some experiences of an african air-raid warden - West End at War
some experiences of an african air-raid warden - West End at War
some experiences of an african air-raid warden - West End at War
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3. AIR-RAID SHELTERS<br />
You know th<strong>at</strong> <strong>air</strong>-<strong>raid</strong> <strong>warden</strong>s are in charge <strong>of</strong> the shelters. They are<br />
assisted by shelter marshals. In my post area I was in charge <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
biggest shelters. This was, <strong>of</strong> course, in addition to other duties as a <strong>warden</strong>.<br />
In this particular shelter I had a couple <strong>of</strong> marshals to help me.<br />
As the year 1940 was drawing to a close the <strong>raid</strong>s got very frequent <strong>an</strong>d<br />
very heavy. So the popul<strong>at</strong>ion made use <strong>of</strong> the shelters from early evening till<br />
morning. They also slept in them, so sleeping bunks were put in. Sometimes<br />
there were as m<strong>an</strong>y as four to six <strong>raid</strong>s before nightfall, so life in London was<br />
a m<strong>at</strong>ter <strong>of</strong> going in <strong>an</strong>d out <strong>of</strong> shelters.<br />
In my own shelter I was faced with all kinds <strong>of</strong> problems. I am glad to say<br />
th<strong>at</strong> I had a Post <strong>War</strong>den who was very far-sighted <strong>an</strong>d a good administr<strong>at</strong>or.<br />
I <strong>of</strong>ten discussed my problems with him <strong>an</strong>d took counsel. This gentlem<strong>an</strong><br />
gave me a free h<strong>an</strong>d to carry on my work in the shelter.<br />
I shall tell you <strong>of</strong> one or two <strong>of</strong> my outst<strong>an</strong>ding problems <strong>of</strong> those early<br />
days. In this shelter I am talking about the shelterers were peoples <strong>of</strong> m<strong>an</strong>y<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ions, with a variety <strong>of</strong> beliefs. They were young <strong>an</strong>d old people, <strong>an</strong>d<br />
children. The bombing <strong>of</strong> London forced a mixed crowd to be in one <strong>an</strong>other’s<br />
comp<strong>an</strong>y, though their ways <strong>an</strong>d m<strong>an</strong>ners <strong>an</strong>d views <strong>of</strong> life in <strong>some</strong> cases were<br />
as opposite as the north <strong>an</strong>d south poles.<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> the shelterers told the others to go back to their own countries, <strong>an</strong>d<br />
<strong>some</strong> tried to practise segreg<strong>at</strong>ion. A spirit <strong>of</strong> friendliness <strong>an</strong>d comradeship<br />
was lacking. If this spirit had continued it would, as certainly as the night<br />
follows the day, have led to riots.<br />
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