and so it started-the 3rd September 1939. Britian was at war with Germany.

At 11:15 AM The Prime Minister interrupted the regular radio broadcasts to announce that Britain and Germany were at war. At 11:27 AM London's air raid sirens began to wail. It was only a test, but unlike the many tests that had been conducted before, this one struck home - the country really was at war. Sandbags were hastily filled to protect important buildings, gas masks became required equipment for civilians, the nightly blackout became a way of life and children were herded aboard evacuation trains to escape the danger of the city.

This is the King's Speech which George VI broadcast to his people in Britain, and throughout the Empire, immediately after Britain's Declaration of War against Germany on September 3, 1939.

“In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in our history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself. For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war.

Over and over again, we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies; but it has been in vain. We have been forced into a conflict, for we are called, with our allies, to meet the challenge of a principle which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world. It is a principle which permits a state, in the selfish pursuit of power, to disregard its treaties and its solemn pledges, which sanctions the use of force or threat of force against the sovereignty and independence of other states.

Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right, and if this principle were established through the world, the freedom of our own country and of the whole British Commonwealth of nations would be in danger. But far more than this, the peoples of the world would be kept in bondage of fear, and all hopes of settled peace and of the security, of justice and liberty, among nations, would be ended.

This is the ultimate issue which confronts us.  For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, and of the world order and peace, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge. It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home, and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own. I ask them to stand calm and firm and united in this time of trial.

The task will be hard.  There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield, but we can only do the right as we see the right, and reverently commit our cause to God.  If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand, then with God's help, we shall prevail.

May He bless and keep us all.”  

The London County Council (LCC) were responsible for organising all the necessary ARP services in their area. Although the standard procedures prescribed that the ideal warden should be at least 30 years old, men and women of all ages were wardens. In certain instances, given special needs of communities, even teenagers were wardens. The role of ARP was open to both men and women but only men could serve in the gas contamination (teams that dealt with chemical and gas bombs), heavy and light rescue and demolition services.

Control of a LCC and Borough warden service was through a chief warden to whom each sector's area warden would report. Within London borough's the initial aim was to have one warden to every 500 residents (this increased later), reporting from individual warden posts - each with its own post warden. Post wardens received messages from the local wardens which they passed to the central Report and Control headquarters.

ARP wardens were initially set up in temporary posts (in homes, shops and offices) and later in purpose-built facilities, mainly at the junctions of roads. In cities, a warden post was responsible for a small area (larger in rural areas) with five wardens to every 4-5,000 people. In London there were approximately ten posts to the square mile. Divided into sectors each post had between three and six wardens who had local knowledge of the location of shelters, utilities (water, gas, electric), what buildings contained (important for the fire services) and who was resident in their sector. ARP wardens had the task of patrolling the streets during blackouts, to ensure that no light was visible. If a light was spotted, the warden would alert the person/people responsible by shouting something like "Put that light out!” They could report persistent offenders to the local police.

During the so called seven-month ‘Phoney War’ following the outbreak of war in September 1939, ARP wardens mainly offered advice, issued gas masks and air raid shelters (such as the external Anderson internal Morrison shelters) and enforced the blackout. 

Sand bagging outside the Palace of Westminster. 1939.

The role of ARP services came into their own during the Blitz of 1940-41. ARO control centres would sound the air raid sirens and wardens would marshal people into the shelters and then watch out for the fall of any bombs within their sector - often done during air raids and therefore highly dangerous.

When the wardens came across the site of a bombing they were telephone for the emergency services, render first aid to victims with minor injuries and deal with small fires (placing sand on incendiary devices). Other ARP units included light and heavy rescue parties, and first-aid and stretcher parties and messenger boys (who cycled between incidents carrying messages from wardens). Other duties included helping to police areas suffering bomb damage and helping bombed-out householders, and to keep an emergency under control until official rescue services arrived.

From the 1 September 1939 a small percentage of ARP wardens were full-time and were paid a salary (£3 for men, £2 for women), but most were part-time volunteers who carried out their ARP duties as well as full-time jobs. 

Two days earlier, in the afternoon, the London Fire Brigade was instructed to implement Emergency Fire Brigade Measures. Plans had been in preparation since 1938. All those serving in the LFB had been placed on continuous duty. All leave was cancelled. All fire authorities across the UK were ordered to call out their Auxiliary Fire Services (AFS) and proceed with mobilisation arrangements. 

In London and summoned by telegram, telephone and despatch rider, men and women of the AFS poured into their local fire stations in accordance with what they had been told, bringing with them some form of bedding, something to wash with and something to eat. The 1st of September was a Friday and the weather that weekend was stormy and it rained continually. The heavy skies and distant thunder seemed to many ominous and threatening. 

Whilst discipline and organisation took up much of their time in the days that followed, the endless collection and filling of sandbags and the sorting out of living arrangements helped to absorb some of the dislocation and fear that most of the AFS were feeling. It was a year later, on September 7th, 1940, that the Blitz upon London started. It would last for 57 consecutive nights and last until May 1941. 

(Credit to S. Maltman for the snippet on the LFB preparations.)

Bert Hardy was born in London. He worked his way up from a lab assistant to become a photographer. His talent flourished as a staff photographer on Picture Post, joining the illustrated magazine during the Second World War. As well as travelling with the armed forces, his images of the London Blitz are amongst the finest and closest to the action taken.