[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.

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!" [...]'