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17
The Health Visitors and Sanitary Inspectors volunteered their
services, as did the members of the clerical staff. It was thus
possible at this stage to have a trained individual taking charge
in the skeleton organisation of personnel and equipment, while the
keeping of logs and clerical work generally was also undertaken.
Up to the outbreak of hostilities these fortnightly meetings for
advanced training were kept up, volunteers being added to those
already allocated according as they finished their preliminary
training. Officers-in-charge, Deputies and Quartermasters had
been designated for the Stretcher Party Stations. In June a portion
of the old Town Hall premises became available as a base for First
Aid supplies and equipment for all services including the Wardens
and Rescue organisations. By this time also a certain amount of
work had been carried out at the buildings earmarked as Posts,
this of course being governed by the necessity of not interfering
with the ordinary use of the premises.
During the week prior to the outbreak of hostilities arrangements
were made for the mobilisation of full-time personnel.
Equipment and stores were despatched where possible or were
ready for instant despatch, and at the time of the outbreak of war
all Posts were staffed and equipped and Stretcher Parties standing
by with a certain number of volunteer cars adapted for the transport
of stretchers, equipment and personnel.
Early in September it became obvious that the quarters
occupied by two of the Stretcher Party Units were unsuitable,
and steps were taken to obtain other accommodation in nearby
schools. Arrangements were made for the hiring and adaptation
of a sufficient number of cars for the transport of parties, and the
organisation was consolidated generally.
Although to the end of the year it was fortunately not necessary
to deal with air raid casualties, it was evident as a result of exercises
and the advance of training that the Units would be capable
of dealing with any emergency. From the middle of May onwards
practices had been held in co-operation with the auxiliary ambulance
service so that the personnel might become accustomed to the use
of the vehicles and co-operation generally. Similarly contact with
the Hospitals was established. In the many large scale exercises
the casualty services were fully utilised and with the other sections
of the A.R.P. organisation, displayed keenness and enthusiasm.
By the end of December the Stretcher Party to represent
Greenwich in the Group Competition had been selected. That the
Party should, after winning this competition, go on later to win
first place in the London Region Trials against representatives of
over 90 Authorities, is evidence of the standard of training reached.