[British civil defence, 1950.] Autograph Notebook, with 'G. Reeves Atom' on cover, containing notes made at civil defence meetings (Home Office, Army or Fire Brigade?) in preparation for nuclear and biological warfare.

Author: 
G. Reeves [Home Secretary Planning Committee, Regional Office, Div, S/DO; Fire Services; British 1950s civil defence; nuclear war; atom bomb; biological warfare; atomic warfare]
Publication details: 
[London.] Notes made at meetings between 30 March to 25 June 1951.
£420.00
SKU: 15389

37pp., 12mo (including two irrelevant pages at the rear), of pencil notes, with some diagrams. In a spiral-bound 'No. 430 Reporter's Note Book' by Brown Knight & Truscott, Ltd, London. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. On cover: 'G. Reeves Atom'. The notes were made at meetings or lectures held at roughly fortnightly intervals. (The last page records 'No meetings' on 9 and 23 June.) Topics include: 'Types of Shelter', 'Refuge Room', 'Long range rocket', 'Antipersonnel Bomb' ('When a bomb is found a red flag in a stick is to be placed 3 paces to the North so that B[omb]. Dis[posal] Off[icer]. knows that the bomb is 3 paces south'), 'Chem Warfare' (including 'Persistent Gases', 'Blister Gas', 'Nerve Gas', 'Choking Gases'), 'Protection from High Explosive', 'Effect of Atom Bomb' (including 'Gum-ache'), 'Tear Gas', 'Gas proofing a room', 'Decontamination' ('Roads Bleach is the stuff. | Walls. Bleach paste & slosh it on the walls & then hose down Furniture. Carpets weather them & also curtains.'). The notebook begin with the proposed organisational structure: 'Region SE Kent Sussex Surrey | Home Secty Planning Come. F. Services | 11 Regions Regional Comme. | (County C. & County Boro.) SE | Operationally direct to Reg Come. | Region to be split up into Zones | SE = 3 Zones - Surrey Sx & Kent with Zone Controller | Z Controller subdivided into Sub Zones (Query T.W., T. <?>, T. <?>, & Southboro) | Sub Zone Commander | Local Areas | 6 Sections H. Qtr. Controll [sic] Centre. | Wardens | Rescue Squad Ambulance | Pioneer Corps (Decontamination) | Welfare Corps | Home Secty. Plan Come., Regional O, Div, S/DO | C D Watkin | Full time 8 hr a day. | 2nd Line Civil Mobile Force | Target Area | 5 Part 1 11 Part 2 | Course K'. The first dated notes begin: 'Friday Mch 30th 7.30 (Atom Bomb): 19.2.51 | 1 3/4 galls water in 1 min | No 1 Fighter has nozzle will go in & fight fire. Other 3 with water all must be resolute | No 2. will pump. "Water on" No 2 must never leave off pumping. | No 3. Looks after No 1 & No 2 Keeps & maintains contact with No 1 & helps No 2 by filling pails. No 4 looks after No 2 & No 3 | assists No 3 with filling water. | Changing over No 4 with No 2 important | No 3 changes over with No 1. (No 1 & 3. No 2 & 4.) | No 1. inspects fire. "Water here!" | length of hose, seat of fire & least dangerous position | "Water on!" | "Water off!" = Stop pumping only | "Knock off & make up!" [...]'