The 1940s Society For Everyone Interested in Wartime Britain Issue 60 March / April 2010 £2.50 DANGER UXB Bomb Disposal by Jon Mills SECRET Underground London The Goudhurst Liberator Churchill’s Secret Army PLUS Events, reviews and much more! The 1940’s Society, 90 Lennard Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2UX Tel: 01732 452505 Web: www.1940.co.uk Email: [email protected] 1 RE Bomb Disposal in West London - 17 September 1940 Welcome to the March/April Issue The 1940s Society A special welcome to any new members that have joined for 2010 For Everyone Interested in Wartime Britain its great to have you with us and I hope you enjoy each issue, get a chance to visit the website or even come along to one of the Regular meetings at Otford Memorial Hall near Sevenoaks meetings in Sevenoaks. A visit to Sevenoaks isn’t possible for Friday 26th March 2010 - 8pm many I know. We have a very wide membership with members all over the country and a growing number abroad. Its wonderful that there is such a growing interest in the 1940s and your support of the society and the magazine is very much appreciated. The growing interest in the 1940s can be seen particularly in the SECRET huge number of events that seem to be taking place this year. Hardly a weekend goes by without a dance, museum event, Underground London railway event, or other 1940s activity taking place. Unfortunately, Presented by Amanda Pickard many taking place on the same day giving us all the difficulty of deciding on where to visit when you really would like to attend London is rumoured to have a labyrinth them all! of tunnels, factories, headquarters and secret passageways beneath its I do hope that with all of these activities taking place, attendees pavements. Much of it dating from the don’t just treat them as some kind of fancy dress party but take Second World War. the time to think of the events, sacrifices and tragedies that took place in the war years. I’m not suggesting that we should dwell Amanda Pickard will on the more unpleasant sides of the 1940s but its human nature be telling and showing to try and put aside the sorrows and heartaches and look back us some of the stories with rose tinted spectacles. Lets remember those whose lives were cut short or who suffered great family losses and take the behind these secret time to look more closely at the history and activities of those constructions (at least the people and organisations that helped bring the war to a close. ones she’s allowed to) in a presentation that is normally only given at the Many thanks to those that have sent items for the magazine (your Imperial War Museums Cabinet War T-shirts will be in the post) and please do keep contributing, Rooms. weather it be a book review, museum review, or personal account. Amanda, also known as ‘Edna’ from Home front friends is a museum curator and freelance speaker who has worked for the Many thanks once again for your continued support of the society Imperial War Museum, The National Trust and many other Ian organisations around the UK. Specialising in Britains Home Front during the Second World War this is sure to be a If you have any comments, articles or information of interest we would be pleased to consider it for future use. Please contact us at: The fascinating evening. 1940’s Society, 90, Lennard Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2UX or email us at: [email protected] . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part and in any form whatsoever, is strictly prohibited without the prior permission of the editor. Friendly meetings learning more about life in the 1940’s. Whilst every care is taken with material submitted to ‘The 1940s Society”, no responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the 1940s Society. Meetings start at 8pm at Otford Memorial Hall, Nr. Sevenoaks. Whilst every effort has been made to contact all copyright holders, the sources of some pictures that may be used are obscure. The Admission £3. Further details from Ian on 01732 452505 or publishers will be glad to make good in future editions any error or omissions brought to their attention. The publication of any quotes or visit the Web Site at: www.1940.co.uk illustrations on which clearance has not been given is unintentional. Designed and produced by Ian Bayley. © Ian Bayley 2010 2 3 Subterranean Secrets of Wartime London Amanda Pickard or as perhaps many of us pictures of the Cabinet War know her ‘Edna’ from Homefront friends Rooms before and after they were will be speaking to us at our March meeting opened to the public. which sees a talk that is normally given by In 1942 it was assumed that the the Cabinet War rooms, being given special next war would begin with aerial permission to have its first public outing bombardment and that London outside of the museum. would be hit first and continuously to make it uninhabitable. Whitehall was considered to be ‘Edna’ will be talking on the first target as the heart of Subterranean London and the government. Trafalgar Square, secrets it still holds beneath the St. Paul’s and Tower Bridge all pavements. We will also take expected to be hit hard. The RAF a peak at the level beneath the was the newest branch of the Cabinet War rooms known as armed forces and they anticipated ‘The Dock’, sadly now used as a 24hour bombing, with 2000 killed/ service area and so is not open to injured everyday. So plans had to the public and view some archive be drawn up. FUSILIERS ASSOCIATION LONDON CORPS OF DRUMS The Corps is looking to recruit musicians to join our ranks. We play because we love music and have been taken on under the wing of RRF HQ HM TOWER LONDON, who supply our kit. Many of our members come from civilian and military background and mix well. The Corps is also available for hire. Contact us for further details: Fusiliers House, 213 Balham High Books, Music, Posters, Clothing, Road, LondonSW17 7BQ Accessories, and Much More Administrator: Mr C Ashton Tel: 07903 497 393 www.1940.co.uk The Cabinet War Rooms map room. 4 5 The Warren Fisher committee However much more was made was set up to investigate of the underground stations. and develop a plan. The first Already by 1929, most trains were meeting was held in 1936, and non-stopping at Brompton Road, in 1937 it recommended that the so the War Office rented it and it Government should move out of was used by the 1st anti aircraft London to ensure their safety. division for their HQ. Interestingly there is no street access to In 1937 the Deputy Chiefs of Staff this station today. Down Street decided that a nerve centre was (Piccadilly Line)became the HQ needed where all the Chiefs of Dollis Hill, code name the ‘Paddock’. HQ national railway executive committee. of the National Railway Executive Staff and the war planners could Committee. Again at Down meet safely. It should Dollis Hill code name – the As bombs grew larger, it was Street a munitions factory was include a map room for daily use ‘Paddock’, was built to a similar realised that CWR could not established under the houses of and the facility to send out orders. plan as the Cabinet War Rooms withstand a 1000lb bomb. Two Parliament. Aldwych was the only A new war room was planned, (CWR), but it was 40ft underground ‘rotundas’ were built on a piece station in central London where but would take four years to build. whereas the CWR are only 10ft. of waste ground, each five the power could be switched off, As such, a temporary site was Dollis Hill also had a concrete apron storeys (two under ground, as it was a dead-end. Thus people needed. over the top. It was constructed one intermediate and two slept on the track as well. in secret, the soil being removed above) Despite being rejected The ‘New Public Offices’ were the in bakers’ delivery vans. It had by Churchill, they were used This is just a short introduction to newest and most well built building a hidden entrance and had 30 throughout the Cold War up until the Society meeting on 26 March. in central London with a large rooms. It was generally disliked, the 1970s. Do come along if you can to what basement and so a temporary war and Churchill, who visited it once, is sure to be a fascinating and little room was set up. Not all staff were rejected it as it was a 25-minute discussed area of interest. as well provided for as the Prime drive from Westminster, although Minister and his wife, some Junior the accommodation was staff had to ‘hot bunk’ down in the generally better. ‘Dock’ and share with the Rats and the damp! 6 7 Members Letters Churchill’s Secret Army James Plunket discovers a Home Guard Auxiliary Unit hide in Kent. Dear Ian Many individuals and collections Just a note to say how much I enjoy the 1940s magazine. Am sending of service personnel have been my renewal fee separately by post. I found the Jennings piece proclaimed as the unsung heroes particularly informative, and I enjoyed the piece on the Black Out.