b'There is no doubt that the creation of the Schemeas Messengers for the Invasion Committee. The was taken seriously and that the preparations werenumbers in brackets are house numbers.thorough. However, mention of areas in which there4.As the telephone system at Bishop Wilton is were inadequacies do stand out: extremely erratic in operation and often out of 1.The Committee regret that no Police Plan fororder the Committee feel that a car should be the information of the Committee has beenallowed to be mobilised as long as possible so submitted. that, in an emergency, contact with the Sub-2.No First Aid Post has been authorised for theControl at Pocklington and outlying stations may Village, the nearest being at Pocklington, 5 milesbe maintained as long as possible.away . although the document goes on to say5.A very suitable building in the Churchyard has . A First Aid Point has been established locallybeen set aside by the Church Council for use as with the Church as its centre and is manned bya Mortuary and will be in charge of the Parish volunteers. Clerk and Sexton, Mr J. H. Burgess (13) with Mr 3.Very little equipment has been provided by theG. Barker (8) acting as his deputy and assistant.authorities but Mrs Denton, the leader of the6.In an emergency Burial by blanket method will [First Aid] party, and her helpers have made andhave to be adopted.bought equipment, including a stretcher, out of7.A Field Boiler has been erected in the School funds they have raised locally. Yard; and a small quantity of food is stored in 4.With regard to the Feeding Centre at thethe School in case the feeding centre should School: This centre is supposed to be sufficientever be opened by the authorities.for 90 persons but only cutlery and crockery8.No public or private shelters have been sufficient for 24 persons have been provided byprovided. The Invasion Committee have the County Council. supplied each household with a leaflet 5.The Committee regret to say that they have notgiving particulars of slit trenches and urging been given a reasonable military appreciation ofhouseholders to site these trenches now ready the situation that might arise in an emergency.to dig them when advised.After representations made to Military9.An N.F.S. Petrol Driven Trailer Pump and Box Headquarters in May 1942 fuller informationCar with equipment is stationed at Bishop was promised but never materialised. TheWilton for use by the local Fire Party under Committee have, therefore, had to draw up theirthe leadership of Mr S. Bailey (3) who can plans in ignorance of any military scheme. be contacted direct or by Tel. B.W. 254. The present strength is 9 firemen.The Invasion Committee maintained the Scheme10.For Fire Fighting purposes the Beck, running for just over two years. From the comments madedown the middle of the Village, has been about police and military planning (items 1 and 5,dammed; and water could also be pumped out above) it is clear that the precise implications of anof the Fish Pond near the Church.invasion could not be known. Nevertheless, the11.A Petrol Pump owned by Mr W. L. Fisher (1) has preparations continued in earnest and the documentedbeen immobolised for some months. Orders for Scheme shows numerous signs of local innovation inthe immobilisation of cars etc will be given when difficult circumstances as these extracts show: received by the Police Representative.1.An official notice board has been fixed on theFurther areas of preparation not covered in the Wardens Post at the Fleece Inn, a very centralextracts above encompass: a Casualty Service position. and what to do to record fatalities and safely store 2.A Siren was presented to the village by Mr W.personal property; decontamination of clothing, food L. Fisher and the necessary accessories wereand people; road clearance; care of the homeless; purchased out of funds subscribed locally. maintenance of a water supply, lighting, sewage 3.A good Messenger Service was organised atdisposal and fuel; availability of tractors; provision of the beginning of the War and the messengersfood.slept each night at the Head Wardens Post.The Scheme was produced in response to a very Unfortunately it was never officially recognisedreal threat and the preparations made show how and so when the Messengers were called up forseriously it was taken. We can only imagine the relief Military Service or voluntarily joined the Homewhen the Committee could finally be disbanded Guards or National Fire Service it was difficultalthough it was some months before the war finally to replace them. Since January 1944, however,ended.three Civil Defence Messengers, Gordon FosterThe Reverend Richard Fawcett appears to have (52), Arthur West (5), Laurence West (26), havebeen a most thorough Chairman of the Bishop Wilton enrolled and they have been earmarked to actInvasion Committee. He also shows signs of being 298 BULLETIN 16'