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STATE EMERGENCY COUNCIL FOR CIVIL DEFENCE
VICTORIA

A IR RAID
P R E C A U T IO N S
ADVICE TO HOUSEHOLDERS

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE

GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA

APRIL 1941

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LOCAL SIGNALS BY WARDENS

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 Air Raid Precautions
CITIZENS
?■
W hat would you do In an air raid?
Do you know how to protect yourself?
Could you tell other people how to?
If you, your wife, or children, were wounded, could you render FIRST
AID and save life?
W hat do you know about GAS?
Do you know how to protect your family from gat?
Would you know how to use and look after a respirator (gas mask)?
By filling in the enclosed form you will be called up for a class of In­
struction and given the answers to the above questions, by men who
are QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS.

To
District Air Raid W arden's Office,
Town Hall Buildings,
FITZROY.
Dear Sir,
I wish to receive instruction and training in th a t work
which I have m arked with an ( X).
Air W arden's Duties...................... ............
Personal Protection.......................................
Family Protection...........................................
Primary First Aid....... ...................................
St. John's Course of First Aid.....................

M r., Mrs., Miss.

Address..............
 STATE EMERGENCY COUNCIL FOR CIVIL DEFENCE
VICTORIA

AIR RAID
PRECAUTIONS
ADVICE TO HOUSEHOLDERS

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE

GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA

APRIL 1941

H. C. DAW. GO VERNM ENT P R IN T ER . M ELPO URNE

S5."»4 /4 1 .
 2

CONTENTS.
TAGE.

A ir R a id S i g n a l s .. .. .. • • Inside fro n t
covcr.

F oreword .................................................................................................. 3

S e c t io n 1 .— T h in g s to do .. .. .. 5

S ec t io n 2 .— T h in g s to do i n an A ir K a id .. .. 7
Action to be tak en ; F ire Prevention; Incen­
diary Bombs, and how to deal w ith them ;
A fter the Raid.

S e c t i o n 3 .— L ig h t in g R e s t r ic t io n s .

P a rt 1.—L ights in Domestic Prem ises .. 11

R esponsibility of Police D epartm ent;
Objective; Emission of Liglit and
Instructions.
P a rt 2.—Road Vehicles and P edestrians .. 17

S e c t i o n 4 .—Shelters.
P a rt 1.— Refuge Rooms .. .. 20
Requirem ents and Instructions.
P a rt 2.—Garden Shelters .. .. .. 25
Open Trench; P a rtly sunk; Surface
and U nderground; Construction of
and M aterials for U nderground
Shelter.

D ia g r a m - -R isks from a ir raids .. .. .. .. 30

S k e t c iie s o f S h e lte rs .. .. .. .. 31
Open Trench; P a rtly sunk;
A nderson; Surface; Pill-box, and Underground.

hep

\l k t-fY
 3

FOREWORD.
B y the Honorable S ir John Harris, K .B .E ., M inister o f
Public Instruction and o f Public H ealth.

The Commonwealth Government w ith its accum ulated inform a­

tion and benefit of tho knowledge and recom m endations o f tho
heads of the fighting forces has advised the State Government in
no uncertain terms that plans should be prepared and gradually
unfolded to the people so that they m ay bo instructed how to
prepare to protect themselves in their homes in case it becomos
nccessary. N o one in tho com m unity can to-day truthfully say
that there ia no possibility of air raids in A ustralia, and lessons
learned from overseas warn us that wo dare not and m ust not bo
caught unprepared.
A s part of tho plan for the protection o f the people, district
wardens have been appointed for every m un icipality which m ay
bo regarded as being w ithin a vulnerable area. Tho work o f tho
district warden is specifically to organizo all the necessary mea­
sures and personnel requisite for the protection o f tho people in
tho m unicipality under his charge. T his organization has been
for a considerable tim e in courso o f establishm ent and in m any
districts has reached an advanced stage. In others, unfortunately,
the same standard of efficiency has not been attained. Tho desir­
able standard o f service w ill not bo attained until every section
o f tho residents o f tho m unicipalities concerncd is co-operating
w ith the district warden in this work, and tho sooner any lagging
in this direction is remedied the better it w ill bo for the peopla
themselves.
A lthough these local plans are progressing, it m ust be stressed
that it is not possible for the district warden and his staff them ­
selves to accomplish everything. There is so m uch tho citizens
can do which no one else can do for them to help to protect them ­
selves and their fam ilies.
To complete the organization that w ill in tim e of em ergency
operate for tho protection and help of citizens, young and old,
volunteers to the number o f 20,000 are still required in tho m etro­
politan area and elsewhere in the various m unicipalities taking
air raid precautions. Thereforo I appeal for 20,000 volunteers,
both m en and women— the men to bo over 40 years o f ago (35, if
m arried) or ineligible for m ilitary sorvice— to call at the
m unicipal offices and enrol w ithout delay.
3654/41.—3
 A

Each municipal council Las been asked to give its full support
to the district warden in establishing his organization on an
effective basis. Each municipality is divided into sectors, and the
district warden is arranging for tho appointment of a warden for
each such sector. The duty of these sector wardens will include
summoning of first aid parties, repair gangs for all purposes
(including water and electrical services) and fire brigades. These
services have been specially instructed and strengthened in
personnel and equipment to meet the needs of the occasion.
Every municipality in the danger zone has been asked to
distribute to each householder a large card giving preliminary
instructions and valuable information in relation to protection
from air raids. This card should be kept hanging in the house
for ready reference. I f any householder has not already received
a card, he should call at the municipal offices and obtain one from
the district warden.
It is strongly recommended by the State Emergency Council
that preparations in accordance with the advice given in this
booklet should bo made now—there will not be time if and when
an air raid occurs. The citizen should make his plans and decide
what materials ho will require for the protection of his home.
He need not actually build a shelter until he is advised to do
bo by the proper authority.

Chairman pf the Victorian State

Emergency Council for Civil Defence
April, 1041,
 AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS.

ADVICE TO HOUSEHOLDERS.

SECTION 1.—THINGS TO DO,

On board ship, both crew and passengers are instructed before­
hand and not when a state of em ergency arises, where to go ail'd
what to do. Tho captain considers this instruction a m atter
o f ordinary routine and everyday precaution. l i e prepares against
the p ossibility o f a shipwreck— which he hopes w ill never happen.
Every householder or head of a fam ily or business should consider
him self as tho “ captain o f the ship ” and should know beforehand
how to protect, in war time, his own people and home from tho
effects o f high explosive bombs, incendiary bombs, and poison
gas. „
I f air raids come to this country, every home w ill need to
have a placo specially prepared in which tho whole household
can take shelter. A ll tho precautions recommended in this
booklet are useful. Most o f them can be adopted to somo oxtent
by everyone. Tho essential things cost little to do, and somo of
the more elaborate ones you w ill find you can do quite easily,
either yourself or acting in conjunction w ith a neighbour.

Things to do now.
D ecide, after reading this booklet, what form your shelter
w ill take. I t m ay bo a garden shelter, or it m ay be a refuge in
your home (see Section 4 ).
I f you are in chorge o f a business or shop, an hotel or
boardinghouse, or o f tenements, decide upon places of shelter for
those for whose safety and w elfare you would bo responsible.
Study carefully the precautions you can take against fire, and
especially the instructions for dealing with a small incendiary
bomb.
In tim e of war, buildings m ay have to bo darkened com pletely
at night. Consider this question for your home and any other
premises for which you are responsible.
G ive consideration to— M aterials for gas-protection and for
darkening your whole house or business premises and the things
you would need in your place o f shelter.
 6

See that your radio set is in proper working order to receive

information and instructions.
See that all grown-ups are familiar with the contents of this
booklet and know of the arrangements you are making for theii
safety.

Things to do when Government so advises.

The Government will tell you ■when, if ever, you should take
the precautions recommended in this booklet. Read through these
notes carefully, think them out, and consider how to apply them
to your own home. You will know, then, exactly what' to do.
Having considered the problem before danger arises, you will have
your plans made and be ready to carry them out quickly if there
is need.
Prepare and equip your place of shelter. Equipment should
include a pick, Bhovel, axe, crowbar, first-aid kit, and simple fire­
fighting appliances for the room or shelter. A pair of scissors,
a supply of string, paper, and paste should be available for use
in a gas-resisting room.
Tho equipment should also include a tray and brush and a
supply of chloride of lime (bleaching powder) so that if gas is
used in an air raid, you will have available, outside tho entrance
to the place of shelter, means of decontaminating the footwear
of persons entering the shelter.
See that you have spare clothing available so that, if gas
is used in an air raid, contaminated clothing can be removed and
replaced with clean clothing, before entering gas-resisting room
or shelter.
All windows, skylights, fanlights, glazed doors, or other
openings in parts of the house where lights aro used, must be
completely screened after dusk, so that no light is visiblo from
outside.
I f blinds alone are used, they must be of stout material,
dark in colour, opaque, and must cover the windows com­
pletely. Blinds of light and non-opaque material can be made
suitable for screening if treated with oil-bound water-paint or
distemper of a dark colour. I f curtains are used, they must be
dark and thick. Dark blankets, carpets or thick sheets of
brown paper can bo used to cover windows temporarily.
Special care must bo taken to cover completely skylights and
other windows directly visible from the air.
 7

A ll ligh ts near an outside door m ust be screened so that no

ligh t can be seen when the door is opened. Outside lights, gardon
mid porch lights, must not be used. I f they are electric, take tho
bulbs out altogether (see Section 3 for further d eta ils).
A n air attack m ay include the use o f numbers of sm all in ­
cendiary bombs. So m any fires m ight bo started that tho firo
brigades could not deal w ith them all, and every citizen m ust bo
prepared to help.
Clear the loft, attic or top floor o f all inflammable m aterial,
paper, litter, lumber, &c., to lessen the danger o f fire and to
prevent fire from spreading.
I f the m aterials are available, protect the floor of tho loft,
attic, or top floor w ith asbestos wallboard, or w ith 2 inches of
dry sand ( i f the floor w ill bear the w eig h t).
I t i3 advisable to coat all woodwork in the attic or roof
space w ith lim ewasli to delay its catching fire. A suitable m ixture
is 2 lb. of slaked lim e and 1 oz. of common salt w ith 1 p int of
cold water. A pp ly two coats.
F or dealing w ith an incendiary bomb, havo available a bucket
or box of dry sand, a shovel (preferably w ith a long handle
and square m outh) and a hoe.
W ater is the best m eans of putting out a firo, but water
rnains m ay be damaged in an air raid or the flow restricted by
fire-fighting operations, so make sure that you have water ready
in buckets or cans in convenient places about the house; also, if
possible, a stirrup hand pump fitted with 30 feet of hose and a
dual purpose nozzle.

SECTION 2.—THINGS TO DO IN AN AIR RAID.

This section describes the A C T IO N you would need to
take as soon as you receive w arning o f tho actual approach
of hostile aircraft. O nly at such a tim e w ill tho value
of the previous section become fu lly apparent. The head of
the house takes command, and every one in the household knows
what to do and where to go. R isk is reduced to a m inim um .
Appointed tasks are undertaken, appointed places manned without
hesitation or confusion.
It m ust be em phasized that it is very dangerous to remain in
the open during an air raid and not to take cover. Fragm ents
o f anti-aircraft shells, including the heavy nose cap, may
fall m iles away from the firing point. N o tim e should be lost in
taking cover in the nearest shelter. E ven such protection as that
offered by archways, doorways, balconies, and against w alls or in
unprotected houses is better than rem aining in the street
 8

(see diagram , page 3 0 ). B od ily contact w ith a solid m atter

such as a w all should be avoided, since there is a danger
o f injury being sustained through the earth shock sot up
by an exploding bomb. I f no shelter of any form is available,
the person should throw h im self flat, preferably in a gutter or
depression in the ground, face downwards, supporting the head on
the folded arms. P rotection of the lungs against blast can be
secured to some extent by keeping the mouth slightly open and
gripping firm ly between the teeth a piece o f rubber, soft wood, or
a handkerchief rolled tigh tly. To protect the ear drums from
shock, it is useful to place in the ears a sm all pad of loosely
packed cotton wool.
On hearing the w arning, you should as head of the household
personally supervise th e fo llow in g precautions.
1. Send every member of the household im m ediately to the
place of shelter.
2. Make some other member o f the fa m ily previously appointed
for the purpose responsible for checking that all the articles needed
for the place of shelter are in position, the shelter is properly
scaled up against gas, the fire put out, the chim ney blocked up,
and the blanket over the entrance made damp.
3. Go round the house, closing all doors and window's to
reduoe the am ount of gas which can get into an y part of the
house.
4. After dusk, see that no lights are left burning that may be
visible from outside.
5. E xtin guish all fires in grates. F ires cause currents of air
which m ay draw in gas from outside. D o not p u t out these
fires w ith water, as this w ill fill the house w ith irritant fum es.
Smother them w ith salt, sand, or earth.
6. Turn off the gas at the meter in case the pipes in the house
become damaged and leak. D o not use acetylene, kerosene or
other oil lam ps in the shelter, and if you use candles do not burn
more than is necessary, to avoid using up oxygen. I f tho passages
to the refuge-room are very dark, you m ay ligh t them with
eandles.
7. See that the w ater buckets or cans w hich you have placed
about the house aro fu ll and ready for use.
8. See if any passer-by requires shelter— you may be a passer-by
on some other occasion.
W hen these duties have been seen to, the head o f the house
or other responsible person should go to the place o f shelter, and,
after m aking certain that every one is there, close the entrance
and see that the sealing arrangements are everywhere intact.
 9

Rules to be closely observed in the place of shelter.

1. S it down and keep s t ill; i f warm th is required, us« blanket*
or other covering.
2. Don’t smoke.
3. D on ’t ligh t fires.
4. P ass the tim e reading, w riting, spwing, plnying card* ot
quiet games, listening to the wireless or gramophone. Avoid
exertion. D on’t let the children romp about.
5. D o not eat food that has come in contact w ith gas. A food
chest of some kind, or air-tight jars and tins, w ill guard against
this danger.
6. D on’t go out unnecessarily u ntil you hear tho all clear
signal. B e very cautious even then. T he raid m ay be over, yet
the rest of the house m ay still be fu ll o f gas. So except in in
emergency keep your fam ily in the shelter until you are sure
the house is cleared of gas.

What to do if fire breaks out.

A fire resulting from an incendiary or an explosive bomb
is like an ordinary fire, but tho incendiary bomb itself requires
special treatm ent (see below ).
D o your best by tho use of w ater, sand, earth, or any other
means available to control im m ediately the spread of fire. If
unable to do so, call the fire brigade.
B y keeping close to a w all, it is som etim es possible to more
safely about a room or corridor or down a staircase w hich ha*
been weakened by the effect o f fire.
"When you have to go near the seat of a fire keep low, and, if
possible, crawl because smoke and fum es aro less dense near th*
floor.

Incendiary Bombs and How to Deal with them.

These vary in w eight from 2 to 50 lb. The 2-lb. incen­
diary bomb is 14 inches long (including tho ta il) and
2 inches in diam eter, and is composed of an alloy of
m agnesium and alum inium . It contains therm ite and burns at
a high tem perature for ten to fifteen m inutes and it m ay remain
active for as long as tw enty m inutes, settin g fire to anything
inflammable w ithin 30 feet, but it docs n ot “ explode.” It wifi
burn through alm ost any m aterial, consequently it can cause
large fires i f not im m ediately controlled.
Y ou can tackle a sm all incendiary bomb yourself i f you
follow these directions.
 10

Bpfore you can get close enough to do anything, you w ill

probably have to cool down the room w ith water, preferably using
a line of hose.
I t m ay be advisable to put on a pair of dark glasses and protect,
your body w ith an asbestos shield.
There are two ways of dealing w ith the bomb itself, v iz.:—
1. I t can be controlled w ith a fine spray o f water. The best
w ay is to use the ordinary household w ater service and hose as a
m eans of directing a jet of water on to the fire surrounding the
bomb and then a fine spray on to the bomb itself. Water must
not be used on a bomb in any other way than as a fine spray;
or an explosion will result.
However, com plete reliance can not bo placed on the ordinary
service as water m ains m ay be damaged during a raid,
or firo brigade activities m ay seriously reduce the available
supply. Consequently, an independent source of water supply
should be provided in tanks, buckets, cans, or other receptacles.
The ideal equipm ent for use under these conditions is the
stirrup hand pump or bucket spray pump fitted w ith 30
feet o f hose and a dual purpose nozzle, g ivin g a jet of 30 feet
and a spray of about 15 feet. The equipm ent m ay be operated
effectively by two people, but three are preferable. One takes
charge of the fire-fighting and operates the nozzle, a sccond pum ps
the water from the bucket and tho third replenishes the supply
ir. the bucket and relieves the others as necessary, in addition to
keeping a lookout for further possible outbreaks of fire. * The
duties o f the second and third members are combined when only
two people are operating, T o approach the fire w ithout being
overcome by smoke, fum es, and heat, the fire-fighter should lie
down and keep his face near the floor, where it w ill bo found easier
to breathe and to see. H e should have a firem an’s axe or hatchet
for dealing w ith obstacles in his approach to the bomb, and an
clectric torch for use in searching for sm ouldering rem ains. A
wet blanket folded and slung across the left arm w ill help to
provide protection against the beat and spluttering m agnesium.
The bomb w ill violently splutter for about a m inute after w hich
the situation should be tackled as fo llo w s:—
(a) T he fire caused by the bomb should norm ally be con­
trolled first by m eans of the jet, thus enabling the
fire-fighter to approach to a distance o f about 15 feet
from the bomb.
(b) The spray should then be directed on to the bomb and
the fire-fighter should gradually work nearer to the
bomb, finally attacking it from about 6 feet. H e
should continue to direct the spray upon the bomb
 11

until it is entirely consumed, but it m ay be necessary

to stop spraying the bomb occasionally so as to keep
the resultant fire under control w ith the jet.
2. I t can be smothered w ith dry sand where you can get at it.
T his w ill control the combustion enabling a close approach to the
bomb. T he equipment for use w ith this method consists of a sand
container or bucket, a long-handled square mouth shovel, and a
hoe. The bucket should be kept full w ith dry sand. Sm other the
bomb by throwing sand on to it w ith the shovel. Then, placing
an inch layer o f sand on the shovel, the bomb can be approached,
and, by m eans of the hoe, raked on to tho shovel. P lace the bomb
in the bucket, m aking sure you have some sand under it, take
outside and em pty tho contents in a place where the bomb w ill
burn itself out harm lessly.
Remember that the bomb m ight burn through a floor before
you have had tim e to control it, and you m ight have to continue
to deal w ith it on the floor or ground below.

A fter the raid.

On em erging from shelter, refrain from m aking inquiries by
telephone how others havo fared as the C ivil D efence A uthorities
w ill need this fa cility for receiving reports and ordering assistance
when the factor of tim e w ill be of paramount importance. Speedy
com m unication m ay be tho deciding factor in the preservation
of life. It is better to go out and help others than to stay home
and fret.
A ct Prom ptly. Prompt Action may be the Means of Saving
Lives. Prompt A ction w ill Prevent Serious Damage. Prompt
A ction w ill M inim ize the effect of any Raid.

SECTION 3.— LIGHTING RESTRICTIONS.

Part I.— Lights in Domestic Premises.
1. R esponsibility of Police Department.
The L ighting R estrictions R egulations, which have been issued
under the National Security (Emergency 1‘ omers) Act 1939,
prescribe the extent to w hich the occupier of premises and others
a le responsible for the prevention of the em ission of artificial
light. T h ey em power the C hief Comm issioner of P olice to
enforce the R egulations or to grant exem ptions under specified
conditions. The Police D epartm ent is not responsible for pro­
scribing methods whereby citizens m ay comply with the R egu­
lations, but in these notes it desires to offer some general guidance
which m ay be of assistance to householders.
 12

X. Objective of lig h tin g restrictions.

The objective of Lighting Restrictions Regulations is a simple
one, namely, that hostile airmen shall see no lights which might
help to guide them to a particular objective or help them to
determine their position.

S. W hat is m eant by the emission of lig h t.

It can be said, as a general rale, that illuminated surfaces
which are plainly visible to ground observers at night can be seen
by airmen overhead. Householders must therefore prevent tho
emission of any light whatsoever from their homes.

1 W hat householders w ill be required to do w hen lig h tin g re­

strictions regulations are enforced.
(a) Screen windows so that no light is emitted. This
screening may take the form of shutters, curtains,
dark blinds, adhesive treatment on glass, &<;. In ­
formation regarding these methods is furnished
below.
( b) Screen all internal lights so that if windows are
broken no direct light will show outsider tho building.
Those who have indirect bowls or semi-indirect,
lighting fittings or portable lamps must make sure
that the lamp bulb is so located as to prevent any
direct light from the lamp falling upon the window
area.
(c) Screen all doors so that no light is emitted, either con­
tinuously when the door is open or momentarily
when the door is opened. This screening can bd
best effected by removing the globes from the lighting
fittings immediately inside outer doorways, and
erecting curtains within. The objective is to ensure
that a perfectly dark area exists inside each outer
door, so that persons using the door have to pass
through this dark area before reaching the lighted
portion of the house.
(d) Screen all sky lights, ventilators and other such areas,
which emit light.
(e) All outdoor lamp bulbs, such as those in open porche9,
verandahs, sheds, &c., or those lighting the garden
or pathways should be removed from the lamp
sockets.
 13

5. W h at to do under air raid conditions.

( а ) A ll screens, whether 011 windows, doors, sky lights, or
the like which are open by day to perm it tho entry
o f daylight, should be closed before dark to avoid
the em ission of ligh t should the ligh ts be turned on
in an unscreened room.
(б ) To guard against failu re of supply have on hand an
emergency m eans of producing light. F or safety
reasons this em ergency ligh tin g should be chosen
w ith a view to reducing fire hazard to a minimum.
Household types of oil lam ps arc unsatisfactory is
this regard, due to the p ossibility o f an explosion
in the vicin ity, causing tho lam p to upset. H u rri­
cane lamps are more satisfactory from the safety
point o f view. M otor car batteries, as a source of
ligh ting supply, and sm all electric lam ps are valuable,
provided the difficulty of charging a run-down battery
can be easily overcome. Should electric torches for
em ergency use be kept on hand, remember that the
ordinary type of torch is not perm itted for use out­
doors, and the only type of outdoor torch which
would be perm itted is a special A .R .P . type of
torch w hich w ill no doubt become available should
circum stanccs warrant.
8. W h at to do during an actual air raid at n ight.
A ll household lights, other than in tho place o f refuge, should,
a8 far as possible, bo kept turned off to avoid the p ossibility of
em ission of ligh t as a result of damage to screening devices from
explosion or weather.
A ny tem porary electric w iring required in tho placo of refuge
should bo installed by a licensed electrician, as it is im portant
that the creation of fire hazards due to fau lty tem porary w iring
be avoided.
7. L ight from flames or out-door fire.
L ighting restrictions apply to any form o f glow produood
from any source, such as an indoor fireplace or an outdoor
destructor. Care should bo taken to avoid creating flames in
the fireplace lik ely to cause a glow above the chim ney. Sim ilarly,
burning off, destroying rubbish, &e., should be done in daylight
and all glow ing embers carefully quenched before dark.

8. Methods of covering windows.

In England, window and door covering methods, which are
designed to com ply w ith ligh tin g restrictions regulations and also
 14

afford protection against shattered and flying fragm ents, are

divided into two categories.
(1 ) P rotection against the “ near effec ts” of explosions.
( 2 ) P rotection against the “ distant effec ts” of explosions.
To protect against “ near effe c ts” m eans the covering o f window
and door openings by any o f the means described on page 20.
These measures m ay, however, prove im practicable, as extra
■wall thicknesses would also be nccessary in m ost houses.
Should householders desire to adopt ligh tin g restriction methods
w hich w ill afford som e protection from “ distant effccts,” they
should take steps to guard against flying glass by adopting some
form of window covering such as described on page 24, and
again at the foot of this page and the follow in g two pages.
The inform ation set out below is intended to indicate methods
whereby the L ighting R estrictions R egulations m ay be complied
w ith, and the methods outlined do not, in general, provide pro
tection to the occupants from the effects of bomb explosions.
The principal dangers o f explosions are flying bomb or other
fragm ents and flying pieces of glass caused by the w indow glass
being destroyed by blast. L ight w eigh t wooden or steel shutters
or devices of sim ilar strength would undoubtedly afford some pro­
tection, provided that the resistance of the fixings to blast Or
flying fragm ents were equal to the strength of the shutters or
screens themselves. The danger of flying glass is a very real
one, and this can be guarded against by fixing %-in. strong wiro
m esh inside the glass and as close to the glass as possible. T he
fram es carrying the wire mesh should, of course, be very securely
fixed and, unless the glass, bo removed, such wire mesh should
be used inside the glass, even though the windows he protected
outside in some structural fashion. So im portant is it con­
sidered from a protection point of view to guard against flying
glass that such wire mesh fram es m ay be considered to bo tho
starting point in window protection.
The principal methods o f covering windows from a ligh ting
restrictions view -point m ay be divided in to two categories:—
A . M ethods w hich w ill perm it the entry of daylight.
B . M ethods which p artially or w holly restrict the entry
of daylight.

A.— Methods w hich w ill perm it the entry of daylight.

(a ) Shutters .— Shutters should be close fitting, and the catches
em ployed should be such that there is no danger of the shutters
opening due to vibration. The necessity for strong fixings has
been mentioned. M ost shutters tend to em it ligh t through
 15

cracks and crevices, and, consequently, use of internal dark

curtains or blinds is recommcndcd as an adjunct to tho use of
shutters. The nature of m aterial used for tho shutters and its
thickness w ill depend upon the degree of physical protection it
is proposed to provido in tho individual case, but in England pro*
tection against “ D istan t Effects ” means shutters of 1 inch to 3
inchcs thickness.
( b ) Curtains .— Opaque internal curtains of dark m aterial aro
a very effective m eans of preventing tho em ission o f light. Tho
curtain should overlap each side of the w indow opening by at
least 1 foot, and should be fixed down tho sides to prevent its
disturbance by wind, or heavily weighted for tho same purpose.
Curtains should, if possible, be in ono largo piece w ithout any
opening in the middle of the window. The m aterial should bo
such that, when held in front o f a naked electric ligh t globe, it
allows tho transm ission of only tho tiniest pin-points of light.
W hen viewed from the outside of tho house, w ith tho room behind
the curtain brightly lighted, thero should not bo tho slightest
suggestion o f the em ission of ligh t. A curtain o f a heavy typo
w ill a ls o . afford some protection against flying glass resulting
from blast.
(c ) Blinds .— B linds m ay be effectively used to prevent tho
em ission of ligh t, and tests sim ilar to those prescribed for curtains
should be em ployed. Perm anent cover strips should bo fixed down
the sides of the w indow to covor the edges o f tho blinds when
drawn. B linds should havo an overlap o f at least 6 inches all
round tho window. A lternatively, heavy side curtains should bo
em ployed to prevent any leakage of lig h t around tho sides of tho
blind.

B.—Methods which partially or wholly restrict the entry of

daylight.
(a ) Adhesive Treatments on Glass.— V arious ways of covering
glass w ith tho object o f preventing the em ission o f lig h t, and also,
in m any caBes, to provide somo protection against flying splinters
resulting from tho shattering of tho glass by blast, take tho form
of m aterials fixed to the glass w ith an adhesive, or o f m aterials
applied in liquid form to tho glass by brush or spray. In select­
in g a w indow treatm ent tho im portant requirem ents aro:—
( i ) Tho m aterial should adhere strongly to the glass to
w hich it should bo attached on tho inside.
( i i ) T he m aterial and adhesive should retain their pro­
perties for a reasonable tim e under exposure on the
window.
 lb

( iii) I f it is the intention to provide some protection from

flving glass, resulting from the shattering of glass
by blast, the m aterial should, in addition to its other
qualities, possess considerable textile strength or
flexibility.
F ollow in g are some details o f m aterials for use in adhesive
treatm ents on glass:—
( i ) Paper .— P apers that are thick and tough are preferable
to thin papers, of w hich the non-splintering effect
is lik ely to be slight. P apers reinforced w ith a
m esh of cotton, linen, hem p, sisal, or other fibre
are better than other types.
It is im portant that the adhesive should remain
slightly tacky. S uitable adhesives are an ordinary
flour paste w ith 5 per cent, o f glycerine or treaelc
added, or gum arabic w ith 5 per cent, of glycerine
added.
( » ) Cardboard .— W here perm anent obscuration does not
m atter, an all-over covering of cardboard m ay be
used. A dhesives should be stronger than those used
for paper; suitable adhesives are flexible glues fo r
either cold or hot application, paperhanger’s paste
or “ cold w ater paste.” T he last two m aterials
should be m ade rather stronger than usual, and it
m ay bo necessary to wot the cardboard before
applying the adhesive to it.
( i i i ) Textile Materials .— V arious textile m aterials can be
glued to the glass and provide perm anent obscura­
tion of d ayligh t except w hen the w indow s are open.
H essian pressed into a bitum inous em ulsion painted
all over the glass is opaque and gives good resistance
to splintering.
(iv ) Pa in t .— P a in t m ay be applied on the outsiAs to per­
m anently obscure windows, but has the disadvantage,
in that any slight scratches allow lig h t to be em itted,
and daylight is perm anently obscured except when
windows are opened.
P a in ts containing rubber latex as an ingredient arc
particularly effective for obscuration purposes, hut
only those com positions that contain pre-vulcanized
latex or vulcanizing ingredients are likely to have
more than a short life.
P a in t, w ith the exception o f rubber latox, offers little
or no resistance to shatter. Rubber latex paints,
when properly applied, offer valuable protection from
shatter when applied to sm all panes.
 17

Part II.—Road Vehicles and Pedestrians,

lig h ts Carried by Road Vehicles in the Defined Area.
L ightin g restrictions applied to road vohiclca aro an im portant
feature of the precautionary measures to be taken against air
attack. The aim is to ensure that hostile airm en shall soe no
ligh ts which m ight serve to guide them to a particular objective
or help determ ine their position.
I t m ay briefly bo explained that, unless expressly authorized
by the R egulations or by tho C hief Comm issioner of P olice, no
lights other than those masked or screened by contrivances
approved by the C hief Comm issioner of P olico m ay bo used on
the outside of any road vehicle.

What to do to Comply with the Regulations under Air Raid

Conditions.
Tho follow ing sim ple method of m asking or screening lamps
on road vehicles m ust be applied to m eet tho requirements of tho
Regulations.

1. Headlamps.
Two headlam ps (i.o., lam ps exceeding a power of 7 w atts or its
equivalent) m ay be used, provided they com ply w ith tho follow ing
co n d ition s:—
(а ) Tho lower h alf of each bulb m ust bo com pletely
obscured by m eans o f black paint or by fitting a m etal
cup.
(б ) A n opaque cardboard disc m ust be fitted im m ediately
behind the glass or lens of each lam p covering tho
whole area of tho glass or lens except for an aper­
ture 1 | inches wide running horizontally across tho
centre.
(c ) The lower part of the refloctor o f each lam p must bo
com pletely blacked out up to a distance of half an
inch abovo the centre lino o f tho rollcctor, e.g., w ith
black cardboard, paper or w ith two coats of matt
black paint.
2. Rear lam p .
E very vehicle m ust carry a lam p displaying to the rear of tha
vehicle a red ligh t screened and dimmed to comply with tha
follow ing con d itions:—
(a) The bulb must not exceed 7 watts in power or iU
equivalent.
 18

(b) The reflectors of the lamp must be painted with matt

black paint or otherwise rendered non-effective.
(c) In the case of a lamp having a surface area through
which light is emitted greater than a circle of 2-in.
diameter or its equivalent, the lamp must be par-
. tially masked by reducing, by means of an opaque
screen, the aperture through which light is emitted
to a circle of 2 inches or equivalent area.
( d) Tho aperture through which light is emitted must be
partially obscured by inserting behind the glass,
paper or some other uncoloured material having a
density equal to that of two sheets of newspaper, or
by applying a thin coat of paint to the interior of
the glass in such a way that approximately the same
effect is produced. The paper, paint, or other
material must cover the whole of the portion of the
front glass through which light can pass, and must
not be wetted, oiled, varnished, or treated in any
other way to increase its transparency.
(e) All panels other than the obligatory red light and any
stop light must be completely obscured.
3. Parking and Side lamps.
(a) Two side or two parking lamps may be used, provided
they are screened and dimmed in accordance with
paragraph 2, (a), ( b), (c), and ( d) above.
(b) Side, rear, and top panels must be completely
obscured.
4. Stop lights.
Stop lights may bo used, provided they aro screened in accord­
ance with tho conditions laid down for rear lights, and are further
restricted so that the aperture through which light is emitted is
of area not exceeding 1 square inch.

5. Dual Purpose lamps.

In the case of m >tor cycles and other vehicles on which the same
lamp serves both as a headlamp and parking lamp, the dual re­
quirements may be met by masking the lamp in the manner pre­
scribed in paragraph 1, (a), (b), and (c).
6. lig h ts Inside Vehicles.
_ Prom sunset to sunrise no light which is visible from the out­
side must be used to illuminate the interior of any vehicle unless
expressly authorized by the Regulations or by the Chief Com­
missioner of Police.
 19

7. lig h t s on Pedal Cycles.

L ights on pedal cycles m ay be used, provided that they com ply
with the follow in g conditions:—
Head Lam p.
(a ) Tho upper h alf o f the front glass m ust bo com pletely
obscured.
( b ) Tho lower h alf of any rcflector m ust bo treated with
black paint or otherw ise rendered non-effective.
(c ) P anels or w indows provided for tho em ission of light,
other than that facin g to tho front, m ust bo com ­
pletely obscured,
(<2) A ll other apertures, such as those provided for venti­
lation purposes, m ust as far as practicable, bo
screened to prevent the em ission o f light, particularly
in an upward direction.
(e ) T he light em itted by the lam p m ust bo white.
T a il Lig ht.
(a ) The tail ligh t m ust bo screened and dimm ed in
accordance w ith the conditions laid down in para­
graph 2.
8. W h ite P ain t on V ehicles.
A s a safety m easure w hite p aint m ay bo applied to bumpers
and to the edges of running boards, or to tho oquivalcnt positions
on vehicles to which this requirement m ay bo inapplicable.
0. Pedestrians.
Pedestrians when out on the streets or roads at n ight should
do their best to m ake them selves visible to othor people, p arti­
cularly to drivers of vehicles. A light-coloured su it or overcoat,
or w hite handkerchiefs attached to tho arms w ould help con­
siderably.

W h at to do D uring an A ctual Air R aid a t N ig h t.

1. F irst W arning Signal.
On tho sounding of tho first w arning signal— “ Prepare for
A ir R a id ” (a scries o f short and long b lasts), all vehicular ligh ts
must bo im m ediately dimmed by reducing tho power of all ligh ts
to a power not exceeding 7 w atts or its equivalent.
2. Second W arning Signal.
On tho sounding of tho second w arning signal— " R a id Im ­
pending ” (a series of five-second blasts with two-second in tervals),
all vehicles m ust bo brought to a halt as near as possible to the-
kerb or roadside, and all lights extinguished.
 20

3. Third Warning Signal.

On the sounding of th e third w arning sign al— “ A ll C le a r ”
(a continuous blast of two m inutes’ d u ration ), vehicles may
again be driven under the conditions referred to in P a rt I I . of
this section.

SECTION 4.—SHELTERS.
Part L—Refuge Rooms.
Structural requirements.
F u ll scale experim ents conducted w ith 500 lb. h igh explosive
bombs show that, outside a 50-ft. radius from the point of explo­
sion, the average w ell-built brick house should give its occupant*
substantial protection against blast and splinter effects, m achine
gun bullets and ligh t m issiles, subject to certain provisions being
made.
W indows and doorways should be blocked up at least to a
height of 6 feet, or barricaded either in tern ally or externally,
ceilings m ust be supported in case of collapse o f the roof or upper
storey, and w all thicknesses should be brought into lin e w ith the
follow ing standards of lateral protection:—
(1 ) 1 | inch thickness of m ild steel plato or plates.
( 2 ) 12 inches thickness of reinforced concrete.
( 3 ) 13J inches o f sound brickwork or stonework.
( 4 ) 15 inches thickness of unreinforced concrete.
( 5 ) 2 feet thickness of ballast or broken stone.
( 6 ) 2 ft. 6 in . of earth or sand.
W indows and doorways m ay be blocked by various methods
such as:—
(a ) 1 3i-in ch brickwork built into the openings after the
removal o f the fram es, or building up on the outside
from foundation level.
( b) B y m eans of concrete blocks sim ilarly used.
( c ) B y m eans of fram ed barricades consisting of boards,
corrugated iron, or suitable fram ing attached to the
walls covering the openings, and fillin g the space
w ith ballast, sand, or earth to the required thickness.
( d ) B y timber, stacked solid to a thicknes3 o f 3 feet
laterally.
( e ) B y means of sandbag revetm ents, which, however, have
a lim ited life as exposure sets up rot, ultim ately
causing collapse.
Strengthening and supporting of ceilings should only be carried
out under the supervision o f a qualified person.
 21

lim it s of Accommodation.
A lthough an actual raid m ay bo over in a few m inutes, it
m ay be necessary to. stay in the refuge-room for some tim e, even
perhaps for several hours, until the gas which m ay bo in the
neighbourhood has been cleared away. Y ou should therefore
know how inauy persons can rem ain safely in a sealed room w ith ­
out suffering any ill-effects. F or rooms of norm al height (!) to
10 fee t) an allowance of 25 square feet of floor area for each
person w ill enable those persons to rem ain in the room for a
continuous period of two hours w ithout ventilation.
A room 10 ft. x 10 ft. w ill therefore hold 4 persons,
A room 15 ft. x 10 ft. w ill therefore hold 6persons.
A room 20 ft. x 12 ft. w ill therefore hold 9persons.

Selection.
General.— Some rooms are more suitable as refuges than
others. Choose a room that is soundly constructed and is
easy to enter and leave. Its windows should bo as few and
sm all as possible. A room w ith large windows should bo
avoided. I f a ground floor room facin g a wide street or a stretch
of level open ground is chosen, tho windows should, i f possible, be
specially protected. A room facin g a garden or field should be
selected and is always preferable to one facin g a street or paved
area unless existing protection is much greater. Tho stronger
the w alls, floors, and ceiling are, the better. Brick partition walls
are better than lath and plaster, a concrete ceiling is better than
a wooden one. Perhaps an internal passage could be converted,
or a special room m ight be built on to the house. In m any eases
difficulty m ay be experienced in choosing a room suitable for use
as a refuge. A garden shelter of the covered type, vide page 25,
m ay be a ready means of overcom ing this difficulty, since timber
or p artially timber houses do not, without adaptation, offor the
degree of protection desired.
The Best Flo o r for a Refuge-room .— A cellar or basement is a
good place for a refuge-room i f it can be made gas-resisting, if
there is no likelihood of its becom ing flooded, tho entrances are
not lik ely to be covered w ith fallen debris, and the ceiling is
strong enough to bear tho w eight o f debris. A basement is
definitely not suitable unless these conditions aro satisfied.
In cities where there are m ulti-storied steel framo buildings,
the inner rooms on tho third, fourth, and fifth floors, providing
that there is a roof and at least one floor above tho refuge-room,
are suitable.
 22

Alternatively any room'*on any floor below tlie top floor may bo
used. Top floors and attics should be avoided as they usually
do not give sufficient overhead protection from small incendiary
bombs. These small bombs would probably penetrate the roof
but be stopped by the top floor, although they might burn through
to the floor below if not quickly dealt with.
In flats or tenements each household can either make its own
arrangements or arrange for communal refuges. It is, however,
important that top floor dwellers should find shelter accommoda­
tion downstairs. They might share a refuge-room or they might
arrange to occupy the basement. But tho basement premises
will have to be prepared as refuges in the same way as ordinary
rooms, according to the instructions given in this booklet. It is
suggested that in any flats or tenement houses, or in a house
occupied by more than one family, representatives be chosen and
formed into a protection committee to decide upon the most
suitable rooms, and‘to prepare them as refuge-rooms if it should
be necessary to provide for the safety of all.
You can make a refuge-room even if you have no surplus room
to set aside. I f you have only one room you can make it a place
of greater safety—even if you adopt only some of the suggestions
contained in this booklet. A room within solid walls is a safer
place than in the open, so don't run into the street to find better
shelter if you hear an air raid warning.
Gas resisting methods.
No serious amount of gas will come into a room unless there
are draughts or currents of air to carry it in, so any cracks or
openings which might admit draughts must be sealed up.

11 ow to deal with cracks in walls, floors, and odd places.

In old houses, especially, windows and doors may shut badly.
There may be cracks underneath the window sills on the inside.
There may be cracks in the ceiling. Fill in all cracks and
crevices with putty. Place pleated gummed paper over the cracks
when filled. Seal all door and window frames with pleated
gummed paper—the pleat allows of a certain amount of movement
due to concussion without breaking the paper. Fill in the cracks
between floor boards and paste sheets of paper over the whole
floor. I f you have linoleum or an overall carpet, it should be
replaced after the cracks underneath have been attended to. Fill
in all cracks around the skirting boards and where pipes pass
through the walls. All trap doors, skylights, and hatches in the
room should be sealed with pleated gummed paper. All ventilators
in the outside walls of the house below the floor level should be
 23

stopped up with rags or paper, occasionally removing and re­

placing theso when opportunity offers, to allow access of air to
prevent rotting of floor timbers. Ventilators above the floor level
should bo similarly treated or preferably be fitted with close-
fitting adjustable covers. I f there is a fireplace, stuff the chimney
with paper, rags, or sacks. Do not, of course, light a firo in the
grajte afterwards. Place a sheet of plywood in front of tho fire­
place and seal with adhesive tape. Plug key holes. In unsowered
areas plug waste pipos or overflow pipes in any basin or sink in
the refugo room. I f you are doubtful whether holes or cracks
let in air, play for safety and seal them up. You can still use the
room for ordinary living purposes, provided you can do without
a fire. I f a firo is necessary, be ready to put it out quickly and
to seal the chimney and fireplace.
H o w to seal the windows.
The windows should be sealed so that draughts or gas cannot
come in. "Wedgo firmly to keep them tightly fixed in their
frames. Seal all round the frames with pleated gummed paper
wherever there is a crack. Be cautious and make a thorough
job of it. Any broken panes should be replaced, boarded in, or
the holes pasted over with strong paper. This will not eliminate
(he possibility of glass being broken by tho blast of a bomb
explosion, perhaps quite a long way off. So protect the glass in
one of the ways suggested later.
Be ready to re-seal tho window openings if tho glass gets
broken. For this purpose have some stout materials handy to
hang or fasten over them. Use a close-woven material or a blind,
for instance, if it is large enougTi. Fasten by nailing it with
thin strips of wood to the window frame all round and then seal
the edges with adhesive tape.
H o w to seal the doors.
Doors which need not bo used should be permanently sealed.
Pleated gummed paper should be fixed firmly all round the cracks
or openings, especially at tho foot, and tho key-hole plugged.
Doors which have to be used should be sealed against gas.
Nail a piece of wood, padded with felt, to tho floor, so that the
door, when closed, presses tightly against it. Strips of felt may
also be tacked round the inside of tbo door to exclude draughts.
Fix a blanket outsido the door if the door opens inwards, or inside
the door if the door opens outwards, with strips of wood. Tho
top of the blanket should bo fixed to the top of the door frame.
One side of the blanket should be fastened down the wholo
length of the door-frame on tho side where the hinges are, by
means of a strip of wood nailed to tho frame. The other side
 24

of the blanket should be secured not more than 2 feet down so-
that the Hap is le ft free for going in and out. Arrange the blanket
so that at least 12 inches trails on the floor, so as to stop air
from blow ing underneath it. I f the blanket is kept damp during
an air raid, it w ill provide better protection.
A lternatively, if desired, an adjustable roller blanket curtain
mounted on a timber fram e could bo fitted to the door fram e.

Preparation against the effects of explosive bombs.

There are three m ain types of bombs— an incendiary bomb, a
gas bomb, a h igh explosive bomb. P recautions against fire arc de­
scribed on page 7, and tho w ay to deal w ith the incendiary bombs
and fires, under the heading “ W hat to do i f firo breaks out,”
on page 9. W hat to do to protect yourself against gas has
been indicated. H ow to provide some protection against tho effects
of explosive bombs is dealt w itli here. T he essential thing is to
protect the refuge-room against the shock of a bomb that m ay
burst some distance away, and from flying glass and splinters
caused by the explosion.

Protecting the windows.

U nless a window is barricaded, as m entioned on page 20, it is
not easy to prevent the glass o f closed windows being shattered
by the blast o f an explosion, even at some distance away. B u t you
can lim it the number of splinters of glass being blown into the
room, and generally strengthen the windows by covering them
inside by one of the follow ing three m eth od s:—

( 1 ) ?T extile
S ° m : aterial
r I b,°ard \ r Glued
, or gummed to the inside
• •. _____
m i. • r of the w indow pane.
Transparent coveringsUJ v
Adhesives such as gum , flour paste or paper-hanger’s
paste are suitable if a little glycerine or treacle is
added. F lexible glues can also be used— Sodium
S ilicate ( “ waterglass ” ) should not be used, as it is
liable to dam age the surface of the glass— (see
page 1 6 ).
(2 ) W ire netting, not bigger than ^-in. m esh, fixed to a
detachable wooden fram e made to fit the inside o f
the window opening. T h is w ill not keep out rain or gas
i f the glass is shattered.
( 3 ) Light-w eight screen fixed over the window inside. T h e
screen is made o f a ligh t sheet m aterial, w hich is
nailed to a ligh t wooden fram e. Suitable m aterials are
plywood, w all board, thick cardboard, tin sheets, felts,
linoleum , or plaster board. A strip of rubber, felt,
or other thick fabric, m ay be tacked on the outsido
 26

edge o f tho screen fram e to make it fit tight into tho

w indow fram e, and this also assists in keeping out gas.
Screens should not be screwed or firm ly fixed to window
fram e, as they w ill then be liable to breakage by blast.
A tight fit is all that is necessary, allow ing for easy
replacement i f dislodged.

Part I I.— Garden Shelters.

There are four types of garden shelters w hich w ill give good
protection from blast and splinters. Three o f them give overhead
protection and can bo made gas-resisting. These four types aro—
1. The Open Trench, providing no overhead protection, is
' the sim plest form of garden shelter. I t consists of a trench
4 to 5 feet deep, 4-J feet w ide at the top, tapering to 3^ feet
wide at the bottom.
I t can be excavated in firm earth, shale or clay, and if tho
sides show signs of fallin g in, they can be supported w ith
suitable posts sheeted w ith boarding or corrugated galvanized
iron.
The earth from the excavation should be thrown about a
foot clear at the top, and distributed all round to keep out
surface drainage.
Duckboards or planks placcd on the floor of tho trench
are desirable. A llow 3 feet length o f trench for each person
to be accommodated. A n open trench should not be straight
fo r more than 15 to 20 feet. Seo Sketch N o . 1, page 31.
2. Partly-sunk Shelter.— See Sketch N o. 2, page 32. This
coverrd trench is a development o f typo N o. 1. T he overhead
cover provides against flooding, in addition to raid protection.
The sides can be built up w ith sandbags or boxwood eases
filled w ith earth. Hoof timbers support tho corrugated iron
carrying the eai’th cover. I f tho sides o f tho trench show
signs of collapse they can be supported as in type 3.
A convenient type is provided in tho Anderson shelter,
which is constructed of heavy galvanized corrugated steel
on a steel-framed base sunk partially in the ground and
covered w ith earth. I t is G ft. 6 in. long, 4 ft. 6 in. wide,
and 6 feet high, and is designed to accommodate four persons.
I t has been used extensively in England, and has proved
satisfactory. See Sketches 3 and 4, pages 33 and 34.
3. Surface Shelter.— T h is type of shelter is suitable for
erection on the surface where rock, sand, or water-logged soil
is m et w ith. T he sides m ay he packed with earth, stones, or
sandbags, and tho overhead cover is sim ilar to typo 2. See
Sketch N o. 5. page 35.
 26

Another type of surface shelter is called the pill-box typ e,

•which can be m ade of brickwork, concrete, or concrete block
m asonry, w ith reinforced concrete roof and a concrete floor,
the m inim um floor area being G ft. 6 in. x 4 ft. 6 in .,
accom m odating six persons. I t is desirable that tho w alls
be reinforced, a bitum inous damp course bo placed n ear
ground level uud that the roof projects outside the w alls a
m inim um distance o f 3 inches. Shelters m ay be built sin g ly
or grouped on the boundaries of properties where-
convenient. G rouping offers the advantage o f economy.
W all thicknesses should conform to the standards
mentioned previously in this booklet. The roof should'
consist o f 5-in. reinforced concrete, either east in position
or o f pre-cast sections, and the floor can bo of brick o r
concrete of norm al thickness. T he 5-in. concrete roof w ill
give good protection against incendiary bombs and flyin g
m issiles. See Sketch N o. 6, page 36.
Shelters o f the partly-sunk or surface types, w ith the-
exception o f the pill-box type, should be placed so that the
entrance is facing, and w ithin 6 to 15 feet, of the house, so
that the house, i f brick, w ill provide protection for tho
entrance. In other instances, protection of the entrance w ill
necessitate a solidly-constructed wall.
4. Underground Shelter.— See Sketches 7 and 8 at end o f
booklet.
T he shelter consists o f a m ain chamber w hich, if necessary,
may bo made gas-resisting by the provision o f two blanket screens
placed about 4 feet apart in the entrance to the shelter.
W ith the blanket screens in position five persons m ay rem ain
in the sealed m ain chamber for a continuous period o f one h our
w ithout ventilation.
Site .— Underground shelters should be so placed that there is no­
danger of their being covered by debris from near-by buildings.
Excavate them at a distance at least equal to h a lf the height o f
the nearest building. T he site should preferably be in stiff
clay or other firm m aterial.

Materials .— The quantities of timber and iron required aro

given on page 29.

Excavation .— E xcavate a trench w ith vertical sides and ends

17 ft. 9 in. long and 5 feet w ide to a depth of 6 ft. 6 in. Square
off from one end o f this trench, excavate another 6 ft. 9 in.
long, 3 ft. 9 in. wide to a depth o f 6 ft. 3 in., and cut out
at its end the steps as shown on the sketches. About 32
 27

cu b ic yards o f excavation arc necessary to cut these trenchcs.

T he m aterial dug out should be deposited tem porarily a few feet
•outside the lines of the trenches so that it w ill be readily a v a il­
ab le for covering over the roof when the fram ework of tho shelter
has been constructed.
In digging the trenches precautions should be taken against the
■possibility o f the earth on the sides slidin g into them, par­
ticularly if tho work is being carried out after heavy rains, or
where the nature of the ciurtli is such that a slide m ight be
expected. I f there is any doubt o f the earth not standing up,
esp ecially after exeavating to a depth o f say 3 feet, place timbers
along the sides and tem porarily strut them w ith cross timbers.
T o save unnecessary labour in digging, it is im portant that the
sides be made vertical and true.

Drainage .— Cut out the V-shaped section on tho floor o f the

longer trench and dig a pit opposite tho entrance about 2 feet
square and 2 feet deep so thut any w ater that m ight accum ulate
can be baled out. The V-slmped drain should bo sligh tly graded
w ith a fall of a few inches from the ends of tho trench to the
<lrainago pit. A nother p it for drainage should bo dug at the foot
•of the steps as shown.
Construction.— W ith the digging completed, it becomes neces­
sary to place tho iron and timbers to form tho shelter, .Mark
out on the floor of the trench tho positions of tho 4-iu. x 4-in.
uprights at the corners. These are at 17 ft. 1 in. and 4 ft. 3 in.
contres. Space out the positions o f tho interm ediate uprights;
these are 1 ft. 6 in. centres on the long side and about 1 ft. 5 in.
centres on tho ends. D ig sm all holes w ith a bar to n further
depth of 8 inches at these positions so that they w ill easily takq
the uprights in them. F or euso in placing tho iron on tho sidos,
drive tim ber pegs, say 0 inches x 2 inches x 2 inches, horizontally
into the sides o f the trench at say 2-ft. spacings opposite tho
position of the 4 in. x 1^ in. timber battens.
A ll the preparatory work in tho trench having been com­
pleted, now proceed to place tho iron and tim ber in position,
m aking sure the timbers are cut to tho proper lengths beforo
starting. P lace tho 7-ft. sheets o f galvanized corrugated iron
with the corrugations vertical; allow an overlap o f two corru­
gations per sheet, and nail them to tho pt'gs you have driven into
the sides. Place the 4-in. x l |- i n . battens in tho positions as
shown and nail them to tho pegs. P lace tho (5-in. x 3-in. bod
plates on the ordinary ground level just outside the edges of
th e trench, bed them in sand or earth, and ram them
firm . P lace the 6-in. x 3-in. x 8-ft. rafters across tho top
o f the trench and seot them on tho bod plates. Tho position
 23

of these w ill bo such that the edges of the uprights w ill

come flush with their sides. Then piace the uprights in posi­
tion, hurd up against the battens, ram earth around their basoR
and secure them at their tops to the 6-in. x 3-in. rafters w ith
4-in. nails. Bore holes for the nails. B olts m ay be used if desired.
N ow plane the 2-in. x 2-in., 3-in. x 2-in., and 4-in. x 2-in. timbers
(purlins'* on top of the 6-in. x 3-in. rafters and skew n a il tliem.
P la ce the 8 feet corrugated sheets on the purlins w ith the corru­
gations across the trench, allow two corrugations overlap of sheets,
and place earth at the ends o f sheets to hold them down, or n ail
them. A llow for construction o f an em ergency exit through
roof as shown on drawing.
The construction of the entrance is sim ilar to the above,
except that the overhead lin in g boards are nailed to the bed
plates, and the rafters over the trench opposite tho entrance are
longer than the ordinary rafters.
P lace the timber sheeting at the entrance to retain the earth.
N ow shovel over the roof all the m aterial excavated, so that
there w ill be at least 2 feet o f earth over it all round.
P lace C-in. x 1-in. timbers to form the steps in to tho shelter,
put in the floor to the shelter, and, i f required, the seats. W hen
layin g the floor provide a square lid over each drainage p it, so that
baling of seepage water can be done w ithout h a vin g to take up
the flooring boards. L ay the boards on the floor o f the entrance,
and if any openings are show ing between or under them fill w ith
sand or clay, thus preventing gas from filtering through under
the floor.
P rovide a fa irly heavy blanket, cut it to tw o suitable sires
and n ail them to fram es placed about 4 feet apart in the entrance,
m aking sure they are air-tight.
The life o f the shelter w ill be lengthened if ( 1 ) all timbers
which come in contact w ith the earth are of red gum , or jarrah,
instead of hardwood; that is, the uprights, bed plates, rafters,
3-in. x 2-in. spreaders below tho floor, seat posts, flooring in the
entrance and the sheeting above the entrance; and (2 ) the external
face of the iron is given a coating consisting of bitum en em ulsion,
w ith dry sand thrown over it, the coating being allowed to dry out
beforo the iron is used. A lternatively, two coats of anti-corrosive
paint m ay be applied.
I f timber is used for the sides instead o f iron it should be
1 inch thick, placed horizontally, in which case the 4-in. x 1^-in.
battens can be dispensed w ith.
The type described represents w hat m ay bo termed a m odel tarm
o f trench shelter providing a certain am ount o f com fort as w ell
as protection from blasts, splinters and gas. A shelter of this
type exists in Treasury Gardens, Spring-street, Melbourne.
 29

M aterials required for construction of underground shelter.

jSaivn Timber —
Posts, 4" x 4 " — C/8'.
P osts, 4" x 2 "— 3 3 /8 ', 2 /5 ' 6", 2/4', 2/2'.
Bed plates, 0" x 3"— 1 /1 7 ', 1 /2 0 ', 1 /1 6 ', 1 /1 2 ', 1 /8 '.
R afters, 6" x 3"— 3 /1 0 ' 3", 1 0 /8 '.
Sheeting posts, 3" x 3"— 2 /4 '.
Sheeting, 6" x 1 "— 5 /8 '.
Flooring, 6" x 1"— i / 7 ' , 7 /7 ' 6", 5 /2 0 '.
Steps, 6" x 1"— 1 4 /3 ' 6".
Seat posts, 3" x 2"— 8 /2 ' 6".
Seat bearers, 3" x 2"— 8 /2 '.
Seat rails, 3" x 1J"— 4 /2 0 '.
B attens, 4" x l^ " — 4 /1 9 ', 2 /1 8 ', 4 /1 6 ', 1 /1 4 ', 3 /1 3 ', 2 /9 ',
2 /6 ', 4 /5 '.
R oof purlins, 4" x 2"— 1 /2 0 '.
„ „ 3" x 2"— 2 /2 0 '.
„ „ 2" x 2 " —2 /2 0 ', 2 /8 '.
Floor bearers, 3" x 2"— 1 3 /5 ', 6 /3 ' 6".
P egs, 2" x 2"— 60/9" .
L inin g boards, 6" x — 6 /5 ’.

Tim ber for Emergency E x i t —

Corner posts, 2" x 2"— 4 /3 '.
Sheeting, 6" x 1"— 2 4 /2 ' G".
Braces, 4" x 2"— 2 /2 '.
Cover, 6" x 1"— 6 /3 '.
Cleats, 2" x 2"— 4 /3 '.
Ladder, 3" x 2"— 2 /1 0 ', 2" x 1$"— 1 1 /1 ' 9".

Galvanized Iron —
F la t— 2 /5 ' x 3' sheets (em ergency ex it).
1 /3 ' x 3' (ex it cover).
Corrugated— 1 1 /8 ', 1 /6 ' (to cut 2 /3 ') (ro o f).
3 0 /7 ', 4 /6 ' (sid es).
W ire nails, 2 lb. 4", 4 lb. 3", 2 lb. 2".

A lso a thick blanket cut to requirements.

Cover o f emergency exit to bo placcd in position and held down
on underside by catches allow ing for quick removal if necessary,
 so

S tanding fa
Street.

Relative Risks from A i r Raids

under V a ryin g
C o n d itio n s of S h e lte r.

Lying in
Street.

Lying Behind
Low C over
o r in
D oorw ay.

In shelter o f
Sheltering In approved
H ouse o r
O ther Place type, e.g.,
A nderson
A ffording
He»d and Shelter,
Side C over Covered
T rench,
■way from S trutted Base­
W in d o w
m ent, o r
Surface
S helter.

Thii diagram is based on a large num ber o f report* o f the results o f recent air raids
and is an approxim ate indication o f the difference in the degree o f risk resulting
from taking cover in various ways.
31

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For entrance protection, see page 20, par.
 35

See page 25.

For entrance protection, see page 26, par.
 36

See page 2G.

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 Consider the contents of this booklet carefully.
Plan thoroughly what you would do in case of an
emergency. The Government will tell you when,
if ever, it considers you should put the suggestions
herein into effect.