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Life on the Home Front

Published Friday 8th July 2005

Andrew Train in his 1940s St John's Ambulance uniform [Picture: Cpl Ross Tilley]

Though not fighting on the front line, thousands of volunteers risked their lives to work in first aid posts, casualty stations, shelters, sick bays and rest stations.

Dressed as a 1940s St John's Ambulance brigade commissioner, the equivalent of a Brigadier, in a uniform that caused some consternation on his journey to London from Hull, Andrew Train from the re-enactment group Joint War Organisation explains how his team are trying to show something of the work done by the British Red Cross and the St Johns Ambulance Brigade during the war.

"The role of the Joint War Organisation was to teach civilians about things like air raid precautions such as how to use a gas mask properly, or what to do when they heard an air raid siren or a gas attack alarm, and about the need to tape up their windows.

"We have a public information film that was shown in cinemas. It sometimes comes across as a bit 'Mr. Cholmondley-Warner', but it got the message across so people knew what to do."

During the war, education was vital to the success of this system:

"I explain to the children that the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Wardens were a bit of a cross between a fireman, a policeman, and even a paramedic with all the authority needed to do that work," said Andrew.

"It took a bit of education to get people to always carry their gas masks with them. Some restaurants and libraries wouldn't let people in unless they had a gas mask with them, so it became part of your kit."

Special equipment was provided for children, like the "Mickey Mouse" gas mask, or ones which were brightly coloured with big silver eye pieces and lots of time was spent practising putting them on so that they could do it automatically.

Many people have visited the exhibit and have shared their reminiscences:

"That’s been the best part for me", said Andrew. "I've learned so much from the veterans."

Reactions have ranged from the emotional to the practical:

"One chap visited the display and I could see he was emotionally choked. I tried to talk to him but suddenly he couldn’t say anymore and he left with tears in his eyes. He just sort of waved a gesture of thank you and a goodbye."

Like everyone who has been involved in the Living Museum Andrew feels a great sense of pride in helping to pass on information to younger generations.

"It's proved to be an excellent way for people to learn history, and it is showing just how little we know about things that happened not all that long ago."

Related articles:

Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War Two

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