reactions to raids, overheard comments and observations, including account of Tube sheltering
Typed special report on unofficial noises, explosions and rumours about them. Sent in by volunteer, London, September 1944
23/12/G: Reaction to V2 bombs, 1945
Indirect comments with report
23/12/H: De-escalation of Civil Defence
Blackout: notes, 1943 and report on relaxation, 1944; lifting of blackout, 1945
Report on the stand down parade of part-timers in the National Fire Service, March 1945
Responses to special Directive on the lifting of the blackout, 1944, giving details of personal reactions and observations. Sent in by volunteers, September - October 1944
Press cutting from The Yorkshire Post on the lifting of the blackout, 18.9.44
Press cutting from The Caterham Times on the lifting of the blackout, 22.9.44
23/12/I: Diary extracts on air raids
Typed passages taken from war diaries sent to Mass-Observation, including a commentary
23/12/J: Tom Harrisson - air raid notes
Pencil notes (not very legible)
23/12/K: Mass-Observation volunteer Panel of Observers
Copy of letter from M-O to Observers asking for material, 20.11.40
Draft copy of Bulletin for Panel, 16.9.40, describing M-O's War Library
23/12/L: Picture Post article, 17.8.40
Notes, plans and draft mss for an issue of Picture Post on air raids; includes correspondence with Tom Hopkinson and poor photocopy of air raid article
23/12/M: Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Notes, memos, letters etc. relating to Mass-Observation's study of air raids.
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