CIVIL DEFENCE

Disposal of papers and records relating to Civil Defence and other War measures put in force in advance of and during the period of World War II (August 1954, amended December 2003)

CD/1. The original correspondence files have been denuded of papers which had no value as records. The papers which have been retained are now stored in nineteen storage boxes suitably labelled

CD/2. The original file references have also been retained, but in certain cases a single file cover now contains more than one file subject. Where this occurs the file cover is suitably endorsed and divider sheets with indicator tabs separate the various file subjects

CD/3. The contents of each storage box is as shown in this catalogue

CD/4. The formal records and tabulated data about enemy action etc. maintained during the war in the County Control Room are in CD/20, 21 and 22. A separate file also contains the written messages which passed during November 1944, and May 1945

The following notes about the formal records are given in order to assist in tracing information about enemy action in the County

(a) The actual forms (both inwards and outwards) used for recording messages which passed through the County Control telephones immediately preceding and during the War period had been destroyed shortly after the close of hostilities excepting only those covering the period between November 1944, and May 1945. These message forms have been preserved as records

(b) With the cessation of the "cold war" in May 1940, and the commencement of enemy aerial activity, it became necessary to tabulate the essential details contained in messages about bombing and consequential matters within the County

(c) "Incident Books" were therefore brought into use as from 22 May 1940, and six of these (buff paper covers) were used by 3 December, 1940. Thereafter the essential detail was recorded in two large Incident Books

(d) Incident Books Nos.1 - 6 are in CD/20 Nos.7 and 8 are CD/21 and 22

(e) Commencing on 18 November 1940, a "Message Register" was kept, giving brief detail about every message dealt with in County Control. The "Message File No." refers to the destroyed message forms noted in para.1. Seven of these (buff folders) were used between 18 November 1940, and 10 May 1943. After the latter date the message book was extended in scope and described as the "Journal" from which appropriate entries were copied into the Incident Books (see para.3). Nine Journals (Red cardboard covers) were used between May 1943, and 3 August 1944

Note. After 3 August 1944, the "Journal" was discontinued and reference to incidents caused by war activities is found only in Incident Book No.8. (CD/22)

(f) Journals Nos. 1 - 9 are stored in CD/20

(g) Information about "Incidents" is to be found in both the Journal and the Incident Book. Between 18 November 1940 and 10 May 1943, the Message Book entries also afford a clue to entries in the Incident Books

(h) Other written records contained in CD/20

(i) Major Damage Books (2) - Extracted detail about incidents involving damage in categories requiring special action

(ii) Temporary Journals (3) maintained at weekends between 21 August 1940, and 4 November 1940. (This information is duplicated in Incident Books.)

(iii) Buff Folder (1) containing extracted information about unexploded bombs between 27 May 1940, and 2 December 1940

(i) Two diaries kept in Control Room covering period 8 July 1942, and 10 May 1943. These diaries were suspended when the Journal was instituted. They should be referred to in conjunction with Incident Books for the same period

CD/5. In addition to the foregoing, manuals prepared for the use of the Duty Controller operating in the County Control are held in the Civil Defence Section of the Clerk's Department. These contain extracts from and copies of essential papers under the following headings

1. Control Room Routine

2. Reporting File

3. Unexploded Bombs and Small Yellow Unexploded Bombs

4. Mutual Support

5. Emergency Schemes

6. Invasion and Home Guard

2 copies of the General Civil Defence Summary