Home Guard Hull

[david cliff]

I haven't done any research on the homeguard or wardens, I only know what I picked up in my younger days.

For instance my father was an engineer working at Priestman Brothers Ltd., Thomas St & Williamson St. Hull.  Every factory asked for (and expected) volunteers for air raid watch.  These volunteer men & women would be up on the factory roofs searching the skies for enemy planes - if one was spotted they had to sound the Klaxon horn which was bolted to the roof.  every shop and factory had buckets filled with sand for dousing small flames.  When the next Klaxon station heard the neighbouring Klaxon sound they too would sound their alarms ..... If you think of the olympic torch being carried in relays and handed onto the next person that's what happened with the Klaxons.   Upon hearing the sound civilian families would  either crouch in the strongest place in the house (under the stairs) or take to the nearest Anderson shelter in a neighbourhood garden or some other public designated place of safety.

Being on guard duty wasn't without other dangers ... my father recounted a story about one office girl who'd finished her stint and was cycling home towards North Bridge aboiut 2 a.m. when a local notorious gang of men saw her (either called Silver Blade or Silver Hatchet Gang).  she pedalled furiously and was keeping ahead of them until she came to the incline leading to North Bridge and  no fervent wish could stop her momentum from going slower and slower with the gang gaining on her, then baying at her back wheel and then flailing fingers trying to grab her.    Prayers answered and she managed to get to the top of the incline and speed down the hill before they could drag her off her bike.... what a shocking experience. 

If you heard a knock on the door in the hours of darkness it was usually a warden informing you he could see a crack of light from your window & you'd better organise your blackout curtains a bit better or else.

My father also work a Priestman Brothers all is life ,Iwas born in Hull in 1942 know very little about his time in the home gard he died in 1969 by then living in Birmingham remeber him say so many things you talked about, his name was Ken Cliff

[Rena]

I haven't done any research on the homeguard or wardens, I only know what I picked up in my younger days.

For instance my father was an engineer working at Priestman Brothers Ltd., Thomas St & Williamson St. Hull.  Every factory asked for (and expected) volunteers for air raid watch.  These volunteer men & women would be up on the factory roofs searching the skies for enemy planes - if one was spotted they had to sound the Klaxon horn which was bolted to the roof.  every shop and factory had buckets filled with sand for dousing small flames.  When the next Klaxon station heard the neighbouring Klaxon sound they too would sound their alarms ..... If you think of the olympic torch being carried in relays and handed onto the next person that's what happened with the Klaxons.   Upon hearing the sound civilian families would  either crouch in the strongest place in the house (under the stairs) or take to the nearest Anderson shelter in a neighbourhood garden or some other public designated place of safety.

Being on guard duty wasn't without other dangers ... my father recounted a story about one office girl who'd finished her stint and was cycling home towards North Bridge aboiut 2 a.m. when a local notorious gang of men saw her (either called Silver Blade or Silver Hatchet Gang).  she pedalled furiously and was keeping ahead of them until she came to the incline leading to North Bridge and  no fervent wish could stop her momentum from going slower and slower with the gang gaining on her, then baying at her back wheel and then flailing fingers trying to grab her.    Prayers answered and she managed to get to the top of the incline and speed down the hill before they could drag her off her bike.... what a shocking experience. 

If you heard a knock on the door in the hours of darkness it was usually a warden informing you he could see a crack of light from your window & you'd better organise your blackout curtains a bit better or else.

My father also work a Priestman Brothers all is life ,Iwas born in Hull in 1942 know very little about his time in the home gard he died in 1969 by then living in Birmingham remeber him say so many things you talked about, his name was Ken Cliff

Hi David,
I worked at Priestman's too;  my memory is starting to fail but the name Ken Cliff is vaguely familiar although I don't know whether it's because my dad (Don Crum) mentioned him, and/or I actually met him.   In case you're interested - Hull archives have some Priestman Bros. employee records.