4th July 1941
PONTEFRACT READY FOR HITLER

“Pontefract is ready for Hitler”, says the Acting A.R.P. Organiser for the Joint Area, Police Inspector T. Downhill. His statement is based on the outcome of a large scale exercise held in the town on Saturday. Ememy aircraft were supposed to raid the town, dropping bombs and high explosives, as well as incendiaries; and to deal with them and their ''effects,'' many services were called upon; the Police, Special Constabulary, Air Raid Wardens, Home Guard, Fire Services' St. Johns Ambulance Brigade, Mortuary Services, Gas Identification Squad, Rescue, First-Aid and Decontamination Parties, Mobile Veterinary Units, Water, Gas and Electricity Repair Parties, the staff of the two First-Aid Posts, and those of the Public Assistance Committee who manned the Shelter and Feeding Services.

The exercise was marked in the initial stages by the release of tear gas from cylinders and although 48 hours notice was given of the area in which the gas would be released - in Horsefair, many people were caught unawares, and had to be treated by Wardens. Others had made use of a gas van, stationed in the Market Place earlier in the day, to test their masks, and were thus able to face the clouds of vapour with nonchalance. At Smith's Garage, Ackworth Road, high explosive was suppose to have fractured a water main, but matters became quite realistic when a Warden unwittingly burst the main. The Fire Service rushed to the scene, by-passed the burst, and enabled water to be fed to the trailer pumps, which were turned upon a ''fire'' among buildings at Haverland Farm, where a ''breadbasket '' of incendiaries was dealt with. In addition, a dummy cow and a pig received the full force of the blast from an ''H.E.'' and were dealt with by Mr. F.C. Scott and his mobile unit. It is not correct however-- as some of the personnel of the Services engaged in that incident speculated -- that the four-legged casualties found their way to the Community Feeding Centre!

Hartley Park received two ''H.E.'' and 25 ''incendiaries,'' which dislocated the gas, water and electricity supplies; and there was a special plant chlorinating the water for drinking, while use was made of a static tank in the yard of Love Lane School to control the ''fires'' that raged on the estate. Nearby, two ''unexploded bombs'', one believed to be a gas bomb, necessitated the evacuation by the police of residents of houses. One person from each house went to the air raid shelters, with a ticket stating the number of imaginary people who accompanied him. Such information is valuable in preparing to provide alternative accommodation. Other incidents were staged at Chequerfield Avenue, Baghill, at a works just off Beastfair; in Horsefair; and at Ropergate End. The Home Guard helped to keep order and the staffs of the First Aid Posts were called upon to put out experimental incendiary bombs which were ignited near their stations. Household fire parties also had to deal with incendiaries,and earned praise for their efficiency.

The element of surprise was not overlooked, and some members of the service received sealed envelopes, to be opened only when they had reached the scene of the ''incidents'' alloted to them. Police Constable Hutchinson received a shock when opening his envelope; he found he had just died from a stroke; and a member of the Warden's Organisation was no less disconcerted to learn that an epilectic had overtaken him. The ''casualties'', who numbered 12 ''dead'' and over 50 ''injured'', were represented by the Youth organisations in the town.

Inspector Downhill told The Express, after the exercise, that he was highly satisfied with the course of events and that the personnel of the Services had gained much useful information. ''Every man has done a good job'', he declared. The exercise was the most realistic he had seen in the County.

1941 INDEX