The following article was only recently found in an envelope entitled HOW TO BE A FIRST CLASS ARP WARDEN. The author, Stanley Jupp, used it as the basis to train other Wardens in carrying out their ARP duties.

Jupp worked at the National Provincial Bank and was a Senior Warden and a Fire Guard Zone Commander in London’s East End.

It is reproduced here, verbatim, though I have added a couple of explanatory notes to the text as indicated.

The subject of this meeting was THE WARDENS’ DUTY DURING AN AIR RAID. S/W (Ed: Senior Warden) Jupp dwelt upon a few points which are useful to remember, especially for those Wardens who have not yet been on duty during a Blitz.

If you are on duty in D8, as soon as the siren sounds, report to the pillbox by the D8 Auxiliary Post phone and pick up the first aid bag which is in the left hand cupboard. It is advisable to have your own small supply of first aid equipment as well (as to the contents of your bag, ask Mrs Hutchins, Mrs Peachey or Mr Jupp for advice).

Always be on the alert all the time and watch you sector carefully, especially after near gunfire, incendiaries may fall. The place to watch is not inside the Auxiliary Post but outside. This, however, must not prevent you from taking cover when you hear near gunfire or falling bombs.

Indeed, you should remember the importance of your service so that you will not risk your life unnecessarily. You should go round your sector from time to time if only to ‘show the flag’. The two wardens on duty should patrol, if necessity demands that they should be in the streets during heavy gunfire, at least 10 to 20 yards distant from each other in order to minimize the risk of both being hurt or killed.

If a bomb falls in your sector, you must make as accurate a report as you can, at once. This report must be got in promptly, for you are personally responsible for setting in motion the necessary machinery to obtain the services required and, even if your fellow warden is injured, it may still be necessary for you to report first before looking after him. This point should be borne in mind.

On your way to the place where the bomb has fallen, try calmly to visualize all the possibilities which may result and the conditions which may exist. This will help you to deal with the situation in a circumspect way.

After the ‘All Clear’ has sounded, report to the post that the sector is clear of incident and that everything is O.K. and return your first aid bag to the cupboard in the auxiliary. If the siren sounds again the same night, the same procedure of reporting on duty etc must be observed.

In the event of bombs falling in our vicinity, wardens who are not on duty might wish to put themselves on duty. They should get at once in touch with the warden on duty who will report them to the post as on duty and they must not leave until they have received the Post’s permission.

Take care that wardens etc do not crowd together during Blitzes; spread out, say some up High street and some at the back of Greenhill.

Don’t forget that you are personally responsible for the people of your sector. They must have complete confidence in you to see that if bombs fall and casualties occur, that they get the greatest assistance in the shortest possible time.

Make their acquaintance whenever an opportunity presents itself. Don’t adopt a domineering attitude towards them, neither during an air raid, nor on your ‘light patrol’ but be kind and polite (though firm if necessary). Your authority will increase if in an air raid you behave in a calm and detached way.

If you get excited and afraid or even alarmed (a feeling which is perfectly natural), don’t let people know it, otherwise the danger of spreading panic is increased. On the contrary, you must not frighten people by your terrifying knowledge of what is going on outside but allay their fear, especially if you look in at the shelters (which you might do from time to time).

Although you should not fool people, it may be necessary in the interests of all to make some understatement of the actual facts e.g. by telling them that bombs that have fallen are miles away etc.

Treat them individually, a young lad can stand more than an old lady. A warning example of lack of detachment and calmness was that of a warden who went in great excitement to a shelter and asked whether the shelterers had heard a bump as he was looking for a D.A. (Ed: delayed action bomb) which had fallen close by.

Finally, remember that there are other people in the sector besides Greenhill who will like to see you for a friendly chat and remember it is up to you to set a good example and to convey that feeling of confidence in the wardens’ service which people have come to expect.

In a Blitz, it is possible that you and your partner may be the only ones on the spot for some time, keep the possibility well before you.