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The framework of the Council's Casualty Services naturally followed
the lines laid down in Circulars and Handbooks issued by various Government
Departments, varied to meet the particular needs of the City. It is of interest
to note, however, that at many points the local effort outstripped the central
guidance. Thus a shelter medical service, frith the willing aid of medical
practitioners and of volunteers from St. John and the British Red Cross Societywas
in operation before the Government instructions were received. The combined
Depot, later advocated by the Government, was in operation from the beginning of
the war on very extensive lines. So much so, that it was possible not only to
house all the Council's casualty services in four large Depots, but to offer
accommodation to the Ambulance and Heavy Rescue Services provided by the London
County Council.
It may be said that the detailed development of the Mortuary Service
also was fully worked out in advance of control instructions.
Bombing of Westminster began on September 7th, 1940,and continued
intermittently until May 1941. After a period of comparative lull, bombing
recurred in 1943, in the early part of 1944 and from June, 1944, until March, 1945
fly bombs and rocket bombs were the final form of air warfare. Information
supplied by the Ministry of Home Security indicates that more bombs per acre
fell in the City of Westminster than in any other area of the country.
Night bombing soon proclaimed the need for shelters other than those
surface shelters erected in the street or under open spaces. The tube stations
and basements of strong buildings seemed safer places to many people than their
homes. In 1941, some 30,000 were occupying such public shelters speedily
authorised or requisitioned by the Government. There then arose the need for
medical and nursing services for the occupants. Medical supplies and equipment
were provided by the Government while doctors and trained nurses ably augmented
by auxiliaries of St. John and British Red Cross were on duty each night in the
large shelters. Nurses from the principal hospitals undertook a nursing patrol
of the smaller shelters visiting from one to the other during the nigh despite
bombing and anti-aircraft fire. There were some 172 public shelters in the City
with roughly 36,000 occupants on specially severe night raids. The number of
cases seen by the shelter medical officers at the Medical Aid Posts in the
shelters was 1,826. The nurses dealt with 41,912 cases of minor complaints.
Some 23 part-time medical officers were engaged in this service and 35 wholetime
and 49 part-time nurses.
As regards air raid casualties those of a serious nature removed to
hospital were 2,495? while those treated at First Aid Posts numbered 2,744.
There were 1,104 fatal casualties some of when died after removal to hospital.
The removal to the mortuaries of those killed on the spot proceeded immediately
after a raid had occurred but in some instances many days elapsed before bodies
could be recovered from heaped ruins. The total number brought in to the
mortuaries was 1,104 and the greatest number following a single night's raiding
was 165, after the night of l6/l7th April, 1941. The reception of the. dead,
identification, collection "aid checking of personal effects including valuables,
preparation for viewing by relatives were duties, the highly responsible nature
of which requires no emphasis, carried out by the staff of this Department in
a manner beyond praise.
During the war 63 members of the Civil Defence Casualty Services lost
their lives by enemy action. Ho member of the Public Health Department suffered
wounds or death although all were on active duty throughout. Two of the First
Aid Medical Officers in charge of Mobile Aid Posts were awarded the M.B.E. for
meritorious conduct.
Even throughout the period of the most intensive bombing the number of
casualties did not by any means approach the original officially estimated figure,
Miner injuries were comparatively few and this may well be accounted for by the
substantial nature of shelter accommodation provided. Of 1,212 serious
casualties requiring operative treatment, 1,035 recovered. The remaining 177
who died had sustained head injuries, penetrating wounds of chest or abdomen or
crushed limbs. The high mortality of this last class was carefully studied by