War Declared in Skegness

Written by Angela Gooch on June 26th, 2007 in Life in Skegness Past, War and Military.

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Source: Skegness News 6th September 1939

Skegnessians

For ten years you have been told there would be a war with Germany.

For ten years you have ignored the fact, and neglected to prepare.

Now the Climax has come. Do not get the Jitters but KEEP CALM.

Do not become offensive to tradesmen because they have not got stocks of what you require. The fault is yours!

Air Raid Wardens have given their time and money to prepare to be ready for this diabolical act of Hitler’s.

When the air raid wardens draw householders’ attention to lights showing, do not get angry, they are only doing their duty.

Plenty of Blackout Material will be in Skegness in a few days. Then Blackout thoroughly.

Only keep Calm and keep in your house during a raid.

Skegness’ reaction to the fateful declarations of September 1st and 3rd

No Skegnessians will forget the dates September 1st and September 3rd, 1939. The emotions have been aroused in various forms. In a period of beautiful weather the actions of one man - Adolph Hitler - has denied hundreds and thousands of people of a holiday, and has thereby involved Skegnessians in a financial loss of many thousands of pounds.

Since the last issue of the Skegness news our people have received 300 evacuated children from Grimsby.

Through the medium of the wireless they heard at 10.30 last Friday morning that Germany had invaded Poland, and at 11.15 they heard from the lips of the Prime Minister himself the pulse-stopping news that Great Britain was at war with Germany.

Sixteen hours later they were awakened by the weird warbling note of the first Air Raid Siren warning - at 3 o’clock in the early hours of Monday September 4th.

Rector propels wheelbarrow

The rector himself, Rev W F Wilson BA set a fine example when he took off his coat and pushed a wheelbarrow, when notified on Friday that the Church Hall would be required as a First Aid Centre within two hours.

The members of the Women’s Voluntary Service, plus many willing male helpers, laboured finely to get 300 child evacuees from Grimsby accommodated in fifty homes at only a few hours notice - many working throughout the night at Pembroke House Headquarters.

Woman helper’s graphic evacuation story

Here’s how one member of the Billeting section describes her experience:

“Motor buses from Grimsby brought 300 children and teachers from the South Parade, Armstrong Street and Macauley Street Schools, and discharged their human freight of young humanity at the Rutland Road entrance to Tower Gardens shortly after midday.

“The children were accompanied by Head Teachers and members of their staff, all wearing brassards. Each child had a label attached to its clothing, carried a gas mask and some bore parcels, suitcases and packages almost as big as themselves.

“One little chap was pointed out to me by a Grimsby teacher. He had feared that he would not be allowed to travel because his ‘luggage’ included no toothbrush, announced as a necessary requirement.

“Excellent behavior and good temper prevailed everywhere. The children were marched into the Tower Gardens Pavilion where they were seated at large tables, and sampled the lunch packages prepared for them by their loving mothers prior to their leaving home.

“After their meal they went onto the lawns and squatted down until the local billeting members of the WVS were ready to take them out in search of Skegness householders who had previously registered themselves as willing to take small parties.

“Each party consisted of twenty to thirty children, three masters and mistresses, one senior billeting officer and two WVS helpers. No children were forced on reception houses, and our party was a little unlucky, the first few apartment housekeepers informing us that their rooms were still occupied by visitors.

“Our little people looked rather wistful as they realised our difficulties. It was a sultry afternoon and we all settled down on a grass verge while our senior officer went to procure a further list of households.

“A lady visitor observing our party of labelled children very kindly offered to defray the cost of our all having a cup of tea at her boarding house.

“Another party had been loaded up by a kindly horse-landau proprietor”

more news from historical Skegness newspapers

Do YOU remember Skegness during the war?