We have been given a collection of papers relating to Air Raid Precautions (ARP) planning during 1939 as it became increasing apparent that war with Germany could not be avoided. One of the greatest fears, based on events in the Great War (1914-18), was attack from aircraft carrying gas filled bombs. The documents below show how seriously this threat was taken, and how the effects of incendiary and high explosives were almost completely overlooked.

The first file covers a training course for staff based in the Kent County Council offices in Maidstone starting in March 1939. The second file covers test questions and the exam paper. Finally, in August 1939, just days before hostilities broke out, a training exercise was carried out based on a gas attack at Swanley (Junction) station using the combined resources of the County Control Centre in Maidstone and No. 8 Control Centre in Bromley, in what it seems is now Community House.

The paperwork, all hand typed on foolscap pages (no photocopiers then), was given to Miss Eileen Brooks who lived and worked in Maidstone for the County Medical Officer at this time. There are a number of pencilled annotations, presumably hers, which suggest the care and attention she paid to this issue. She also volunteered for the overnight exercise on Wednesday 9th August 1939, although whether she stayed in Maidstone or came to Bromley is not clear.

We are grateful to Lucy Johnson Botta, who took the trouble to send us the documents which had once belonged to her paternal grandmother's cousin, Eileen Brooks, pictured above. Incidentally, Eileen's grandfather was PC Israel May who is sadly remembered as the first policeman to be murdered on duty, in August 1873 in Snodland. His killer, 27-year-old Thomas Atkins was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years in prison.