The Home Front in

Leyton and Leytonstone

1939 - 1945

Everyday life on the ‘Home Front’ in Leyton and Leytonstone during the Second World War is vividly depicted in this companion publication to the author Gary Heales’ ‘The Home Front in Walthamstow 1939 - 1945’, drawing on the unique photographic and object collections at Vestry House Museum, London Borough of Waltham Forest, together with personal reminiscences and other written sources.

Leyton & Leytonstone History Society Vestry House Museum,

www.leytonhistorysociety.org.uk/ London Borough of Waltham Forest Gary Heales

ISBN 978-1-9998278-1-6

The Home Front in Leyton and Leytonstone, 1939 – 1945 by Gary Heales

Index by David Boote

The contents of this publication must not be reproduced unless authorised by Vestry House Museum, London Borough of Waltham Forest, Vestry Road, Walthamstow, London E17 9NH

Published in 2017 by Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society in association with Vestry House Museum, London Borough of Waltham Forest

Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society 27 The Croft, Friday Hill, London E4 6EZ website : www.leytonhistorysociety.org.uk

ISBN 978-1-9998278-1-6

Front cover photos:

Upper left: V-2 rocket which fell at Fairmead Bottom Road, High Beech, Epping but did not explode Upper right: The Woman’s Voluntary Service members Emergency Feeding Unit on exercise in Cann Hall Lower left: Children from Oliver Road, Leyton, celebrate VE (Victory in Europe) Day Lower right: Warden’s Post by the Green Man Pond, Leytonstone

Back cover photos: A card from an ‘Evacuee’ game; a WD & HO Wills cigarette card on how to equip your refuge room and keep occupied during an air raid; a metal badge for a member of the Home Guard to wear; an ‘Air Raid Wardens Wanted’ poster.

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An introductory note of appreciation

by David Boote, Chair of Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society:

This publication could only have come into being because Vestry House Museum, and the Waltham Forest Archives and Waltham Forest photographic archive within its walls, have been sustained by the London Borough of Waltham Forest. That local authority was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of the Boroughs of Leyton, Chingford and Walthamstow. The Borough of Leyton through its library service created document and photograph archives from which this publication has been created, and from 1965 the contents have been safeguarded by Waltham Forest council as a free public resource for all researchers and the simply curious. There is no alternative to the contents of Vestry House Museum and the archives. They are unique and irreplaceable. Their condition and access for the public reflects the dedication and commitment of the borough council staff responsible from the 19th century to the present, sometimes working beyond the hours and terms of their employment. Elected members of Waltham Forest Borough Council have recognised the continuing value of the Museum and archives in a period when local authorities have been asked by central government to reduce expenditure dramatically, and for that protection all users must be profoundly grateful, including those like readers of this publication who benefit indirectly.

Vestry House Museum has supplied the images and text of this publication free of charge. Without this concession the publication would not have been possible. Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society is extremely grateful.

For the opening hours of Vestry House Museum, and the Waltham Forest

Archives, see the website of the London Borough of Waltham Forest www.walthamforest.gov.uk

This publication is modelled on ‘The Home Front in Walthamstow 1939 – 1945’ by Gary Heales, published by Walthamstow Historical Society and Vestry House Museum, 2016.

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Preparation for War.

A trench shelter dug in Leyton after the Munich crisis (September 1938). Such trenches may have offered some protection in the event of an air raid, but would have been totally inadequate for the many hours in shelters that families would have to endure during the Blitz.

An article that appeared in the Daily Sketch on 6th April 1938, showing Leyton Air Raid Precautions training.

The Outbreak of War.

On the morning of 1st September 1939 Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. Later that same morning the British Cabinet met to discuss their response and to issue a warning to Germany, that unless it withdrew from Polish territory Britain would carry out its obligations to protect Poland. On the 3rd September, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made the following announcement by radio:

”This morning, the British ambassador in Berlin handed the German government the final note, stating that unless we heard from them, by 11 o'clock, that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now, that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently, this country is now at war with Germany…”

Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, speaking on the BBC

Britain was once again at war with Germany.

Evacuation.

The Government had already made plans to evacuate children of school age to ‘safe’ areas well away from London and other large cities. The evacuation began on 1st September 1939, two days before the declaration of war, and over the course of the next three days 1.5 million children, teachers and mothers with babies were sent to rural locations. Leyton was classed as an evacuation area, with all schools being sent away, even as far away as Wales. Evacuation was not compulsory and many parents decided not to send their children. All schools were closed after this date, which resulted in many children being free to roam the streets and cause trouble. Later some schools were reopened for returning children but they did

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so under emergency and often improvised conditions, often with some retired teachers returning to work for the duration.

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Left: Poster for evacuation. Middle: Poster for Leyton, Non-Evacuated children. Right: A card from an ‘Evacuee’ game.

Children were marched to Leyton and Leytonstone stations by teachers and W.V.S. (Women’s Voluntary Society) volunteers; they were bundled into trains with no idea where they were going and for how long the duration might be. For the older children it may have seemed an adventure, but many of the younger ones suffered from home-sickness and bed-wetting. Some were split-up from elder brothers or sisters, when there was only space for one child in a billet. The organiser of the Leyton W.V.S remembered that:

“During the evacuation of children, the W.V.S provided the cars to take the children to whichever station they would be leaving from, but we weren’t involved with the organising of the evacuation scheme”.

Parents were told to pack a small bag containing a change of clothing, underwear, night things, slippers and food for the journey for their sons or the school daughters. They were also told to make sure the children had their gas masks and to take them to school, where they each received a label bearing the school’s number.

Suggested list of things to pack: GIRL.

2 vests. BOY. 2 liberty bodices (if worn). 2 vests. 2 knickers. 2 under pants. 2 nightdresses or pyjamas. 2 shirts. 2 pairs of socks or stockings. 2 pyjamas and night shirts. 2 pair shoes 2 pair socks. 1 Wellingtons (if possible). 2 pairs boots or shoes. 1 warm coat and/or mackintosh 1 Wellingtons (if possible). (if not being worn). 1 warm coat and/or mackintosh. 1 warm dress or tunic and (if not being worn). jersey. 1 pair knickers or trousers. 1 cardigan. 1 pullover. 2 cotton frocks. 6 handkerchief. 6 handkerchiefs. 1 toothbrush. 1 toothbrush. 1 face flannel. 1 face flannel. 1 comb. 1 comb. 2 towels. 2 towels. Gas mask. Gas mask. Identity card. Identity card. Ration book. Ration book. Clothing and personal coupons. Clothing and personal coupons.

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“My mother had instructions to have us all down at the school early, complete with rucksacks, a blanket and gas masks. It was a fantastic rush (it always was in our house), and from the school we got on a double decker bus, which took us to the railway station. The train was in no hurry to leave, but eventually we got started. The train was packed out – it was one of those with tables either side of the gangway and every table was loaded with luggage. We hadn’t been going long before we stopped – I think it was a siding. Finally we got to Oakham. I have no idea what time it was, but we were taken to a school and inside we were given a hot drink. I’d never had Horlicks before, we always had cocoa before we went to bed, so when they came round asking if anyone was still thirsty I shot my hand up and was given a glass of water!

After that we were told to go out into the playground as the school had to be locked up, so, so there we were, in the pitch dark – waiting. Then we got on another coach and were taken to a village called Greetham in Rutlandshire. The village school was being used as a billeting centre. There were a whole load of villagers there and one of them grabbed hold of my sister and said “I’ll have her!”, but she reckoned without Rene who said “No you won’t, we’re all to stay together my Dad said”. Rene never lacked spunk. Because we needed a billet for three we were left until last. Nobody wanted three so the problem was solved by two neighbours, Rene and Clare went together and I lived next door with another girl”. The Carriers (Mr & Mrs) had no electricity, they had paraffin lamps, and the water came from the well so we were dispatched with a bucket to get some every morning.

Recollection: from V. Hayhurst, nee Kempson.

A party of Maynard Road Boys, evacuated to Oakham in Rutland, ‘Dig for Victory’.

On arrival the tired children were walked around streets looking for accommodation or told to wait in a Church Hall until someone came to ‘pick them’. Brothers and sisters were often split-up when people offered to take ‘one’. Postcards were provided for the children to inform anxious parents that they had arrived safely and to provide their new address. Billeting of those evacuated quickly became a problem as many middle class families either refused to accept an evacuee or made life difficult in the hope that they would leave. There was a financial incentive paid to those looking after an evacuee, but it was quite small.

“All I remember, very distinctly, were the kind smiling faces of the W.V.S ladies with their broad Norfolk accents and a large circle of trestle tables piled high with treats. We passed by each table in a widening circle and every person from the train, adult and child alike received something from each table. A large bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate, a rosy red apple and some biscuits were my main memories but our bags were full by the end of the line. Refreshments were also supplied”.

Recollection from: Mr P. J. Reeves. Village Writers Anthology 1939 – 45.

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Local newspapers reported that the children were enjoying being evacuated to country and even seaside destinations. The reality was almost certainly quite different. Some children did find a good billet with a kind ‘auntie’ and ‘uncle’ to look after them, but many did not.

Keeping in touch with evacuated sons and daughters was only possible by letter with perhaps an occasional visit. Travelling was difficult and posters such as: ‘Is Your Journey Really Necessary’ prevailed. When anxious parents did get to visit they were sometimes shocked at the hardships their children were being forced to endure, and some may have been taken back home as a result. One girl evacuee remembered, long after, being forced to remain outside during the day despite cold and wet weather, as their guardian did not want them in the house, ‘under her feet’, as she put it.

“The train journey was short; hardly long enough for us to transfer from the inside of our haversacks to the inside of ourselves the chocolate, raisins and other rations with which we had been provided by our ever-thoughtful parents. Brentwood! The train drew up, and we had arrived at our destination. An army of helpers, doctors, nurses, policemen and others was waiting to minister to our needs. The Red Cross nurses looked so disappointed when their hopeful enquiries for any casualties were repeatedly answered in the negative, that it was a pleasure to remember that I had cut my finger with my penknife and could legitimately claim their attention. There followed a short but arduous trek up Rose Valley (what’s in a name) and we reached our ‘clearing station,’ Coptford Road School. Here were drink for parched tongues and rest for weary backs. The last operation of evacuation was about to begin – billeting.”

Extract from Leyton School Magazine, January 1940.

Plaque presented to Miss Sherratt, who taught in many local schools, including Leyton Senior High School, who in her will bequeathed her books and papers to the school. The plaque, found among her belongings, explains itself.

Children.

For many children the war was an adventure and in their minds the danger did not exist. The bomb-sites became playgrounds where fires could be lit, windows smashed and things like shrapnel found and carefully placed in a collection. The routine of going to school became interrupted and, for those children not evacuated, countless numbers roamed the streets all day going home for ‘tea’. The Home Guard sometimes provided amusement and was watched from a safe distance and then their antics copied. Any wooden stick suddenly became a rifle and cowboy cap-guns were prized weapons.. For those children with a little imagination toys could be made of almost anything that could be picked up from the rubble and a friendly ‘war’ with neighbouring gang added excitement. Boys made cat-a-pults and played conkers while girls played hopscotch and skipping games with made up songs. Handmade carts were very popular and old pram wheels were fixed to soap boxes and bits of wood. Races were held on a nearby hill and children were encouraged to use their carts for the collections of scrap metal or paper.

“The first few weeks we spent at Brentwood were spent exploring the neighbourhood, but after a while we found time hanging on our hands.”

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“To me as a Leyton war-street kid the smell of other people’s bombed houses seemed to have a strangely frightening sourness and yet not one of us could resist the thrill of clambering over the staircases and rubble of departed souls. Hunting and hiding in cellars and cupboards where wooden structure was peppered with thousands of daggers of glass was nothing short of ecstasy. We had suddenly inherited an acre of back-gardens. There were trees to climb and denholes that were once people’s coal-cellars. There were mounds and hollows to explore before the pre-fabricated, instant dwellings were to be slotted into place for those who had lost everything.”

Extract from: Street Memories of War-torn Leyton, written by Frank Hardcastle. Essex Countryside.

Shelters.

What most people feared was that enemy aeroplanes would fly over and drop bombs on the cities causing devastation and fires. Even worse, that poison gas would be used. An announcement was made on the BBC that, in the event of a poison gas attack, the public would be alerted by means of hand rattles. They were also reminded to always carry their gas mask with them, but not to try testing them by means of ‘household’ gas as the masks were not designed to give any protection from domestic gas.

The Government decided to issue the ‘Anderson’ shelter free to poorer households, and also to provide steel props which could be used to create shelters in suitable basements. The Anderson Shelter proved to be remarkably sturdy, but prone to flooding as it was partly dug into the ground. Tests carried out after the war proved the design of the Anderson Shelter to be effective against anything other than a direct hit. Many people, though, rejected the cold, damp Anderson Shelter and during a raid preferred the dubious safety provided by the cupboard under the stairs.

“And there were the public shelters for the people whose garden shelters were untenable or who had none at all. One evening, when I was out in the first two or three weeks of the Blitz, I went down an underground shelter at the edge of the forest by Whipps Cross. Some buses were standing in the road nearby, dark and empty, their crews having left them to shelter. The place was concrete passages, with people sitting on benches, sleeping and nursing young children. Someone was trying to organise a sing-song. At one end was a lavatory with a sheet hung over it; an old man went there, and the sheet caught over his shoulder so that everyone could see him.”

Recollection by Robert Barltrop in ‘Growing Up in North East London Between the Wars: My Mother's Calling Me’ published by London Borough of Waltham Forest Libraries and Arts Department, 1984

A surface shelter at Whipps Cross.

Public surface shelters were constructed at strategic locations around the Borough, but there were few amenities to make life more comfortable during air raids. At the height of the ‘Blitz’ (the German bombing offensive against London) people would have to spend as long as 57 consecutive nights in overcrowded, cramped, cold shelters. Many local factories built their own shelters, or adapted basements for their workers.

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Domestic Shelters. “The Senior girls have been in the playground shelter. The accommodation is totally inadequate – most of the girls have to stand and all are overcrowded, shoulder to shoulder… The teachers are horrified, and wonder what would happen if several girls fainted.”

The Head Teacher, Mayville School 1942.

A lino-cut made by Mr Johnson, showing the overcrowded conditions in the underground shelter at Gainsborough Bridge Tunnel, during 1941.(Borough of Leyton Libraries Collection)

Leyton Borough Council tried to improve the quality of shelter accommodation and in July 1940 received permission to convert some of the existing railway tunnels in Gainsborough Road. The Borough Engineer reported:

“The public has swarmed into the tunnel shelters and broken through the inner gateway.”

The tunnels were dark and overcrowded. It has been estimated that possibly as many as 20,000 to 30,000 people took shelter there. There was no running water or sanitation, ventilation was inadequate. The Medical Officer for Health stated: “The question of disease in these tunnels is an urgent public health problem of great magnitude.” A tunnel Action Committee was formed by some of the shelterers who immediately began to petition for urgent improvements. They printed a regular newsletter called the ‘Tunnel Voice’ and when the Ministry of Aircraft Production tried to take over some of the tunnels the committee organized a petition which was taken to the Houses of Parliament.

Some residents of Leyton & Leytonstone may have made use of the Underground Stations at night. Sleeping on platforms and even, after the electricity had been turned off, between the rails! Conditions were overcrowded, noisy and lacked any form of sanitary provision, other than a bucket hidden by a sacking screen. Around eighty London Underground Stations were used as shelters for thousands of people each night. As more and more people began to use the underground for shelter special trains were run delivering hot drinks and buns. Bunk-beds were put up in connecting tunnels and a system of shelter tickets introduced ensuring the ticket holder a space.

A 1940s cartoon showing one of the misfortunes of using bunk-beds. (Source unknown)

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Domestic Shelters.

Left: The Shelter Book had short stories written by well-known authors and games for the children and grown-ups, to help while away the hours; Centre: The Anderson shelter dug into the ground; Right: Advice on fitting bunk–beds in your shelter.

The Anderson Shelter was very sturdy and could withstand considerable damage; however they were cold and prone to flooding when it rained. People made them as comfortable as possible with rugs, pillows and blankets. Lighting was provided by candle or paraffin oil-lamp. A vacuum flask of hot tea helped to keep up morale. After a night of air raids families would emerge from their shelters to inspect the damage.

Left: From April 1941 the Morrison Shelter was provided to those people who had no garden. Right: During the day the Morrison was often covered with a cloth and used as a dinner table.

The Morrison shelter was designed by John Baker and named after Herbert Morrison the Minister of Home Security. It consisted of a steel top with wire mesh sides (one of which could be lifted open and acted as the door). Many people would have liked to exchange their cold, damp Anderson shelter for the more convenient indoor type, but they were prevented from doing so by government, unless they were able to provide medical evidence of necessity. Around 500,000 Morrison shelters were constructed and provided free of charge to families who earned less than £350 a year.

Leyton Air Raid Casualties 30th April 1940 to the 6th April 1945.

423 Fatalities. 879 Serious injuries. 1297 Slightly injured. 2599 total.

Leyton Air Raid Damage to property 30th April 1940 to the 6th April 1945.

Of the 28,254 houses in the Borough, 1757 were demolished, 6350 were badly damaged and 19,831 received minor damage. Some houses were hit more than once.

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The Black-out. Gas Masks.

The fear of gas attacks from the air was well founded in the experience of soldiers at the ‘Front’ during the Great War. Despite having signed an International agreement in 1925 (The Geneva Gas Protocol), the government decided it was necessary to make preparations for dealing with a gas attack, in the event of war. Civilian respirators, or gas-masks as they were known, started to be manufactured as early as 1937 and instructions for distribution were given as a result of the Munich Crisis in September 1938. By July 1939 special masks were being made for young children. A red coloured ‘Mickey Mouse’ respirator for toddlers and a babies respirator which covered the upper body and head, were both introduced. School children were taught how to put on their masks quickly and sometimes even wore them during lessons in order to get used to them. The public were advised to carry their masks with them at all times and, to improve public awareness of the danger, the government issued posters and leaflets advising on the best method of protection for pets, food and clothing against contamination. The respirators were provided with a cardboard box which doubled as a carrying case. Private purchase cases varying from fashionable ladies hand-bag style to tins and black metal boxes quickly became available. Along with other London Boroughs, Leyton set up decontamination laundries and cleansing stations. Wardens had to undergo intensive training courses on the detection and treatment of the various gases and simulated gas attacks were held in special chambers, in order to give first-hand experience. The Warden was able to give the alarm by means of a wooden hand rattle, the ‘All Clear,’ being sounded by means of a hand-bell.

Left: Pre-war ticket issued to be exchanged for a respirator in the event of war. Right: Public Information Leaflet N°2 Your Gas Mask. How to keep it and how to use it.

Left: WD & HO Wills, Cigarette card, showing how to adjust your respirator. (Warning: World War II gas masks contained blue asbestos in their filters and should not be worn or handled by children). Right: The ARP Warden’s Gas Alarm Rattle (author’s photograph)

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Left: Demonstrations held in 1938. Right: Wardens undergoing training wearing Service Respirators. The Black-out.

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The Black-out.

Black-out regulations were introduced on 1st September 1939 (before the declaration of war), making it an offence to allow any lights to be shown after dark. It was the job of the local Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens to visit houses in their streets and check on the effectiveness of the black-out. The Wardens could report a culprit to the local authorities if any light was seen after black-out time. This could lead to a hefty fine or in some cases an appearance in court. People could buy special black material with which to cover their windows or make screens which could fit over the window and remove in daytime. Windows were often crisscrossed with brown sticky tape, in an attempt to reduce shattering caused by bomb blast. Under the blackout regulations all buses and private cars had to have masked head lights and white painted mud-guards. Curbs, trees and lampposts all had painted black and white stripes to make them more visible and pedestrians were warned to wear something white at night. As a result of these measures the number of people killed or injured in road accidents increased dramatically. In addition to the black-out regulations many street sign posts were removed and station name boards painted out in order not to provide information to the enemy in the event of an invasion. Station names were announced by the Guard or Station master. A number of accidents occurred when passengers, having arrived in a station at night, tried to alight from the wrong side of the carriage.

A London Transport N° 35 Bus from Clapham Common to Chingford Hatch, by way of London Bridge, Lea Bridge Road and Wood Street. Posters for ‘John Bull’ Wartime Competitions can be seen above the driver’s cab. (Vestry House Museum collection)

Humorous postcard Borough of Leyton. ARP making light of Black-out regulations the Black-out. poster for shops, (Source garages, factories unknown) hotels and private premises.

The ARP.

Air Raid Wardens were mostly volunteers although some were full-time paid members who received a salary of £3 per week for men and £2 for women. They were well trained and issued with a whistle, rattle and a hand bell and a first aid kit. The whistle could be used to highlight the warning given by the air raid siren. The rattle announced a gas attack, while the bell was used to announce the gas alert had passed. The first aid kit could be used to treat minor injuries. A special ARP lamp was designed for Wardens’ use. It had a concealed bulb covered by a sloping cowl which directed the light downwards at the ground. They were powered by a standard 3 volt cycle battery. Some torches were made which clipped to the helmet leaving the hands free.

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The Black-out. A Chief Warden’s The early hallmarked silver distinctive white ARP Badge was fitted with and black helmet. either a crescent-shaped (Author’s button hole attachment for photograph) men or a pin style brooch for women. (Author’s photograph)

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An ARP Warden wearing a white painted helmet with black stripes could easily be identified as a Chief Warden. A distinctive I.O. badge denoted an Incident Officer, who would assess the situation and liaise with Fire and Ambulance services. Specially trained Heavy Rescue staff would dig out survivors from the rubble of bombed buildings. A synthetic helmet, made from a Phenolic resin based plastic, was available for Civil Defence, WRVS and Night Watchmen to purchase. It was similar in shape and weight to the standard army ‘Brodie’ helmet supplied to servicemen. It would have provided some protection from falling bricks and masonry.

Members of the Leyton ARP Rescue Squad.

Rescue Squads worked tirelessly digging through the rubble of bombed-out homes, often in dangerous conditions of falling masonry roof tiles and bricks in the search for survivors. It was essential that they had a good working knowledge of building construction. Others would go into the houses to try to salvage any furniture, beds or family possessions they could find.

Another photo of the Knotts Green, A group ARP Wardens. photo of Air Raid Wardens stationed at Knotts Green, Leyton in c1942.

Left: Street Fire Party helmet and incendiary bomb. Right: ARP badge. In October 1939 wardens began to be issued with dark blue overalls with a red on black ARP badge. (Author’s photographs)

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The London Region, Civil Defence W. Ellund Styles, District Warden and H. Headquarters, Group 7 was the J. Gardener, Deputy Walthamstow Town Hall, with Group 7 District Warden, were Shadow Headquarters at the Town both stationed at Knotts Green, Leyton Hall, High Road, Leyton. Group 7 in May 1942. Their red included Waltham Holy Cross, ARP badges have by this time been Chigwell, Chingford, Walthamstow, replaced with yellow Leyton, Wanstead & Woodford, Ilford, CD (Civil Defence) Dagenham, Barking, East Ham and badges. West Ham.

Left: Any civilian vehicle that could be pressed into service by the Leyton Air Raid Precautions (ARP) would have had one of these enamel identification discs fixed to it, allowing it unrestricted access to bomb incidents. During air raids when streets were liable to be closed to motor vehicles, debris and un-exploded bombs blocked off many streets. It was still possible to get through on a bike and possibly the quickest method of travel. Many boy scouts acted as ARP messengers using their bikes to transport important messages.

Middle: The Warden’s Manual. The ARP had no shortage of instruction leaflets, anti-gas books and training manuals as well as First Aid notes.

Right: Poster for a ‘Grand Variety Show’ called The ‘Torni-Keys’, put on by the ARP Wardens of Post 6, to provide comforts for the troops, at the Leyton Town Hall.

Some helmet markings:

W for Warden

R for Rescue

FAP for First Aid Party

SP for Stretcher Party

A for Ambulance

M for Messenger

SFP for Street Fire Party

D for Doctor

During the ‘Blitz’ incendiary (fire-starting) bombs were dropped in large numbers. Wardens were often the first people to respond to an incendiary attack and would use a stirrup-pump to fight the fire. If water was poured directly onto a burning incendiary bomb, the resulting scalding hot steam could inflict serious injury.

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Some incendiary bombs were also fitted with a small explosive charge. Another item issued to the Warden was the ceiling pike. It was over three meters long and was mainly used when working in bomb-damaged

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buildings. They could use the point to test potentially unsafe ceilings, while the bill hook could be used to pull-away and dislodge debris.

Leyton ’C’ Post in front of Cann His Worship, Mayor Rayner, with Regional Hall Road School, May 1943. Commissioner, Admiral E.R.G.R. Evens, attending a final parade of war-time, Civil Defence Personnel in 1945.

“My grandfather came from Montserrat, the son of a slave. My father worked for the Port of London Authority (PLA) on the largest floating crane in Britain, the London Mammoth. He worked his way up to second master and when the Captain was drunk he took over and was in charge of the whole working of the crane. We lived in Leytonstone during the war and every street had its own Air Raid Warden. My own Warden came to our house and asked my father to be his assistant Deputy Warden for the road. That’s how well thought of he was. The only prejudice my father suffered was from his mother who thought my mother wasn’t good enough for him.”

Recollection from: Mr Ronald E. Allen, who attended Davies Lane, School in 1943.

Left: Mr Ronald E. Allen, wearing his Boy’s Brigade Uniform, attended Davies Lane, School in 1943. Middle and Right: Appointment Card issued to Mrs B. E. Wilson, on her enrolment as a Leyton ARP Warden.

The ARP Depot at Whipps Cross.

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The Warden’s Post situated at Green Man Pond, Leytonstone.1942.

The Lea Hall Fire Fighters.

In order to provide a fast and efficient response to air raid attacks, many roads set up voluntary fire-fighting groups. The Lea Hall fire fighters paid for all their equipment from voluntary subscriptions of 2d per week (about 1 post decimalisation penny) from each of the houses in the street.

Left: One of several ARP Guide posters: Instructions for dealing with incendiary bombs. The incendiary bomb would quickly burn through rafters and floors burning a house down if not dealt with by the householder. Middle: Removing an incendiary. Right: Roof protection; including a suggestion to fill the loft with 2 inches of sand.

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Above left: Stirrup-pump fire bucket and scoop. Above centre: Borough of Leyton Receipt for one stirrup Pump, value seven shillings & Sixpence. Above right: WD & HO Wills, Cigarette card, Removal of an Incendiary.

Leyton Fire Brigade.

Led by Brigade Officer Superintendent Hall and Officers Thorne and Smart, Leyton was well covered by the fire brigade in 1939. The Church Road Station firemen lived in the Oliver Road Cottages, which were linked by fire bells with the station. The Harrow Green Station had a system of fire alarm posts at various sites throughout the Leyton and Leytonstone area, which were regularly tested.

Left: Leyton Fire Brigade with engine in the yard of Harrow Green Fire Station, c1939.: Centre: Ambulances at Harrow Green Fire Station. Right: Interior of an ambulance.

National Fire Service Badge Members of the Leyton Fire Brigade c1942.

Above left and right: Members of the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) stationed at Lea Bridge Road.

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The Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) was first formed in 1938 as part of the Civil Defence Service. It was intended to augment the existing fire brigades, which would be put under great pressure in the event of war. In August 1941 the National Fire Service was set up and all equipment became standardised.

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In the same year the government set up the Fire Guard scheme, which called for men between the ages of 16 and 60, to enrol and spend several nights each month on look out. These men would be on duty in all weathers, often situated on exposed factory roof-tops, or similar high vantage points where they were able to give early warning of fire. Officer Samson was the general administrator for the Leyton and Leytonstone AFS he was also in charge of the Control Room where he had a small staff of Firewomen working the switchboard and plotting incidents as they were called in. Warnings of enemy action were sent to Stations using the pre-arranged code words; Yellow, Purple, Red or White, but often the sirens were being sounded before the ‘Red’.

“23rd August 1940. Air raids commenced and Leyton was really under fire! United Dairies [in] Hainault Road, Ruckholt Road School, Francis Road, Dunedin Road, Lascelles Road, Florence Road and several other roads were all hit. Incendiaries were tackled by Street Fire Watchers.”

‘Leyton Firefighters’ (Waltham Forest Archives)

On 15th October 1940 a bomb hit Leytonstone High Road, not far from the Midland Rail Bridge. It did severe damage to the ARP post:

“Leading Fireman Murphy was resting on a camp bed. As he sat up from the explosion, the telephone blew off the shelf above and hit him on the head, he fell back and was struck on the head again as a door at the back of him blew off. The (ARP) Post had to be closed and the crew sent to a temporary post which was sited opposite Church Road [Fire] Station E10. This post was near the Alms-houses and backed onto the [St Mary’s Church Road E10] graveyard. It was not a comfortable post!”

Nellie Thomson was on Street Patrol during one raid:

“Incendiaries came through my Florence Street house setting the lounge on fire. Bill was on duty at the Docks. When he returned home he was thankful I was safe. Another night parachute bombs dropped in Lascelles and Dyers Hall Roads; all the residents were evacuated to Mayville Road School. I walked round to the Nevill’s post, where Bill was on duty and spent the night there.

Nellie Thompson remembered the night the City, East End and the Docks were attacked:

I stood on the Cathall Road Railway Bridge looking at the cross of St Pauls Cathedral with the fires around it. As Fire Crews from outer areas were arriving to stand-by, I was able to direct them to their Stand-by stations.”

Between 6th July and 10th December 1940, there were around 400 air raid warnings in the area.

Looking towards the Emergency Water (EWS) Supply tank in Montague Road, Leytonstone during 1942.The water tanks were located at strategic sites around the borough, in order to provide a water supply for the fire brigade in the event of the mains supply having been cut-off by bombing.

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The Emergency Water Supply (EWS) tank located on the west side of High Road, Leytonstone, by the London Midland & Scottish (LMS) railway station 1942-43. Harrison & Co builder’s yard can be seen in the centre. EWS also involved long stretches of pipes which were fitted along road gutters. Running from near Whipps Cross there is a culverted river, the Phille Brook (Fillebrook), which is now under Sidmouth Road and Coronation Gardens. This could be accessed at certain points to provide emergency water supplies

London bombed.

Hitler had forbidden the bombing of London, and the first air raid did not occur until 24/25th August 1940. The reason given by German radio was that two aircraft had become lost on their way to bomb the oil storage tanks at Rochester and Thameshaven and had bombed London by accident. Leyton and Walthamstow were both hit, as was Bethnal Green, Edmonton, East Ham, Finsbury, Islington, West Ham, Stepney and Tottenham. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was outraged at what he supposed to be a deliberate attack and ordered the RAF to bomb Berlin the next night in retaliation.

Bomb damage in Leyton and Leytonstone.

The ‘Leyton Bomb Map’, showing the large number of incidents recorded by the Leyton ARP.

On 10th October 1940 a number of bombs fell on the playground and surrounding streets of Farmer Road School, causing considerable damage and killing five people. The school was re-named George Mitchell after the war in honour of one of its former pupils who had been killed in action. Mitchell was a 32 year old private in the British Army, serving with the 1st Battalion, London Scottish (Gordon Highlanders), at the Battle of Monte Damiano in Italy. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery, attacking machine-gun posts under heavy fire with complete disregard for his own safety.

Bomb damage to Nºs 417 - 421 High Road, Leyton, branch of the London Co-operative Society at the (undated). The building to the rear in the photograph was a junction with Grange Park Road.

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Undated photograph showing bomb damage in High Road, Leyton,

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Left: Twickenham Road, Leytonstone in 1942 - 43. Newport School can be seen in Right:: WD & HO Wills the background. Cigarette card.

Bomb damage in West End Avenue, viewed from Peterborough Road, Leyton, (undated).

Left: In January 1944 Leytonstone Station was also badly damaged by bombs. Right: Workers clearing the tracks of rubble.

Lea Bridge Railway Station, as it appeared in 1940. Above: On 31st March 1944, the station building was completely gutted by fire.

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Lea Bridge Gas Works in, Leyton, damaged by enemy action on the 17th December 1944.

Gasometers were a prime target during the war. A, gasometer sometimes called a gas holder, was a large container in which natural gas or town gas was stored near to atmospheric pressure. The volume of the container followed the quantity of stored gas, with pressure coming from the weight of a movable cap on the top. The base of the gasometer was sealed by a large, deep water tank.

Leyton Bus garage was hit by a V1 or flying bomb which fell on 26 June 1944. Considerable damage was done both to the building and the buses parked inside and extensive repair work had to be undertaken to the steelwork of the roof, which was badly damaged in the blast.

The Army helping out with the job of repairing roads An ARP Rescue Party, digging through the rubble. Photographs damaged by bombing and clearing up air raid debris. such as these were censored due to the sensitive nature of the (Express & Independent). image. The photographs were returned bearing an official NOT ALLOWED stamp. We therefore have no indication as to the address, but can say that it was in Leyton.

In 1939 prompted by fears of bombing, the government ordered that all cinemas were to be closed. However the orders were soon rescinded and within a few weeks’ cinemas in the provinces were reopened and within a month those in central London had followed suite. If an air raid was imminent a warning was flashed up onto the screen, giving the audience an opportunity to go to the shelters – many did not leave and the film resumed. In 1940, cinema admissions figures rose, to just over 1 billion, as many people discovered the cinema to be a good way to catch up on the newsreels and be entertained for a few hours.

Remarkable coolness was shown by people in a London cinema, when a heavy bomb fell in the roadway. ARP workers quickly entered the cinema and led out the people inside. What had once been the premises of Northover & Son, Printers and Stationery Shop, next to the Savoy Cinema, in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton was completely destroyed by the HE bomb. 11/10/1940.

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Left: The Ritz Cinema in the High Road, Leyton, was also severely damaged by bomb blast and remained closed until after the war. Right: There was no shortage of helpful leaflets and booklets available. This one gave advice on how to make a claim after suffering bomb damage to your home.

Pets.

At the beginning of the war it was feared that food supplies for pets would be stopped, but this was not the case. Many pets were destroyed or abandoned in the last few months of 1939 and early 1940. There were some special animal ARP Wardens, as well as the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), who went to bomb sites looking for stray pets or abandoned cats and dogs. Many were taken to safety and if necessary new owners found. Home owners were encouraged to leave a placard in a window, stating what pets lived in the house and where there were located. Some dogs were trained and used very successfully by the ARP. They were used to help find victims buried under rubble or sheltering in basements. It was illegal to feed wild birds with bread or scraps but Homing Pigeons were also used to carry important messages. Some were released from aeroplanes shot down over the North Sea. The information relating to the aircraft’s position could then be relayed to Air Sea Rescue, but survival in the freezing water was a matter of luck.

V-1 (FZG-76) Flying bombs & V-2 Rockets.

The first V-1s, Hitler’s ‘Vengeance Weapons’, began to fall on London in 1944. They could be heard approaching by the sound of their pulse-jet engine. When the noise stopped everyone ran for the nearest shelter or any sort of cover. From the outset Leyton was heavily hit. From June 19th V-1s came thick and fast – pedestrians were also given warnings of approaching V1s by Air Raid Warden’s whistles. In an effort to shoot down the Doodlebug or Buzz-bomb, as they became known, anti-aircraft guns were moved away from London and re-sited along the coast. The RAF was able to shoot down some V-1s over the sea, but they risked being damaged by the resulting explosion. Some pilots even flew alongside the Doodlebugs and attempted to tip them over with a wing tip, causing their gyroscopic stabilisers to fail and crash. A number of V-1s were destroyed when they crashed into barrage balloon cables.

Worse was to follow and the second ‘Vengeance Weapon’ was the V-2 Rocket, which being supersonic (3,600 mph) gave no warning and therefore no chance for people to take cover. These gyroscopically stabilized finned rockets were 14 metres long and weighed around four tons, without fuel. Lookouts positioned high on rooftops would advise the Leyton control room where the V-2s had fallen and fire fighters and rescue squads would turn out immediately. The blast caused by the V-2 caused immense damage over a wide area and the shockwave broke windows some distance away.

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Right: The remains of a V-2 which fell at Fairmead Bottom Road, High Beech, Epping Forest and failed to explode. Monday 20th November 1944.

Some of the many incidents resulting from bombing, V-1s and V-2s, in 1944.

June 26 Grange Road, Bus Garage, Chigwell, Aug 3 York Road. Blakes Hall Road. Aug 4 Thornhill and Auckland Roads. June 30 King Edward Road. Aug 8 Claude Road. July 5 Tyndall Road, Harrington Road, Green Aug 15 Ruckholt Road. Man and Eagle Pond areas; Aug16 Wake Arms (Loughton). July 8 Dyson Road. Aug 24 Shernhall Street. July 9 Claude Road, Temple Mills. Aug 31 Wake Arms. July 21 The Gas Works Oct 3 Blake Hall Crescent. July22 Boundary Road. Oct 26 Mornington Road. July 23 Blake Hall Road. Nov 12 Temple Mills Railway works. July 24 Lea Bridge Road. Oct 30 The Green Man. July 27 Cann Hall Road. Dec 1 Tyndall Road. July29 Farmilo Road. July 30 Burchell Road Aug 2 Temple Mills Railway Marshalling Yards.

Left: Sketch by the author of a V-1. Right: A V-1 on its launch ramp at the Imperial War Museum Duxford (author’s photograph).

Harrow Green School incident.

An RAF Wellington Bomber crashed on Harrow Green School at 9.30 pm, on the 10th February 1942. The school was being used as an ARP depot and five Civil Defence workers were killed, as well as the six man crew. A further five people sustained injuries and were taken to Whipps Cross Hospital for treatment. A fund

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was set up by ARP colleagues, to raise money for the dependants. The plane which was on a training flight was thought to be trying to land on Wanstead Flats not far away from the school.

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“I saw the plane come down on Harrow Green School. I used to live just round the corner and I watched its tail end smoking and he was trying hard for the flats. He never made it. It seemed to just stop and come straight down on the school. My friend lived opposite the school. There was a lot of ammunition going off after it came down It was an ARP Centre then. The school was closed a few years before as it was supposed to be sinking an inch a year. I will never forget the roar of it coming down as long as I live”.

Recollection from: Mr N. Izod, of Walthamstow.

Harrow Green School.

The Drill Hall.

The Drill Hall at Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, 1942 – 43.

The war memorial cross to the 7th Battalion, the Essex Regiment (Territorial) and other local Territorial Army units of both World Wars has an inscription which reads:

"WE ARE THE DEAD. TO YOU WITH FAILING HANDS WE THROW THE TORCH; BE YOURS TO HOLD IT HIGH."

Hospitals.

At the beginning of the war Whipps Cross became part of the Emergency Medical Service, with 388 of its

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744 beds being reserved for air raid casualties. Langthorne Hospital in Leytonstone was used as a First Aid post with a Gas Cleansing Station also set up within the hospital grounds. The Hospital was bombed twice, in 1940 and 1941, but luckily sustained only light damage.

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Left: The Leyton and Leytonstone War Memorial Ward at Connaught Hospital, Orford Road, Walthamstow. The BBC Radio star Arthur Askey made a visit to Connaught Hospital where he generously sponsored a bed in the children’s ward. Right: Whipps Cross Hospital from the air in 1926.

Ambulance.

The ambulance service did an incredible job during the war years. Frequently after receiving a call the ambulance driver would have been faced with blocked roads, diversions and even unexploded bombs. On arrival the crew would find many people suffering from shock as well as serious injury.

Nurses.

Many St John Ambulance, Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) and British Red Cross members joined the Civil Nursing Reserve (CNR), where they served in hospitals nursing air raids victims. The CNR was primarily intended for work in hospitals and First Aid Posts, in addition to Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses who were to be based in military hospitals. The CNR was one of the choices offered to women called up for National Service. Untrained women could become Nursing Auxiliaries. CNR Nurses were given a chrome badge to wear on civilian clothing.

Rationing.

As much of Britain’s food was imported from abroad the Germans made a concerted effort to effectively ‘blockade’ Britain from receiving merchant shipping. Using U Boats this was nearly achieved and food supplies were threatened. The Government had issued everyone with a ration book as early as the end of 1939 but it was not until 8th January 1940 that rationing actually came into force. From then on people were required to register with their local shopkeeper. You could only buy food if you had enough coupons in your ration book and then only a certain amount of food per week was allowed. Every time you bought food which was ‘on ration’ the shopkeeper would cut out or cross out the coupons form your ration book. It was a fair system which ensured rich and poor would receive equal amounts.

Left: Childs Ration Book, RB2 (Child), dated July 1940.

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Middle: Ration books were coloured pink for very young children, blue for children and buff for adults.(Author’s photograph) Right: Despite the war ending in 1945 rationing in Britain continued. This leaflet explained how to make the most of the fat ration.

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Left: Popular wartime radio comedy double act Gert & Daisy’s Wartime Cookery Book. Middle: The ‘Kitchen Front’ radio broadcasts consisting of 122 helpful wartime recipes.(Author’s sketch) Right: One of a series of wartime cookery leaflets, N°18. ‘High Teas and Suppers’.

Potato Lifting.

“The potato crop was an exceptionally good one this year. Extra helpers were needed, so volunteers from the School were asked to co-operate with the farmers in potato-lifting. A small party of 30 boys was formed and, under the guidance of two masters, private cars conveyed the boys to the farm in the heart of the countryside. Out there we lifted potatoes to our heart’s content; we also lifted, I’m sorry to say, a few apples. The help we gave proved invaluable, and the farmer invited us to lift his next potato crop.”

Extract from Leyton School Magazine 1940, entitled Evacuation Notes.

Dig for Victory.

In 1939 the Ministry of Agriculture created possibly the most memorable slogan of the war - 'Dig for Victory'. Every effort was made for Britain to grow as much food as possible and people were encouraged to dig up their gardens and plant fruit and vegetables. Seed swapping clubs were formed and helpful information appeared in most newspapers and magazines. Every spare piece of land, including public parks and gardens, school playing fields, and factory courtyards were all converted into allotments. Even the moat at the Tower of London was dug up and vegetables planted and the Royal Family had their rose beds removed and onions planted in their place. The Leyton Council Allotment Committee was set up and in October 1939 they identified land in Wanstead Flats, Porter’s Shoot and Epping Forest. The Dawlish Road allotment was dug in August 1940. People rented a plot for five shillings, with pensioners and unemployed only paying one shilling. The cartoon characters 'Potato Pete' and “Dr Carrot” began to appear in adverts, encouraging the population to eat more vegetables. Carrots were even said to be good for night vision! It was suggested that the RAF's exceptionally good results against night-flying bombers were due to pilots eating carrots.

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Left: A Certificate of Merit given by the Mayor of Walthamstow in 1942. Similar certificates would have been awarded to the best gardeners in Leyton. Middle: The cartoon character, Potato Pete. (Author’s sketch) Right: Public notice warning not to let dogs stray onto the allotments.

‘Lend a Hand on the Land’ was another slogan, this time devised to encourage people to spend their holidays working on farms. It was advertised as a holiday in fresh air and convivial surroundings. In reality it was hard back-breaking labour for those more used to office or shop work. Accommodation varied, but it usually meant sleeping in tents and with communal feeding. The campaign ran into the post-war years, in conjunction with the ‘Holidays at Home' campaign. 'Holidays At Home' was yet another scheme to encourage people to enjoy a holiday without occupying space on the trains or using petrol to travel. Much holiday accommodation had disappeared to provide billeting for servicemen and women and if you could get to the seaside much of the coast was protected by mines and barbed-wire.

Hop picking in Kent had long been a traditional annual event for many poor East-End Londoners, with some families meeting up with other hop picking friends each year. Accommodation was very basic with evenings often spent grouped around a camp-fire.

Family group in the Hop Fields c1944

Scouts & Guides.

Over 50,000 Scouts trained to undertake many National War Service jobs, including helping in the "dig for victory" campaign. They were also trained to act as police or ARP messengers and stretcher bearers. Both Scouts and Guides pushed their trek carts around the streets, collecting newspapers, scrap metal and jam jars for recycling. Guides also were busy helping with evacuees and refugees, and possibly providing firs t- aid. In their spare time they knitted jumpers, gloves and socks for servicemen. War Service Badges were awarded to Scouts and Guides, after ninety-six hours of work.

Leyton Troop of Scouts attending the ‘War Weapons Week’ display at Leyton Football Ground in 1942.

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The Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS).

The WVS was originally founded in 1938 as the Women’s Voluntary Services for Air Raid Precautions. It was initially planned to help recruit women into the ARP. The volunteers gave immediate assistance to civilians during and after air raids by setting up feeding centres and emergency rest centres and applying first aid. The WVS was also involved with the evacuation and billeting of children. By 1943 the WVS had over one million volunteers and was involved in almost every aspect of wartime life such as knitting gloves and socks for the troops and merchant seamen. It was also involved with the collection of salvage and donated goods for those made homeless due to bomb damage.

Left: In addition to other jobs many WI members trained in First Aid and undertook valuable work helping the Civil Defence after air raids. Right: They also undertook the task of assisting members of the public that had been bombed out.

The Women’s Land Army.

After its formation in the First World War the Women’s Land Army was re-formed just prior to the Second World War. Following a recruitment campaign which made mention of the healthy outdoor life working on the land, and posters which showed young women holding lambs or walking beside Shire Ponies, a large number of women enrolled as volunteers. After a short course of instruction the women, many of whom were from the cities, were sent to work on farms and forests throughout Britain. They did an enormous amount of hard work to help the country produce as much food as possible. The Timber Corps helped provide pit-props, railway-sleepers, telegraph poles and other timber items.

A Wartime Christmas.

Christmas dinner in the 1940s would have been a battle of wits and planning. Saving coupons, queuing up, making do and subtle substitutions became a triumph of ingenuity. Even cooking the festive dinner relied on electricity or gas still being available. Most people made do with a joint of meat, which, even though rationed, was still expensive. In fact a family of four's weekly meat ration probably wouldn't even cover the cost of a chicken. Home-grown vegetables helped to keep costs down, and it was always possible to rear a few chickens in the back yard or perhaps even rabbits. Unfortunately young children often regarded them as pets and were distraught when it came time to dispatch them. Following the advice given in Government cookery pamphlets on preserves and bottling, some people made pickles or chutneys to make the meal more palatable. Dessert would perhaps be rice or custard made with dried milk and a tin of peaches that had been ‘put by’ in a cupboard to be savoured on the big day. Another possibility was the Austerity Recipe Christmas Pudding, without eggs. If you managed to bake a Christmas cake by scrimping on your weekly rations, it was illegal to have icing!

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Christmas Cards.

Christmas cards continued to be sent, but they were smaller and often printed on flimsy paper. It was thought to be good for morale for servicemen to receive cards and messages from home and the sending of cards was actively encouraged.

A long way from home. Children and teachers from Ruckholt Road School, who were evacuated to Sheephatch Camp in Farnham Surrey, enjoy their Christmas dinner.

A wartime Christmas in 1944. The Leyton Mayor (Alderman B. G. Rayner, J.P.) helping with the distribution of Christmas presents at Leyton Town Hall.

“You used to make your own streamers – you used to cut the coloured strips of paper and make flour and water paste and then put one loop in the other. We used to hang them round the pictures on the walls.”

Age Exchange Theatre Company.

Advert for ‘Xmas Puddings without Eggs!’ using a Bird’s Egg Substitute.

As the war dragged on children’s toys became scarce and home-made toys, knitted scarves, gloves socks and slippers became popular gifts. Children’s books continued to be printed, but under strict wartime controls. The ‘Just William’ stories, written by Richmal Crompton, were adapted to the 1940s with titles such as ‘William and the ARP’, ‘William and the Evacuees’ and ‘William Does his Bit’. There was even a film released in 1940 entitled ‘Just William’.

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Left: Homemade Christmas toys often included aeroplanes and tanks. (Author’s photograph) Right: Wooden Gloucester Gladiator model, from Batemans Toy Shop High, Street Walthamstow. (Author’s photograph)

Above right: Some children’s books and comics continued to be produced despite paper shortages, such as Enid Blyton’s weekly edition called ‘Sunny Stories’. This edition is dated January 1942.

Motoring and Petrol rationing.

Petrol rationing had been introduced just three weeks after the declaration of war, on September 22nd 1939. A ration system of tear-out coupons was introduced, which was dependant on the driver’s needs. If your car was considered essential for work, this was taken into consideration. If you drove to and from work, the distance was calculated and allowed for. Each car owner was allowed between four and ten gallons of Pool (Standard) petrol per month at 1/6d per gallon. Exceptions were made for doctors and essential services.

Perkins Garage, High Road, Leyton camouflaged in 1942-43

Theft of petrol became widespread with petty criminals siphoning petrol out of tanks. Petrol for Service use was colour dyed to make it more difficult to be illegally sold on. People began to hoard fuel in petrol-cans or tins or anything they could find and leave it hidden at the back of the garage. It was possible to have your car or lorry converted to run on gas and supplies were made available to motorists, but it never became

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popular or wide-spread. Some cars had a balloon type gas bag attached to the car roof, but these only gave the car a range of about twenty miles, and had to be refilled. It also became increasingly difficult to

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obtain rubber inner tubes and tyres and many cars were driven until the canvas backing wore through the rubber tyres. This in turn caused numerous flat tyres and blow-outs. Car owners rarely used their cars at night, due to the “Black-out”, as driving in total darkness was very dangerous, and caused many fatal accidents. People were therefore very reliant on public transport, but buses were taken out of service at 9.00 pm and by 2.00 pm on Sundays. In many rural areas and even in provincial towns buses did not run on Sundays. As the war progressed it was decided to abolish petrol for all forms of private motoring, but this created a lot of opposition, particularly from the well-off who saw their car as a symbol of their status and were reluctant to take public transport. It also was unpopular with people who ran hotels and guest houses in seaside towns, arguing that they relied on day trippers and tourists for a living. Shop keepers also found it caused problems, although many delivery vehicles were still horse drawn at that time. There was a big increase in bicycle sales, and in many shops stocks ran out as demand exceeded production.

Above right: Headlight dimmer.(Author’s photograph)

Clothing Rationing and Make do and Mend.

Left: Clothing Book for 1947 – 48. Right: Ladies shoes with CC41 stamp on the leather sole. (Author’s photograph)

The war caused a shortage of clothes and high prices were charged for those that could be found in the shops. It was no longer possible to get supplies of clothes from abroad. Clothing manufacturers in Britain had to make things needed for the war effort, such as uniforms and parachutes. Clothes rationing was introduced on 1st June 1941. This made sure that everyone had a fair share of what was available. Everybody was given a ration book with 66 clothing coupons (reduced to 40 in 1943) that had to last for a year. Each item of clothing that was rationed was worth a certain number of coupons, for example one

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dress was worth eleven coupons. People still had to pay for clothes, but they had to hand over the right number of coupons each time they bought something.

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Travelling in the Blitz.

“So then I decided that I wouldn’t live away from home, I would travel from Lea Bridge Road to Colindale every day, on the tube, which I did.... I used to get up early in the morning.... I had to be at work at eight o’clock - I used to be up at half past five in the morning, get ready, and be out to catch the ‘workman’s’ [train], which we used to have years ago, which was cheaper, half past six. I’d get to Liverpool Street, I’d get a train to the Bank, the Underground. From the Bank, I’d get to Colindale. From Colindale I would walk up from Colindale Station to the laundry. That’s where I went.

And many a night I got out at Liverpool Street station and there’s a raid going on. And you think to yourself, oh God Help Us, I’ve got to get home yet. Then another night I’d get home and it was pitch black with fog, there was nothing running, no buses running, I walked all the way home from Liverpool Street to Lea Bridge Road. Got home, fell in bed, and up again to go out to work the next day.”

Recollection from: Margaret Churcher. Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop

Clothing manufactures.

A 1942-43 clothing Advert from the book. People were Guardian for advised not to remove More New coupons, as it was Styles at illegal for shopkeepers Bearmans Ltd, to accept loose in Leytonstone. coupons. This was done to ensure only the rightful owner could use the coupons.

Clothing Exchanges.

One of the many things that the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS) did was to set up Clothing Exchanges, to help parents struggling to provide clothes for their growing children. Mothers could take clothes that their children could no longer fit into to the exchange. They were given a number of points dependant on the amount of clothing donated. These could then be 'spent' on larger sized, (second-hand) clothing. Children’s shoes were always a problem as they frequently became too small for the wearer, but were not worn out. Before the war plimsolls, sandals and wellington boots were all frequently worn by children, but rubber shortages made production impossible.

‘Make Do and Mend’ was a pamphlet issued by the Ministry of Information. It was intended to provide housewives with useful tips on how to be both economical and remain stylish. It contained many helpful,

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money-saving design ideas and advice on reusing old clothing. If you were able to knit, you were advised to unpick old jumpers to re-use the wool and re-knit something new. Some suggestions on adapting men’s clothes to be used as women’s clothing might not have been viewed as such a bright idea by the men! One idea on how to make use of a sheet with a large hole in it was to cut it in half and sew it back together with the edges becoming the middle. There were also helpful suggestions on how to combat the clothes ‘moth menace’.

Salvage.

From late 1940 it became compulsory to recycle waste paper in Britain. School children, scouts and guides were encouraged to make collections of waste paper in their neighbourhoods, using home-made carts or borrowed wheelbarrows. The scheme was run by over a hundred thousand volunteer Salvage Stewards, who manned depots and encouraged the sorting of waste. Salvage became compulsory in large towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants and was extended to smaller towns a year later. Those who refused to sort their waste could be fined £2,500 and sentenced to two years in prison.

Left: The ‘Squander Bug’ tells people to throw away damaged clothing and not to waste their time in mending. Middle: Salvage leaflet distributed to Leyton and Leytonstone houses, asking that rags, bones and paper be placed in parcels clearly separate from refuse. Right: Housewives are commended on their ‘Huge Success of the Salvage Campaign’. Paper, metal, and bones would all be placed in various containers and regularly collected.

Even bus tickets were used to promote the importance of paper salvage. (Author’s photograph)

Plays, dances, parades and fancy dress competitions were held in the drive to raise much needed funds. Here we see the young winners of the fancy dress competition.

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War Bonds, Savings & Insurance.

Leyton & Leytonstone residents were also encouraged to ‘Help the War Effort’ by purchasing War Bonds or Savings Certificates. They were told that “Money which you can lend to the Government could be spent on those things vital to secure victory”. The most convenient way for people to save was through the Post Office Savings Bank. Interest at 2.5% was paid per annum and the money guaranteed by the State.

Plaque given by the War Accident Insurance Office in recognition of a for one month. sucessful War Savings Campaign, ‘Salute the Soldier’ Week 1944.

Wartime Sport.

At the outbreak of war the government issued an order closing all places of entertainment and outdoor sports meetings due to the expected air raids. This order was rescinded soon after and sports continued on a limited basis through the war. It became increasingly difficult to find enough professional players to form teams, as many sportsmen volunteered or were ‘called up.’

Football.

In September 1939 the Football Association (FA) stated that all football (except inter-service matches) would be suspended 'until official notice to the contrary'. Later the Home Office agreed to allow a limited regional, league and cup programme, with attendance limited to 15,000 people (8,000 in evacuation areas). Some home internationals did take place and also inter-service matches and football, as ever, remained a very popular and morale boosting sport. Arsenal's Highbury ground was used as an Air Raid Precautions (ARP) centre and the team had to share Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane ground. At the start of the war Tottenham were playing in the Second Division. Tottenham Hotspur played in the WW2 Regional League South, from 1940 to1945, along with Arsenal and West Ham.

Left: The hugely popular peace-time Football Pools had to be abandoned, but British Railways v French were later reintroduced Railways at with the name Unity Leytonstone.1939. Pools, based in the Littlewoods Building in Liverpool.

CrInic 193ket7. Clapton Orient FC moved to their current home in Leyton. By the end of the war the club was in financial trouble and a fighting fund was set up to alleviate severe financial problems. The club’s name was also changed again, this time to Leyton Orient FC.

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War Bonds, Savings & Insurance. In 1940 all first-class cricket in England was cancelled; no first-class matches were played after Friday, 1st September 1939. Matches began again on Saturday 19th May 1945. Normal cricket fixtures did not resume until the opening of the 1946 season. Some effort was made to play cricket matches to help keep up morale, but it was unsurprisingly very difficult to get top class players. From 1941 onwards a few teams, such as the British Empire Eleven and the London Counties Eleven, did play matches, which raised money for war charities. Local matches at the Leyton ground would have been played and the ground would also have been used for school sports and athletics. The Oval Cricket Ground was requisitioned in 1939 for use as a prisoner of war camp, but no prisoners were actually imprisoned there. Lord’s Ground was also due for requisition, but it was spared and the MCC were able to stage some public schools matches and other games.

Lawn Tennis.

The War forced Wimbledon to be cancelled in 1940. On the 11th, October 1940, German planes dropped bombs on part of the Centre Court and the stands, destroying around 1,200 seats. Luckily no lives were lost. International tennis resumed in 1946, but the damaged seating remained and the grounds were not fully repaired until 1949.

Horse Racing.

The Derby has been run at Epsom in all years except during the war. From 1915 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1945 the Derby was run at Newmarket, the races being known as the 'New Derby'.

Football, Rugby & Cricket During Evacuation.

“Evacuation has interfered considerably with school football. The interesting list of fixtures prepared for this season has had to been abandoned, and we have had to content ourselves with a few odd fixtures hastily arranged since we reached Brentwood. Fortunately, Brentwood School possesses extensive playing fields, and the Headmaster has been able to arrange for every form to take part in organized games before morning school on one day a week and during school hours and on some part of Saturday morning. Inter form league tables have been arranged and there has been some keen competition”.

Leyton School Magazine January 1940.

“On Thursday 9th July (1943), a first Form XI of the evacuated portion of the School played an exciting cricket match against a Shenfield School XI at Shenfield. Shenfield were all out for 44, giving the School a victory by 20 runs. A match was also played against a team picked from the Brentwood School 1st Form. Brentwood made 131 for 6 wickets declared. Our reply was 34 and 30. Brentwood thus won by an innings and 67 runs.”

Leyton School Magazine July 1943.

Houses in Leyton & Leytonstone in the 1940s.

The interior of most houses would have been similar in style to the 1930s, as it was almost impossible to buy such things as wallpaper, curtains (other than Black-out), rugs and even furniture without ‘points’. The Victorian style of lots of paintings, photographs and ornaments had become out of fashion and in the1930s a room with less clutter was in favour. In the 1940s house provision would have been made for dealing with incendiary bombs. This would have entailed leaving a bucket of water and a stirrup pump in the hall or on

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the upstairs landing. A sandbag was also a good way of putting out a blazing incendiary bomb.

Looking along Dyers Hall Road, Leyton in the winter of 1942 – 43. Black and white stripes have been painted on the trees, in order to make them more visible in the blackout.

Above left: An air raid shelter can be seen here at Harley House, Hainault Road, Leytonstone in 1942 – 43.(Note the ‘War Savings’ poster on the pillar-box). Above right: Essex Mansions, Essex Road, Leyton 1942 – 43. (Note the ARP sign on the wall).

Rear of houses in Holloway Road, Leytonstone (looking east).

Left: Cavendish House, 669 High Road, Leyton, 1944. (The sign reads: ‘Cars Garaged from 4 shillings a week’). Right: Windows broken, but still living in their home (unknown address) in Leyton. Damaged roofs were often given a temporary repair of a tarpaulin stretched across beams, at least making the house habitable.

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the upstairs landing. A sandbag was also a good way of putting out a blazing incendiary bomb. Iron railings were collected from private houses and parks, by order from May 1940 onwards, to be used as scrap metal for the war effort. In reality much of it remained unused, rusting in scrapyards. Teams of workmen removed the iron railings, often using sledgehammers.

The Hall.

In most houses as you entered the front door there was a hall-stand to hang hats and coats (and gas masks). It was made of wood and often fitted with a mirror and space to stand umbrellas and baskets. The stairs were usually covered by stair-carpet (to keep the noise down), held in place by either stair rods or brackets. The handrail and the balusters were normally of polished wood, with a small cupboard under the stairs used for storage.

Left: Hall and staircase. Right: Upstairs landing.

The Sitting Room.

The basic ‘Sitting Room’ or ‘Front Room’ would have probably had a three piece suite and a standard lamp, centred around a coal fire burning in a grate, within a tiled surround and mantelpiece. A coal scuttle, poker, tongs, brush and shovel were all essential to the coal fire. When coal became rationed in July 1941, families were restricted to 50 hundredweight a year. Some people attempted to make a briquette, using coal dust, water and earth or even sawdust. The result was dubious with little heat being given off. It would be seventeen years until coal was, at last, taken off ration in June 1958. Old paraffin stoves were also brought out of garden sheds and cupboards to be used again, until paraffin supplies became difficult to obtain. Electric fires were becoming more common in the 1940s and were often fitted into the fire-place. In winter clothes were often hung on a clothes-horse, in front of the fire to dry.

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The family sitting room in 1939. The house in Lancaster Road was destroyed by a bomb in 1940. (In an album of photographs donated to Vestry House Museum) the upstairs landing. A sandbag was also a good way of putting out a blazing incendiary bomb.

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Left: Lusty Lloyd Loom furniture was very popular in Britain in the 1930s. The range included tables, chairs, and baby carriages and even fitted kitchen interiors. However the factory was bombed on the 7th September 1940 completely destroying the building and over twenty thousand items of stock. Right: Enjoying a cup of tea in the sitting room, September 1940.

Left: Playing the piano in the evening. Right: Some people slept under the piano during an air raid, thinking that it at least offered some shelter from falling debris.

Right: Most windows would have been Right: Black-out prepared for air raids material was available with Splinternet tape for sale from stores which offered some such as Lidstones protection to bomb Drapery Store and was blast. All windows had un-rationed. Off-cuts of either Black-out Black-out material were occasionally curtains, which were drawn in the evenings, used for making or were covered by pinafores and cushion wooden boards. covers.

Advice on window protection from Wills’ cigarette cards.

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The floor may have been bare polished floorboards, covered with rugs. Linoleum, also known as ‘Lino’, was a floor covering made from solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), pine resin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and

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mineral fillers, typically in bold geometric patterns. Home-made Rag-rugs were popular. These were made from any scraps of worn out fabric old clothing and bedding that could be found. Instructions were published to show it was possible to make a footstool from ten empty Golden Syrup tins, covered in moquette - if you could find the tins. Wallpaper would have probably been either a floral or geometric design, with a picture rail a couple of feet from the whitewashed ceiling. Paint was often something called distemper, a mixture of chalk and water, thickened with rabbit glue. Sometimes a coloured pattern of sorts was achieved on walls by stippling a second colour with a damp rag. Doors, skirting boards and window frames would have been painted with an oil-based paint, green and cream and brown and cream being very popular colour combinations. Window pelmets (a narrow piece of fabric or board fitted above a window for decoration and to hide the curtain rail) were sometimes fitted; additionally wooden Venetian Blinds, painted dark green in Warner’s Houses, were used.

WD & HO Wills cigarette card on how to equip your refuge room and keep occupied during an air raid.

Left: An evening writing letters, in September1940. (Note the Black-out material covering the window). Right: Home entertainment in the1940s included reading, writing letters and listening to the wireless.

For entertainment there may have been a piano and a wireless (radio) and a bookcase. The six o’clock news broadcast from the BBC was the chief source of war information, and instructions from the various Ministries. Most families would have spent their evenings listening to the wireless or playing gramophone records. Reading and writing letters was important, as there were few homes with a telephone. Reading books and newspapers and doing the daily crossword puzzle were all as popular as ever. Jigsaw puzzles, playing cards and board games such as chess were other ways of spending free time. Women would also have used the room for mending clothes, sewing and knitting. It was important to ‘Make do and Mend’, after clothes rationing was introduced in June 1941, and old clothes were often taken apart to provide material for something new. Women were also urged to ‘Knit Woollies for the Troops’.

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Left: A quiet evening at home reading a good book would frequently be interrupted by the wail of the air raid siren. Right: Relaxing at home after a hard day’s work. (From an album of photographs donated to Vestry House Museum)

A 1940s The wind-up Gramophone gramophone played player. 78rpm discs which were (Author’s easily scratched or photograph) broken. (Author’s photograph)

Popular records of the 1940s included (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’, sung by Vera Lynn. ‘Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree’, by Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters. Also ‘Run Rabbit, Run' and 'Underneath the Arches,' both performed by Flanagan and Allen. ‘White Christmas’ by Bing Crosby was one of the biggest selling records of all-time.

The Dining Room.

Most meals would have been eaten in the Dining Room sitting on wooden chairs at a dining-room table covered by a white linen tablecloth. From April 1941 for those people without a garden, an interior table shelter, called a 'Morrison', became available, which when not in use doubled as a dining room-table.

Left: The householder enjoying her breakfast in 1940. (From an album of photographs donated to Vestry House Museum) Right: Kitchen (Author’s photograph)

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The Kitchen (or Scullery).

The main difference between a modern and a 1940s kitchen would have been the absence of a washing machine or refrigerator. Food would have been stored in the pantry, or in warm weather perhaps a meat safe. Milk was still being delivered daily by the milkman or more often the ‘milk-woman’. In hot weather it was stood in a bowl of cold water, perhaps covered by a flowerpot, in an attempt to stop it ‘going off’. Both food and fuel rationing affected activity in the kitchen. Bacon, ham, cooking fat, butter and sugar were the first foods to be rationed in January 1940, with meat going ‘on the ration’ from March 1940. Washing was probably done at a ‘Butler’ sink or a ‘boiler’, and food cooked on a gas cooker or cooking range. Any saucepans made of aluminium would have been given up for the salvage campaign and what few pots and pans were left were probably well used. There may also have been a kitchen cabinet with storage space for dry food, plates and bowls and a drawer for cutlery. If space permitted there was of course a wooden kitchen table. Storage canisters in bright enamel were available in a wide range of colours such as white, cream, green or bright red. In larger kitchens, canisters sat on countertops rather than being hidden in the pantry.

Right: Very few people had washing machines in the 1940s and ironing was still done with traditional flat irons, although both electric and gas powered irons were available.

Most kitchens had enamel breadbins, cake stands, a brown tea pot (often with a home-made tea cosy) and a tea strainer. Tea and sugar were both on ration, and coffee, if you could get it, was usually the bottled ‘Camp’ variety. ‘Camp Coffee’ was a liquid consisting of water with a 4% caffeine-free coffee essence; it also had sugar and chicory essence.

The Bedrooms.

The main bedroom would have had twin beds, rather than a double with bedside table and lamp, two wardrobes and perhaps a dressing table with mirror. Colourful satin eiderdowns that covered the entire bed were very popular for those that could afford them. Rubber hot-water bottles quickly disappeared from the shops and grandparents’ Victorian ceramic hot-water bottles were sought out. Floral wallpaper and rugs were usual, as was a ceramic chamber pot. In 1942 the Utility Furniture Scheme was introduced and a utility bedroom suite became available. The emphasis was on good quality and economical use of materials. There were 22 items of furniture made in three designs and two qualities. In the children’s bedroom would have been a single bed, a bedside table, wardrobe and a box for toys. Toys soon became more difficult to obtain as the war progressed. Books, board games and comics with wartime themes were very popular. Bedding, towels, and perhaps Christmas stockings, were stored in an airing cupboard.

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Double bed with Bedroom Eiderdown dressing table cover. and mirror.

The Bathroom.

In the1940s an indoor toilet and bathroom were still quite a luxury. Many families still relied on a tin bath in front of the fire or in the kitchen for their weekly bath. A maximum of five inches (12.5 cm) of hot water was allowed for a bath, the idea being to save heating water. In some families this meant several people using the same bathwater, one after the other! The toilet was often located outside in the back yard and probably had no electric light. Toilet paper also became difficult to obtain. Both soap and shampoo were rationed from 1942. People were advised to keep a First Aid kit handy in the bathroom to treat minor cuts and bruises caused by the bombing.

Utility furniture.

Utility furniture was introduced in 1942. It offered well designed no frills furniture at a reasonable price. Items such as dressing-tables, wardrobes, chest of drawers, tables and chairs were all produced, in polished wood, with upholstered armchairs also available. The Utility Furniture Scheme continued into post-war austerity and lasted until 1952. You were given a choice of two qualities and three different designs. The same logo was used for Utility . Furniture as had been developed for the Utility clothing scheme: two capital letters C's and the figure 41, for "Controlled Commodity 1941" This soon became known as "The Two Cheeses".

The Mayoress of Leyton, Councillor Rayner, with members of the Leyton Women’s Voluntary Society (WVS), seen here distributing some of the household utensils sent from the good-hearted sympathizers of Skegness, Cleethorpes and Lindsey. Also four tons of furniture sent from Lincolnshire which had

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adopted Leyton under the WVS national scheme.

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Help for those whose houses were hit.

The Leyton WVS organizer recalled:

“As soon as a bomb dropped I had to wait by the phone for the Medical Officer to let me know where it had dropped and what services he wanted, how many people were homeless and all that sort of thing. And then from that I used to call out the WVS services at different centres in the Borough. All the volunteers would be waiting for my call. I didn’t have a telephone before the war. I think that the Council put that in when I took over the WVS”.

For those bombed out there were the rest centres.

“There were people on call. As soon as anything happened, they would go to the nearest rest centre to the bombing and open it up. They had food sent up from the schools where food was cooked. We had mattresses brought in for them to bed down on at night, and they could stay a couple of days… We also had the Housewives’ Service to help them. It involved quite a number of people – about a hundred, I should think. They would help clear one room so they could live in it and we could see what they wanted in the way of furniture we’d been sent from Lincolnshire. The women who helped with this got very dirty, going into these places trying to clear them up. They didn’t get protective clothing provided. In fact they had to pay for their own uniforms”.

“We used to let the Civil Defence know, and they’d send the feeding unit to us. We used to have to put it up. They used to come and take it away again when we’d done with it. In a particularly bad bombing we might have a feeding centre up for a week. We also had a mobile feeding unit – the one that was sent from the States. They didn’t travel round the streets all the time though, we would call it up to go to a certain place whilst it was needed”.

Here we can see the Day Nursery in Ellingham Road, Leyton in 1942.

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“A woman cannot be expected to pull her weight in a factory, if she is worrying about her children all day.”

After many mothers with young children complained that they were unable to help the war effort, the Government began to make more nursery places available. By July 1943 some 1,245 Government sponsored nursery places had been made available to woman working in factories.

British Restaurants.

Originally called 'Community Feeding Centres', the name British Restaurants was picked by the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. British Restaurants were set up to provide value for money, nourishing meals. The food was a trifle bland but importantly off-ration and for 9d customers could get a hot three-course hot

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Help for those whose houses were hit. meal. They could also function as emergency feeding stations in the event of enemy action. People, who had been bombed out of their homes would at least receive cooked dinners and tea.

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Help for those whose houses were hit.

The British Restaurant in Holy Trinity Church Hall, Birkbeck Road, Leytonstone.1942 – 43

Above left: The British Restaurant in High Road, Leyton, 1942. The sign reads (Cookery) Demonstrations on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 3pm. Above right: Catering staff at the ready, inside the British Restaurant located at the Bakers Arms.

Three British Restaurants opened in Leyton. The first was in 1941, at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Birkbeck Road. This was followed in 1942 by one in the High Road. The third, at the request of the Ministry of Labour, was in Lea Bridge Road and mostly catered for factory workers from adjacent industrial areas. By 1943, there were some 2,160 British Restaurants around the country, serving around 600,000 meals daily. Nothing was wasted - any food not consumed would be placed into pig-bins, to be collected and distributed to pig breeders. The Birkbeck restaurant was closed in April 1944 and the following year the other two were also shutdown.

The Chief Cook at the British Restaurant in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton.

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Emergency Feeding Centres.

Emergency Feeding Centres were set up to cater for the needs of the civilian population immediately following a heavy air raid. Five were provided for Leyton and Leytonstone at Canterbury Road Elementary School, Cowley Hall in Cowley Road, Goodall Road Elementary School, Church Road Elementary School, Capworth Street Elementary School and Norlington Road School.

Left: The Women’s Voluntary Service members Emergency Feeding Unit Exercise at Tom Hood School in August 1942.

In addition some mobile feeding centres were set up to supplement the existing centres and to provide support in exceptional circumstances. (They could also be used in the event of the destruction of the static centre by bomb damage.) Leyton & Leytonstone had three such centres, N°17, N°18 and N°19.

The Local Defence Volunteers and the Home Guard.

After the fall of France, Britain seemed almost certain to face invasion. A force entitled ‘Local Defence Volunteers’ or LDV was set up to help meet the threat. The LDV was open to all men aged between 16 and 65 who had fired a rifle and were ‘capable of free movement’. At the express wish of the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and despite one million 'LDV' armbands having already been printed, the name was changed to ‘The Home Guard’. From the outset they were hampered by a lack of weapons. A short-term suggestion was to have bayonets welded to steel poles forming a Pike. One can imagine the poor Home Guard volunteer, on his own guarding some strategic building, armed with such a weapon and half expecting to encounter a fully armed German parachutist. Luckily, it seems that even though many were made, none were ever actually issued. As time went on rifles form America did start to arrive, packed in

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thick grease – left over from WW1. Quantities of M1917 Enfield rifles were purchased for the Home Guard, but unfortunately they used an American 0.30 inch round, (which was a totally different type of ammunition

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from the 0.303 round used by the British Lee–Enfield rifle). Gradually weapons such as the Lewis machine- gun and Mills Bombs were issued.

Above left: N°4 Platoon Home Guard Head Quarters was located at the Electricity Offices,Cathall Road, Leytonstone. Right: N°4 Platoon ‘B’ Company, 35th City of London (Hackney) Battalion. (The Home Guard magazine, dated December 1941.)

The Home Guard parade at their local football ground sometime in 1942 – 43. They formed part of at a display held to raise money for the war effort.

Above right: Home Guard, lapel badge, marked with the dates 1941 – 43. These badges would be worn when wearing civilian clothing, denoting the wearer was a member of the Home Guard and involved with the war effort. (Author’s photograph)

The Home Guard worked diligently on anti-aircraft sites, guarded airfields, bridges, coastal areas and many other important places such as munitions factories and explosives stores. In late 1944 it was decided to ‘stand down’ the Home Guard, and then in December 1945 disband it entirely. A number of men resented being ‘stood down’ while the war continued, but the threat for which they had been formed, German invasion, had long since disappeared. A celebratory parade through central London finally marked the end of the Home Guard.

PoWs .

A Prisoner of War Camp was constructed on Wanstead Flats, within the area bordered by Centre Road, Lakehouse Road and Dames Road. It was home to a large number of, first Italian, then later German,

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prisoners during the war, Prisoners were initially housed in Nissen huts, but due to bomb damage to the area some were also held captive in tents on Tower Hamlets Road.

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British Servicemen held in Prisoner of War camps in Germany did receive both letters and parcels from home, via the Red Cross. This group of prisoners have acquired a few musical instruments with which to entertain their fellow inmates.

Photograph of British soldiers held as Prisoner of War in Germany. (Sent to Mrs G. Richardson, of Leyton).

Handmade Christmas cards sent home by Syd Richardson a Prisoner of War in Germany. (Items donated to Vestry House Museum)

The Electric Wire Works.

London Electric Wire Co. & Smith’s Ltd, Church Road, Leyton, was known locally as the ‘Wireworks’ or ‘Lewco’. It manufactured wires for heating airmen's flying suits, for aircraft and communications and for aircraft degaussing strips which were used to combat the magnetic mines dropped by parachute over estuaries and coastal shipping lanes. To maintain crucial war supplies the Ministry of Aircraft Production insisted that the company transfer 30% of its entire production to a subsidiary factory, and to have each process at the Leyton site carried out in two places. Around two hundred employees of the London Electric Wire Company lost their homes in air raids. To commemorate the destruction of the original factory on 16th October 1940 a memorial stone was placed into the wall of the new building. “We were engaged upon work of vital importance. With our small dispersal factory at Edmonton we produced over 31,000,000 miles of insulated wire for the equipping of warships, torpedoes, tanks, aircraft, guns and many essential weapons of modern warfare. For delicate precision apparatus we manufactured thousands of miles of superfine insulated wire, some of it smaller than the diameter of a human hair, a whole mile weighing no more than a quarter of an ounce”. “Our premises occupy a fourteen acre site, the actual space taken up by workshops and offices being eight acres. They are set in a crowded industrial district. Within one mile of the gasworks of the Lea Bridge District

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Gas Company, waterworks and filter beds of the Metropolitan Water Board, Hackney power station and the L.N.E.R marshalling yards at Temple Mills, all legitimate enough targets for the enemy’s bombs.” Extract from ‘Every Kind of Bomb’. London Electric Wire Co. & Smith’s Ltd. 1945

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Photographed in 1941 a group of factory workers, including Hilda Foreman, pose outside The Electric Wire Works, Church Road, Leyton.

Other Leyton & Leytonstone Factories.

Aquascutum manufactured military trench coats using waterproof fabrics, which were worn by soldiers of all ranks. City Knitwear, Fingal Works, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton. Manufactured knitted garments.

George Dawson & Sons Ltd, clothing factory in Church Road, Leyton.

Leytonstone Jig &Tool Co. Ltd, Church Road, Leyton manufactured radio and radar components for military vehicles such as tanks. Paths & Ways Ltd, Forest Drive East, Leytonstone. Constructed air raid shelters and camp roads and through its subsidiary company Duraline Ltd produced special white paint that made the lines clearer on the road during the blackout. R Spurden Rutt, High Road, Leyton worked for the Admiralty and Air Ministry and invented, patented and manufactured the Rutt Air Pressure controller, used for testing aero petrol tanks. This was installed by Rutt at many of the major petrol tank factories. Thermos moved to a Leyton factory from Tottenham in 1938, but closed in 1961, when the company moved to Brentwood. Wilclean Engineering Co. Ltd, Wilmot Road, Leyton. Produced aircraft pressure parts, tank components and water tank filters for the desert.

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Fitting 1 pint flasks with caps, at the Thermos factory in Leyton (undated).

Photograph of staff grouped outside The City Knitwear, Fingal Works, in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton. c1937.

Machinists at George Dawson & Sons Ltd, factory in Church Road, Leyton in the late 1940s.

Prefabs.

The loss of thousands of homes due to enemy action led to the Government introducing ‘Prefabs’, prefabricated sectional bungalows, that were easy to build and economical. They were designed with a bathroom and inside toilet, which many homes lacked in the 1940s. They proved to be very popular with inhabitants, who made gardens and planted flower-beds. In Leyton a special committee was formed to consider emergency housing and a number of areas of land were identified including Claude Road, Murchison Road, and Whipps Cross. The first batch of Prefabs arrived in January 1945. Over twenty years later some people were still reluctant to move when rehoused by the local authorities.

Left: Residents living in these Leyton Prefabs get to work on their garden. Right: The Nissan Hut settlement in Epping Forest.

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Two views of Oliver Close Prefab Estate, in 1961. Note the air raid shelter in the left hand photograph which has been turned into a garden shed.

Two views of the Prefab Estate on Porter’s Field, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton in 1961.

VE Day and Street Parties.

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Victory in Europe Day party, at Vicarage Road, Leyton on the 8 May 1945. (The Guardian Newspaper).

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Above: Another view of Vicarage Road, Leyton VE Day celebrations.

Left: Onra-Road, Leyton. (Guardian Newspaper). Right: The Leyton Mayor & Mayoress (Mr & Mrs B.G. Rayner) attending a Leyton VE day street party.

The Leyton Mayor (Alderman B.G. Rayner J.P.), among children of Dawlish Road, Leyton, celebrating VE Day.

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Left A street party in Coopers Lane, Leyton.

Left: Bearman’s Ltd, Department Store, salute to the Gallant British & Allied Services. Right: VE Day party in Samson Road, Leyton.

Peace Tea held at Elsham Road, Leytonstone.

VE Day at Lytton Road in Leytonstone.

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Leyton Town Hall illuminated again after five years of war, for VE Day.

VJ Day August 1945.

Left: Leyton Town Hall decorated once again, this time for VJ Day. Right: Leyton Baths decorated for VJ Day.

VJ party held at Whipps Cross, Leytonstone. The makeshift stage built for children at Leybourne Road, Leytonstone.

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Street party held at Leybourne Road, Leytonstone to celebrate VJ Day.

Celebrations were held around the world on 15 August 1945, the day which had been declared ‘Victory in Japan Day’. Thousands braved the rain to watch King George VI and the Queen driven down the Mall in an open carriage. Speaking on the BBC at 9 o’clock that evening, the King addressed the nation and the Empire in broadcast from his study at Buckingham Palace.

"Our hearts are full to overflowing, as are your own. Yet there is not one of us who has experienced this terrible war who does not realise that we shall feel its inevitable consequences long after we have all forgotten our rejoicings today." BBC Broadcast by the by King George VI.

Alderman A.E. Rayner J.P. and Alderman A.E. Bechervaise enjoying themselves at a giant children’s party at the Leyton County Ground. The event was made possible by a £1000.00 gift from the people of South Africa. Holding the pony’s head is the South African High Commissioner. 8th September 1945. (Express Newspaper).

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Thanksgiving Service held at the Leyton Orient Football Club ground, in 1945. (Guardian Newspaper).

Appendix N°1. Record of incidents in the E.10 postal district plotted on the Leyton ‘Bomb Map’.

BOMB MAP / PINS AND LETTERS : HE = High Explosive Bombs COB = Oil and Phosphorus Bombs INC = Incendiaries UXB = Unexploded Bomb LM = Land mines PHOS = Phosphorus Bombs

Date No. LOCATION TYPE 25/08/1940 1 WELLINGTON ROAD HE 04/09/1940 7 SEYMOUR ROAD INC 04/09/1940 8 ELM PARK ROAD HE 04/09/1940 9 KETTLEBASTON ROAD HE 04/09/1940 10 LEA BRIDGE RD playing fields HE 04/09/1940 11 LEA BRIDGE RD playing fields HE 04/09/1940 13 LEA BRIDGE RD on factory HE 04/09/1940 14 LEA BRIDGE RD playing fields HE uxb 04/09/1940 15 ROACHDALE ROAD INC 05/09/1940 16 BELVEDERE ROAD INC 05/09/1940 17 CLYDE PLACE INC 05/09/1940 18 ABBOTS PARK nr rec ground INC 05/09/1940 21 LEA BRIDGE RD factory near station HE 06/09/1940 22 LEYTON MARSH NR LEA DOCK HE x3 08/09/1940 35 JAMES LANE rear gardens HE 08/09/1940 38 HIGH ROAD junction WILMOT RD COB 08/09/1940 41 ALBERT ROAD rear gardens HE x2 08/09/1940 135 FRANCIS ROAD junction CLAUDE RD HE 08/09/1940 136 OLIVER ROAD junction WILMOT RD COB 08/09/1940 137 MURCHISON RD & ALBERT RD HE X2 08/09/1940 138 DAWLISH RD HE 09/09/1940 141 LEA BRIDGE waterworks HE x2

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11/09/1940 159 LEA BRIDGE waterworks HE x2 12/09/1940 81 LEYTON MARSH north of lane HE 14/09/1940 169 LEA BRIDGE Rd junction SHRUBLAND UAA

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14/09/1940 170 LEA BRIDGE RD junction ALBANY UAA 14/09/1940 171 MARSH LANE west side UAA 14/09/1940 172 CAPWORTH STREET near ALL SAINTS Church UAA 15/09/1940 176 COLCHESTER ROAD rear gardens UAA 16/09/1940 118 SALCOMBE RAD HE 16/09/1940 119 FARMILO ROAD COB 16/09/1940 126 LEYTON MARSH n of lane COB 16/09/1940 128 JAMES LANE EAA 16/09/1940 129 CHELTENHAM ROAD EAA 16/09/1940 182 COLCHESTER ROAD rear gardens UAA 16/09/1940 185 SEYMOUR ROAD factory estate UAA 16/09/1940 188 SALCOMBE ROAD HE x2 17/09/1940 191 HAINAULT RD goods depot UAA 17/09/1940 193 LAMMAS ROAD South of station HE 18/09/1940 199 CAVENDISH RD railway sidings HE 18/09/1940 200 ALBERT ROAD east side HE UXB 18/09/1940 201 ELEY ROAD nr bus garage HE 18/09/1940 203 ST MARY'S churchyard UAA 19/09/1940 206 LEYTON MARSH nr lane HE x4 19/09/1940 209 SOPHIA ROAD EAA 21/09/1940 217 GROVE ROAD nr COLLEGE RD LM x2 23/09/1940 238 LINDLEY ROAD nr S.ARMY CITDL HE 23/09/1940 239 BREWSTER ROAD HE 23/09/1940 243 FARMER ROAD HE 23/09/1940 244 ESSEX County Cricket Ground COB 23/09/1940 254 LEA BRIDGE RD nr ROCHDALE RD EAA 23/09/1940 255 HAINAULT RD goods depot UAA 24/09/1940 267 LEA BRIDGE waterworks HE x6 24/09/1940 268 LEYTON MARSH w of railway HE x3 24/09/1940 270 LEA BRIDGE RD w of station HE 26/09/1940 278 WATERLOO ROAD HE 26/09/1940 279 ROACHDALE ROAD COB 26/09/1940 280 LEA HALL ROAD COB 26/09/1940 281 MALTA ROAD rear gardens HE 27/09/1940 288 CHESTERFIELDS ROAD EAA 30/09/1940 297 THORNHILL ROAD HE 02/10/1940 305 MARKHOUSE ROAD nr SYBOURN RD COB 04/10/1940 321 CATERBURY ROAD HE 04/10/1940 325 MATLOCK ROAD HE 09/10/1940 360 LEYTON GREEN nr CHELTENHAM COB 09/10/1940 361 CHESTERFIELD RD junction EPSOM Road HE 09/10/1940 367 BORTHWICK ROAD HE 10/10/1940 371 CHURCH ROAD nr JUNCTION ROAD HE 10/10/1940 372 MARSH LANE playing fields UAA 10/10/1940 373 FARMER ROAD at 's' bend & school HE x6 10/10/1940 374 VICARGE ROAD junction BREWSTER HE 10/10/1940 375 LEA BRIDGE RD north of station HE x5 10/10/1940 376 BURWELL ROAD factory estate HE 11/10/1940 377 OLIVER ROAD junction WILMOT RD HE-COB 11/10/1940 379 COLCESTER RD HE x2 11/10/1940 380 VICARGE ROAD HE 11/10/1940 382 SOPHIA ROAD COB 11/10/1940 383 LEA BRIDGE RD railway & stadium HE x4 11/10/1940 384 LEA BRIDGE RD MARKHOUSE corner HE 12/10/1940 387 LEA BRIDGE STATION HE UXB 15/10/1940 399 CRESENT RD HE 15/10/1940 408 CAPWORTH STREET junction Bromley HE 15/10/1940 411 COLCHESTER ROAD nr High Rd HE 15/10/1940 415 MATLOCK ROAD nr ESSEX Rd HE 15/10/1940 417 HIGH ROAD corner LEYTON GREEN HE 16/10/1940 424 LEYTON MARSH near Lammas HE 16/10/1940 427 FLEMPTON RD factory estate HE 16/10/1940 428 CHURCH RD/LIWCOS WORKS LM 17/10/1940 431 GRANGE PARK RD HE x2 19/10/1940 444 LEA BRIDGE RD near GROVE RD HE x2

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19/10/1940 446 WILMOT RD COB 19/10/1940 447 CHURCH RD nr WILMOT COB 19/10/1940 448 LEA BRIDGE RD near 689 HE 19/10/1940 449 MERTON RD nr EAST SIDE HE 19/10/1940 450 KNOTTS GREEN open land HE 19/10/1940 451 NOTTINGHAM RD COB 19/10/1940 452 LEA BRIDGE RD junction MERTON HE 20/10/1940 458 VICARAGE ROAD (NORTHERN END) HE 21/10/1940 462 CHURCH ROAD FACTORY ESTATE HEx4 21/10/1940 463 GOLDSMITH ROAD EAA 21/10/1940 464 DAGENHAM Barking/Caribonum Works HEx2uxb 28/10/1940 475 ESSEX ROAD /GRIGGS ROAD HE 01/11/1940 476 HITCHAM ROAD HE 05/11/1940 486 CLAUD ROAD HE 05/11/1940 493 SCOTTS ROAD HE 05/11/1940 496 GOLDSMITH ROAD HE 05/11/1940 497 TENNYSON AVENUE HE 05/11/1940 498 ST MARY'S CHURCHYARD HE 05/11/1940 499 CHURCH ROAD /OLIVER ROAD HEx3 08/11/1940 506 LEA BRIDGE Waterworks He UXB 09/11/1940 533 IVE FARM SPORTS GROUND UAAx2 09/11/1940 534 THORNHILL ROAD EAA 10/11/1940 511 BURWELL ROAD HE 10/11040 555 LEYTON MARSH HE 12/11/1940 513 ONRA ROAD HE 12/11/1940 514 BURCHELL ROAD HE 12/11/1940 516 NORTHUMBERLAND ROAD HE 12/11/1940 515 VICARAGE ROAD (NORTHERN END) HE 12/11/1940 517 VICARAGE ROAD (CAPWORTH ST) HE 12/11/1940 518 KING STREET/ SOPHIA ROAD HE 12/11/1940 519 VICARAGE ROAD HE 12/11/1940 520 VICARAGE ROAD / LEA BRIDGE RD HEx2 15/11/1940 524 COLCHESTER ROAD HE 15/11/1940 525 CHESTERFIELD ROAD HEx2 15/11/1940 527 MATLOCK ROAD HEx2 15/11/1940 528 ABBOTS PARK ROAD HE 04/12/1940 553 LEYTON GREEN ROAD (North end) HE 11/01/1941 567 LEYTON MARSH LANE HE 12/01/1941 569 MATLOCK ROAD EAA 29/01/1941 591 STAFFORD ROAD HE 29/01/1941 592 BEACONSFIELD ROAD HE 29/01/1941 589 LAMMAS ROAD HE 29/01/1941 590 LEA BRIDGE ROAD (stadium) HE 19/03/1941 600 HIGH ROAD jnc CHURCH ROAD HE 20/03/1941 614 SANDERSTEAD ROAD HE 20/03/1941 622 LEA BRIDGE ROAD WEST OF STATION HE 17/04/1941 626 OVERTON ROAD HE 11/05/1941 634 DAGENHAM ROAD COB 11/05/1941 638 CHURCH ROAD SCHOOL INC 11/05/1941 639 CHURCH ROAD FACTORY ESTATE INC 11/05/1941 640 SEYMOUR ROAD INC 11/05/1941 644 OVERTON ROAD INC 30/07/1942 652 LEA BRIDGE ROAD EAA 17/01/1943 655 LEA BRIDGE ROAD (railway bridge) EAA 17/01/1943 656 SEYMOUR ROAD EAA 17/01/1943 657 CHURCH ROAD Etloe House UAA 17/01/1943 658 CHURCH ROAD SCHOOL GROUNDS EAA 17/01/1943 659 FLEMPTON RD factory estate EAA 19/05/1943 669 ESSEX CC PAVILLION EAA 20/10/1943 679 BLOXHALL ROAD nr LEA BRIDGE Rd UAA 20/10/1943 680 MANOR ROAD nr LEA BRIDGE ROAD EAA 19/02/1944 701 VICARAGE ROAD EAA 19/02/1944 702 SEYMOUR ROAD EAA 19/02/1944 703 BURWELL ROAD (Factory) EAA 19/02/1944 705 CHURCH ROAD/ PARK ROAD UAA

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19/02/1944 710 CHURCH ROAD EAA 19/02/1944 716 FARMILO ROAD PHOS 19/02/1944 719 FARMILO ROAD EAA 19/02/1944 722 ALBERT ROAD UAA 19/02/1944 724 FARMILO ROAD UAA 19/04/1944 735 CARNARVON ROAD HEx2 19/04/1944 736 LEA BRIDGE ROAD INCx2 19/04/1944 737 SYBOURNE STREET SCHOOL PHOS 19/04/1944 740 LEA BRIDGE ROAD HE 19/04/1944 741 MERTON ROAD near EAST SIDE HEx2 19/04/1944 742 LEA BRIDGE ROAD/ COPELAND HE 19/04/1944 747 LEA BRIDGE ROAD/ works 800-808 HE 19/04/1944 753 COLCHESTER ROAD/ ELEY ROAD EAA 21/06/1944 754 VERULAM AVENUE FLY 22/06/1944 755 IVE FARM SPORTS GROUND FLY 26/06/1944 756 LEYTON GREEN BUS GARAGE FLY 30/06/1944 758 KING EDWARD ROAD FLY 09/07/1944 763 CLAUD ROAD (northern end) FLY 14/07/1944 764 CHELTENHAM ROAD FLY 18/07/1944 765 ARGALL AVENUE/ BLACK PATH FLY 21/07/1944 767 LEYTON MARSH near WATERWORKS FLY 22/07/1944 768 LONGFELLOW ROAD FLY 24/07/1944 770 LEA HALL ROAD FLY 29/07/1944 774 FARMILO ROAD FLY 04/08/1944 781 THORNHILL ROAD/ HIGH ROAD FLY 08/08/1944 783 CLAUDE ROAD (northern end) FLY 17/08/1944 785 THORNHILL ROAD (At High Road) FLY 01/12/1944 792 HUXLEY ROAD ROCKET 17/12/1944 793 LEA BRIDGE ROAD SMITH'S WORKS ROCKET 06/03/1945 803 MERTON ROAD / COLLEGE ROAD ROCKET 16/03/1945 804 MURCHISON ROAD/ ALBERT ROAD ROCKET

Two members of the Bomb Disposal squad outside the A Bomb disposal Squad of Royal Engineers were based newly built, Walthamstow Town Hall. Examples of in the fortified basement of Walthamstow Town Hall, defused incendiary and High explosive bombs (including November 1940. 500 and 1000 kilogram), dropped by the Luftwaffe can be seen

Appendix N°2. Record of Air Raid Casualties and Damage to Property 30th April 1940 to 6th April 1945

Local Fatal Serious Slight Total Authority

Chingford 89 209 331 629

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Leyton 423 879 1297 2599 Walthamstow 301 799 2034 3134

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Damage to Demolished Minor Slight Total Property Damage Damage Houses Involved* Chingford 369 1131 9738 11238

Leyton 1757 6350 19831 27938 Walthamstow 1288 3707 25152 30147

*Note many houses were damaged more than once.

Leyton children wearing fancy- dress on VE Day.

Children from Oliver Road Leyton, celebrate VE Day.

Leyton & Leytonstone Historical and Vestry House Museum thank the following for giving permission to reproduce images and / or text in this publication: The East London Guardian series of newspapers, part of the Newsquest Group, for photographs which appeared in those newspapers; Leyton Sixth Form College for extracts from issues of the magazine of Leyton County High School for Boys; Imperial Brands plc for cards distributed in packets of cigarettes by W D & H O Wills; The Editor of Essex Life for an extract from an article ‘Street Memories of war-torn Leyton’ written by Frank Hardcastle and published in Essex Countryside;

Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop for the excerpt from an interview with Margaret Churcher; and

The Co-operative Press www.thenews.coop for the advertisement for 'If you are Blitzed' published by Reynolds News.

In 2009 and afterwards Vestry House Museum conducted, for an exhibition ‘Evacuation Then and Now’, some oral history interviews. Participants agreed that their memories may be shared with others.

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2 cheeses 39 asbestos in gas masks 8 Blyton, Enid 27 catapult 4 35 bus route 9 Assach 44 bomb damage 33 Cathall Road railway 15, bridge 43 78 revolutions per 37 Auckland Road 20 Bomb Map for 16 Cavendish House, 669 33 minute gramaphone Leyton and High Road, Leyton records Leytonstone A.R.P. 9-10, Auxiliary Fire Service 14 bombing targets 44 CC41 28, 18, 19, 39 20, 24, 31, 33, 45 A.R.P. post near 15 badge, ARP 10 Boundary Road 20 ceiling pike 11 Leytonstone High Road Midland railway station Action Committee 6 Baker, John 7 Boy Scouts 11, censorship 18 24 Age Exchange Theatre 26 Bank underground 29 breakfast table 37 Central Line extension 6 Company station under construction Air Production, Ministry 6 Barltrop, Robert 5 Brentwood 4 Centre Road 43 of air raid precautions 1, 8 barrage baloons 19 Brisbane Road 43 chamber pot 38 training football ground air raid shelters 5-7, Batemans Toy Shop 27 British Restaurants 40 cheeses, two 39 18-19, High, Street 33, 37, Walthamstow 45 air raid wardens 8, 9, bath 39 Brodie helmet 10 chicory essence 38 12, 19 air raid warning code 15 bathroom 39, bungalows 46 children 29 words 46 air raids 7, 18 bayonet 42 bunk beds 6-7 Christmas cards 26, 44 Air Sea Rescue 19 BBC 36 Burchell Road 20 Christmas time 25- 26 airing cupboard 38 Bearmans store 29, bus tickets 30 Church Road 42 49 Elementary School all clear 8 Bechervaise, 51 bus travel 3, 28 Church Road Fire 14, Alderman A E Station 15 Allen, Ronald E 12 bed wetting 2 Butler sink 38 Church Road, Leyton 44 allotments 23 bedrooms 38 Cadbury’s Dairy 3 Churcher, Margaret 29 Milk chocolate aluminium 38 bell for all clear 8 Camp coffee 38 Churchill, Winston 40 ambulance service 10, 14, billet, evacuation 2 Cann Hall Road 20 cinemas 18 22 ammunition 42 Bird’s Egg Substitute 26 Canterbury Road 42 City Knitwear 45, Elementary School 46 Anderson shelter 5 Birkbeck Road 41 cap, explosive in 4 Civil Defence 10, toy gun 20, 40 Andrews Sisters 37 biscuits 3 Capworth Street 42 Civil Nursing Reserve 22 Elementary School (CNR) apples 3 black and white 9 car travel 2 Clapton Orient Football 31 stripes Club Aquascutum 45 blackout 9, 28, card game 2 class prejudice 3 36 armament factories 44 Blake Hall Road 20 Carrier, Mr & Mrs 3 Claude Road 20, 46 Arsenal football club 31 Blitz 5, 11, carrots 23 Cleethorpes 39 15, 29 Arthur Askey 22 blockade 22 cart, plaything 4 clothes washing 38

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curtains 32-33 electricity station and 43 Fire Brigade 10, George Dawson & Sons 45, offices 14 Ltd 46 dairy products, storing 38 electricity, no supply 3 Fire Guard scheme 15 Gert and Daisy 23 to house Dames Road 43 Ellingham Road 40 fire service: see > Girl Guides 24 Fire Brigade dangerous play 4, 5 Ellund Styles, W 11 fire watchers 15 Golden Syrup 36 David Livingstone > Elsham Road 49 fire, domestic 39 Goodall Road 42 College: see Knotts hearth Elementary School Green Davies Lane School 12 Emergency Feeding 42 firewomen 15 gramaphones 37 Centre Dawlish Road 23, 48 emergency housing 46 first aid in the 39 Grange Park Road 16 home Dawson, George & Sons 45, 46 Emergency Medical 21 First Aid Party 11 Grange Road 20 Ltd Service day nursery 40 Emergency Water 15 First Aid Post 21 Green Man 20 Supply tanks neighbourhood decontamination 8 Enfield rifle 42 Flanagan and Allen 37 Green Man Pond, ARP 13 laundries and cleansing post near stations decorating homes 32-33 Enid Blyton’s ‘Sunny 27 Florence Road 15 Greetham, Rutland 3 Stories’ degaussing strips 44 enrolled vehicle, ARP 11 flying bomb: see > Group 7, ARP London 11 V1 Region Dig for Victory 3, 23 entertainment 31 flying suit, heated 44 hall in house 35 programme airman's dining room 37 Essex Countryside 5 football 31 Hall, Fire Brigade 14 magazine Superintendent distemper 36 Essex Mansions, 33 footstool 36 hand bells 8, 9 Essex Road, Leyton 1942 – 43 dogs and the ARP 19 evacuation 1-2, Foreman, Hilda 45 Hardcastle, Frank 5 24 domestic house 34 evacuation, children 4 Forest Drive East 45 Harley House, Hainault 33 brought back from Road, Leytonstone doodlebug: see V1 18 Express & 18 Francis Road 15 Harrington Road 20 Independent dressing table 39 factory worker, 40 fund raising 30 Harrow Green Fire 14 female Station Drill Hall 21 Fairmead Bottom, 20 Gainsborough 6 Harrow Green School 20 Epping Forest Bridge air shelter, Leytonstone Dunedin Road 15 fancy dress 30, games 36, Hayhurst, V 3 competitions 50 38 Duxford Museum 20 farm work 23, Gardener, H J 11 Heavy Rescue Squad 10 24 Dyers Hall Road 15 Farmilo Road 20 Gas Cleansing 21 helmet markings 11 Station Dyson Road 20 fatalities in Leyton 7 gas fuelled vehicles 27 helmet, Chief ARP 10 warden's Eagle Pond 20 feeding unit 40 gas mask 2, 5, helmet, synthetic 10 8 material education 1-2 female fire officers 15 gas works 18, High Road, Leyton 16 20, 44 egg substitute 26 filter beds, water 44 gasometer 18 high tea 23 eiderdown 39 Fingal Works 45, Geneva Gas 8 Hilda Howler 2 46 Protocol

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curtains 32-33 electricity station and 43 Fire Brigade 10, George Dawson & Sons 45, offices 14 Ltd 46 dairy products, storing 38 electricity, no supply 3 Fire Guard scheme 15 Gert and Daisy 23 to house Dames Road 43 Ellingham Road 40 fire service: see > Girl Guides 24 Fire Brigade dangerous play 4, 5 Ellund Styles, W 11 fire watchers 15 Golden Syrup 36 David Livingstone > Elsham Road 49 fire, domestic 39 Goodall Road 42 College: see Knotts hearth Elementary School Green Davies Lane School 12 Emergency Feeding 42 firewomen 15 gramaphones 37 Centre Dawlish Road 23, 48 emergency housing 46 first aid in the 39 Grange Park Road 16 home Dawson, George & Sons 45, 46 Emergency Medical 21 First Aid Party 11 Grange Road 20 Ltd Service day nursery 40 Emergency Water 15 First Aid Post 21 Green Man 20 Supply tanks neighbourhood decontamination 8 Enfield rifle 42 Flanagan and Allen 37 Green Man Pond, ARP 13 laundries and cleansing post near stations decorating homes 32-33 Enid Blyton’s ‘Sunny 27 Florence Road 15 Greetham, Rutland 3 Stories’ degaussing strips 44 enrolled vehicle, ARP 11 flying bomb: see > Group 7, ARP London 11 V1 Region Dig for Victory 3, 23 entertainment 31 flying suit, heated 44 hall in house 35 programme airman's dining room 37 Essex Countryside 5 football 31 Hall, Fire Brigade 14 magazine Superintendent distemper 36 Essex Mansions, 33 footstool 36 hand bells 8, 9 Essex Road, Leyton 1942 – 43 dogs and the ARP 19 evacuation 1-2, Foreman, Hilda 45 Hardcastle, Frank 5 24 domestic house 34 evacuation, children 4 Forest Drive East 45 Harley House, Hainault 33 brought back from Road, Leytonstone doodlebug: see V1 18 Express & 18 Francis Road 15 Harrington Road 20 Independent dressing table 39 factory worker, 40 fund raising 30 Harrow Green Fire 14 female Station Drill Hall 21 Fairmead Bottom, 20 Gainsborough 6 Harrow Green School 20 Epping Forest Bridge air shelter, Leytonstone Dunedin Road 15 fancy dress 30 games 36, Hayhurst, V 3 competitions 38 Duxford Museum 20 farm work 23, Gardener, H J 11 Heavy Rescue Squad 10 24 Dyers Hall Road 15 Farmilo Road 20 Gas Cleansing 21 helmet markings 11 Station Dyson Road 20 fatalities in Leyton 7 gas fuelled vehicles 27 helmet, Chief ARP 10 warden's Eagle Pond 20 feeding unit 40 gas mask 2, 5, helmet, synthetic 10 8 material education 1-2 female fire officers 15 gas works 18, High Road, Leyton 16 20, 44 egg substitute 26 filter beds, water 44 gasometer 18 high tea 23 eiderdown 39 Fingal Works 45, Geneva Gas 8 Hilda Howler 2 46 Protocol

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holidays 28 Johnson, Mr, artist 6 Leyton Baths 50 Maynard Road School, 3 Walthamstow Holloway Road, 33 'Just William’ stories 26-27 Leyton Bomb Map 16 Mayor of Leyton 26, Leytonstone by Richmal Crompton 39, 48 Holy Trinity Church 41 Kempson, Clare 3 Leyton bus garage 18 Mayville Road School 6, 15 Hall home entertainment 36 Kempson, Rene 3 Leyton football 24 meat 38 ground home furnishings 32-33 Kempson, V 3 Leyton High 4, 23, Medical Officer 40 School for Boys 32 Home Guard 4, 42, King Edward Road 20 Leyton Orient 31 messengers 11, 43 Football Club 24 1960-1961 home sickness 2 kitchen 38 Leyton Town Hall 11, Mickey Mouse gas 8 26 mask homing pigeons 19 Kitchen Front 23 Leytonstone 31 Midland Railway 15 Football Club Station, Leytonstone High Road hop picking 24 knitting 24, Leytonstone Jig 45 Midland Station and 15 25, &Tool Co. Ltd railway bridge, 36 Leytonstone High Road hopscotch game 4 Knotts Green 10-11 Leytonstone 17 milk cooler 38 Station Horlicks 3 L.D.V. : see Local > liberty bodice 2 milkman 38 Defence Volunteers horse racing 32 L.N.E.R. 44 Lincolnshire 39, Miller, Glenn 37 40 hospitals 21-22 Lakehouse Road 43 Lindsey 39 Mills bomb 43 hot water bottles 38 lamp, ARP warden's 9 lino (linoleum) 35-36 Ministry of Air 6 battery powered Production Housewives Service 40 Lancaster Road 34 Listones store 27, Ministry of Aircraft 44 35 Production housing, damage to 7 Langthorne Hospital 21 Liverpool Street 29 mobile canteen 40, railway station 42 identity card 2 larder 38 Livingstone > Montague Road 15 College: see Knotts Green imported goods 28 Lascelles Road 15 local authority 9 moquette 36 blackout regulations incendiary bombs 11, 13- Lea Bridge Gas 18, Local Defence 42 Morrison Shelter 7, 37 15, 32- Works 44 Volunteers 33 Incident Officer 10 Lea Bridge Road 20, London Co- 16 Morrison, Herbert 7 29, operative Society 45, 46 injuries, total in Leyton 7 Lea Bridge Station 17 London Electric 44-45 mother, working 40 Wire Company insurance 31 Lea Hall Fire Fighters 13 lookouts 19 moths 30 interior design 32-33 Lee Enfield rifle 42-43 Lusty Lloyd Loom 35 motoring 27- 28 iron railings 34 Lend a Hand on the 24 Lynn, Vera 37 Munich crisis 8 Land ironing clothes etc 38 letter writing 36 machine gun 43 Murchison Road 46 Izod, N 21 Lewco 44-45 Make Do and 29-30 Murphy, Leading 15 Mend Fireman Jig &Tool Co, 45 Leybourne Road 50, Mallnitz 44 National Fire Service 14 Leytonstone 51

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John Bull 9 Leyton and 22 marshalling yards: > National Service for 22 Leytonstone War see Temple Mills women Memorial Ward at Connaught Hospital

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Nevill's bakery, ARP 15 picture rail 36 railway station 9 Ruckholt Road 20 post names obliterated Newport Road School 17 pigeons 19 railway travel 2, 3, Ruckholt Road School 15, 4, 29 26 night watchman 10 pike, ceiling 11 raisins 4 rucksack 3 Nissen hut 43 pike, weapon 42 range, cooking 38 Run, rabbit, run song 37 Norfolk 3 plane crash near 20-21 ration book 2, 22 Rutt, Spurden 45 Harrow Green Norlington Road School 42 poison gas 5 rationing 22 safety, lack of 4 consciousness of Northover & Sons 18 pony 51 rattle, hand 5, 8, 'Salute the Soldier’ 31 9 Week 1944 nursery, children's 40 'pools', football 31 Rayner, Alderman 51 salvage 30 A E Oakham, Rutland 3 Porters Field 47 Rayner, Alderman 26, Salvage Stewards 30 B G 39, 48 Oliver Close 47 Porter's Shoot 23 Rayner, Mrs V B, 48 Samson Road 49 Mayoress Oliver Road Cottages 14 Post Office Savings 31 reading as a 37 Samson, Auxiliary Fire 15 Bank domestic activity Service Officer Onra Road 48 postcards 3 recycling 24, sand, layer in house loft 13 30 outbreak of war 1 Potato Pete 23-24 Red Cross 4, 22, sandbags 32- 44 33 Oval cricket ground 32 potato picking 23 Reeves, P J 3 Savoy cinema 18 packing for evacuation 2 PoWs 43 refrigerator 38 school sports 32 pantry 38 prefabs, houses 46 refuge room 36 schools 1-2 parachute bomb 15 preparations for war 8, 9 refugees 24 scrap metal 34 paraffin lamps 3 Prisoners of War, 44 Rescue Squad 10, scullery 38 British 18 Paths & Ways Ltd 45 Prisoners of War, 43 respirators, gas: see > seaside 4 enemy gas masks PDSA: see People’s > protective clothing 40 rest centre 40 secondhand 29 Dispensary for Sick Animals pelmets, window 36 pump: see stirrup > re-use 30 shampoo 39 pump penknife 4 R Spurden Rutt 45 Richardson, Mrs G 44 Sheephatch Camp, 26 Farnham Surrey People’s Dispensary for 19 radio, announcement 1 Richardson, Syd 44 shelter, air raid 5 - 6 Sick Animals that Britain at war Perkins Garage, High 27 radio, domestic 36 rifle 42 shelter, trench 1 Road, Leyton Peterborough Road 17 rag rugs 36 Ritz cinema 19 Sherratt, Linsay 4 petrol rationing 27-28 rags and bones 30 road accidents 9 sink, kitchen 38 pets 19 rail travel accidents 9 rockets 19 sitting room 34 phone: see telephone > railway marshalling > Rose Valley 4 Skegness 39 yards: see Temple Mills

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skipping game 4 Temple Mills 20, Tyndall Road 20 War Savings 33 44 skirting boards 36 tennis 32 underground 6, 29 War Savings Campaign 31 railway system Smart. Fire Brigade 14 Territorial Army 21 Underneath the 37 War Weapons Week 24 Officer Arches song Smith's Ltd 44 Thermos 45, uniform 40 war, start of 1 46 soap 39 Thomson, Bill 15 United Dairies 15 wardens, training 8 soap box 4 Thomson, Nelly 15 Unity Pools 31 Warner Estate housing 36 South Africa, gift from 51 Thorne, Fire Brigade 14 utensils, kitchen 38 wartime cookery 23 the people of Officer sport 31 Thornhill Road 20 Utility Furniture 38, washing machine 38 Scheme 39 Spurden Rutt, R 45 Timber Corps 25 V1 flying bomb 18, water conservation 39 19, 20 Squander Bug 30 tin bath 39 V2 rockets 19-20 water supply tanks for 15 fire fighting St John Ambulance 22 toilet 39, vacuum flask 7 waterworks 44 46 St Mary's churchyard 15 Tom Hood School 42 VE Day 47> Wellington bomber 20 crash stairs, sheltering under 5 Torni-Keys variety act 11 Venetian blinds 36 West End Avenue 17 stand-by station 15 Tottenham Hotspur 31 Vengeance 19 Whipps Cross 21, Weapons 46, 50 steel hat: see helmet > Tower Hamlets Road 43 Vicarage Rpad 47, Whipps Cross Hospital 20, 48 21 stippling, paint 36 Town Hall, Leyton 50 Victory in Europe 47> Whipps Cross, air raid 5 Day shelter near stirrup pump 11, 14, toys 26, Village Writers 3 Whipps Cross, ARP 12 32-33 27 Anthology 1939-45 depot near Street Fire Party 10, 11 toys 38 VJ Day 50> whistle for ARP warden 9, 19 Street Fire Watchers 15 traffic accidents 9 Voluntary Aid 22 White Christmas song 37 Detachment (VAD) street parties 47> train travel: see > voluntary fire 13 White Cliffs song 37 railway travel fighters street signs obliterated 9 training in air raid 1 W.R.V.S. 10 Wilclean Engineering 45 precautions Co. Ltd stretcher bearers 24 travel, discouragement 4 W.V.S. 2, 3, Wilmot Road 45 from 25, 29, 39, 40, 42 Stretcher Party 11 tree paint markings 9 wallpaper 36 Wilson, Mrs B E 12 Sunny Stories 27 trench shelter 1 Waltham Forest 29 Wimbledon tennis 32 Oral History courts Workshop swimming baths 50 tube train system 6 Wanstead Flats 23 window frames 36 targets for bombing 44 Tunnel Voice 6 war bonds 31 window glass, 9 newsletter protection for tarpaulin 33 Twickenham Road 17 war cookery 23 Winston Churchill 40 leaflets telephones 36, 40 two cheeses 39 war memorial 21 wireless (radio) 36

Wireworks 44-45 women fire officers 15 Women's Land Army 25 Women's Voluntary > Service: see W.V.S. working mothers 40 York Road 20 62