WW2 - Angmering's Civilian Volunteers

Introduction

As war broke out and Britain's men were called up by conscription, many of those unable to fight were determined to 'do their bit' and support the war effort by joining volunteer organisations.

In September 1939, just after WW2 had broken out, the UK Government compiled a Register which was used to produce identity cards and, once rationing was introduced in January 1940, to issue ration books. Information in the Register was also used to administer conscription and the direction of labour, and to monitor and control the movement of the population caused by military mobilisation and mass evacuation. It was designed to capture the details of every member of the civilian population on a specific date (i.e. 29 September 1939).

Many people in Angmering were in reserved occupations (such as horticulture), retired, or were over-age for military service or awaiting call up, but the Register also identified those men and women who had volunteered to assist the local community in some capacity in the event of air strikes or invasions. Those who had volunteered in some capacity are listed below. This is just a list of those who had volunteered by September 1939; no doubt many others volunteered during the course of the war. The list shows individuals' year of birth and the service to which they volunteered.

Many of the volunteers in Angmering were Air Raid Precaution (ARP) wardens. These wardens became the first link in a chain of ARP bodies that would include firefighters, rescue and first aid parties, ambulance crews and medics. They also patrolled the streets at night to ensure that no light was visible from houses that might assist enemy aircraft bombers. Their duties also included guiding civilians to a safe location or air raid shelter during an enemy raid. Angmering had just one air-raid shelter which was located in the bank opposite the village hall. There is no evidence that it was greatly used during the war and it was sealed up in the 1960s as it was being used by the youth of the village for “doubtful” purposes! Immediately north of the shelter was the ARP hut which can be seen in the photo below (small white building in far distance).

N A Rogers-Davis
October 2021

Page first uploaded: 01 October 2021