11th October 1940
The War Effort in Pontefract

Under the aegis of the Ministry of Information, the Pontefract Area Information Committee, of which Councillor W. Ryder is the chairman, is in the midst of a ‘United Effort Week’ to demonstrate the nations war effort. The least imaginative person of responsible years cannot but have been impressed by the value of the work done to achieve victory; and on the other hand, undue apprehension about potential air raids need not be felt in view of the efficient preparations shown for dealing with casualties and material damage.

Open-air and indoor meetings, free film exhibitions, a display by the Auxiliary Fire Service, and the throwing open for inspection of the A.R.P. depots first-aid, decontamination, and so on, have combined to stimulate public interest, and to act as a spur locally towards the successful prosecution of the war.

The First-Aid posts at the Micklegate Methodist Sunday School and the Love Lane Council Infant’s School, directed by Dr. G. Burnett, of Pontefract, and Dr. T. Gardner, of Featherstone, respectively, are staffed by fully qualified full-time personnel and volunteers. They are equipped to deal either surgically or medically with every description of casualty, including gas cases; and the ambulance services are thoroughly up-to-date, so that the more serious cases can be speedily evacuated to distant hospitals. The First-Aid Post in St. Botolph’s Parish Room, Knottingley, under Dr. E. Murphy, is similarly equipped and staffed; and advantage was taken during the week of the opportunity to see the provision made at all the posts.

In addition to the ordinary fire-fighting service, Pontefract has two auxiliary fire stations, at Walkergate and the Headlands, whose equipment comprises nine trailer pumps and accessories, stirrup pumps, and so on. There are four full-time night and day auxiliary firemen, besides many volunteers, under the Captain of the Corporation Brigade, Mr. F.M. Harris. The rescue and demolition squads are also well-fitted for their tasks; and the de-contamination centre at the Corporation Depot, for dealing with gas infection and giving minor first aid, is a model. In Mr. A. Carney, a former member of the Prince Of Wales Colliery ambulance team, it possesses an experienced superintendent. One of the most stimulating parts of the week’s efforts were the free exhibitions of films. An appropriate foreword was provided by Mr. J.B. Priestly, the Yorkshire novelist, playwright and broadcaster, to a fine film, ‘Britain at Bay’. Other films showed the manufacture of guns, planes, and ships, and the training of airmen. Every one of them was calculated to inspire confidence; and another showing activities at a village school somewhere in England, was a fine tonic.

On Tuesday evening, dancing in the Market Place to music by the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment, was suspended for half-an-hour to enable the large crowd to hear Mr T.W. Stamford, ex-M.P. for West Leeds, who spoke from a Ministry of Information van. He was introduced by Councillor Ryder. He stressed the importance of observing black-out regulations and the need to ignore unfounded rumours. He commended the magnificent achievements of the Royal Air Force and the Navy, and spoke with pride of ‘the unshakable spirit of our people’ under the fiendish Nazi air raids. It was merely a matter of time, before we should have an overwhelming superiority of forces. We are not just fighting the Battle of Britain, but for the preservation of life, liberty and freedom, and all that we hold dear in the world today, and with that flame burning in our hearts, we should eventually pass from storm to calm, from war to peace, after victory over the forces of evil. And when the time came, we should remember with pride all those who had done their part to protect us and give them the fullest opportunity of living their lives with dignity and honour in the fullest measure.

Near the Butter Cross a space was provided for salvage, and large quantities of scrap metal, bones, and rags, have been left there by the public.

A meeting for women was held in the Horsefair Methodist Church, on Wednesday. Councillor Ryder explained the reason for it; and Mrs C. Lyon, who presided, said the women of the country must take their responsibility to heart, and find out ways in which they could be of service. She emphasised that the main thing was to keep busy, and forget fears and worries. She also condemned idle gossip, and listening to ‘Lord Haw-Haw’ on the wireless. Mr. R.D. Plant, of the National Savings Committee, pointed out that when women were asked to save, they were not expected to cut down everything drastically, but to lend the Government any balance they might have for unnecessary things. In that way they would decrease the number of peacetime goods, which the factories would have to produce, and leave them free to produce war essentials; and they would help the country to bear its heavy financial burden. He outlined the workings of the Saving Campaign.

Councillor Gillingham, of The Ministry of Information, declared that rumour had become worse since the attacks on London started. He emphasised the need for a good blackout and said it was partly the reason why there had, so far, been comparatively few casualties and little damage.

On the possibilities of invasion, he said he had been advised that large numbers of troops could escape our Navy on certain bad nights between October and April, and he advised people to study again the Government circular ‘If the Invader Comes’. In the event of an invasion, any part of the community which became cut off would still receive news through the M.O.I. loudspeaker vans and would be provided for. He praised the work of the fighting services and the Civil Defences and hoped women would not grumble too much about food rationing.

1940 INDEX