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CIVIL DEFENCE
The responsible Authority for Civil Defence in the Borough was Middlesex County Council. The
Borough Council and its officers undertook the preparation, administration and operation of civil defence
measures subject to the general approval of the County Council. The following notes deal briefly with
the aspects of civil defence work for which the Medical Officer of Health had responsibility, wholly or in
part, for the organisation and control.
FIRST AID POSTS.—First aid posts were of two types, fixed and mobile. Both were in the
charge of a doctor (part time) and a trained nurse (whole time). The staff consisted of persons, whole
time and part time, who had been trained in first aid and gas cleansing. The equipment of a first aid
post was standard, but that of the mobile post was stored in a motor van ready for conveyance to the site
of an incident. Fixed posts were established at Hounslow Health Centre, Isleworth Health Centre,
Heston Village Hall and South Middlesex Infectious Diseases Hospital, and a mobile post was stationed
at both Hounslow and Isleworth Health Centres. Owing to shortage of staff the post at South Middlesex
Infectious Diseases Hospital was closed in November, 1939, and the premises restored to the hospital
in January, 1940.

The Treaty Road depot was moved later to Bell Road and finally to Bulstrode Road. The Heston depot
was transferred later from the Senior to the Junior School. Finally owing to a reduction in the strength
of the ambulance service the depot at Redlees was vacated. When the National Fire Service was created
the civil ambulance service, which had been manned by the local Fire Service, was transferred to the civil
ambulance service.

Later the Heston depot was transferred to the Junior School and the Treaty Road depot to Bulstrode
Road. In 1942 the stretcher parties were incorporated into the Rescue Service and came under the
control of the Borough Engineer, though the Medical Officer of Health retained responsibility for training
in first aid.
VEHICLES.—The original scheme was to convert requisitioned commercial vehicles to ambulances
by fitting stretcher carriers and to use cars provided by volunteers for sitting cases. This scheme
was found to be unworkable and in November, 1939, instructions were given to purchase 20 cars for
conversion to ambulances, 14 cars for sitting cases, 16 cars for stretcher parties and 2 vans for mobile first
aid posts and the price limit was £70 for a van and £30 for a car. Though every care was taken in the
purchase of these vehicles few were in really good mechanical condition. This, with the absence of any
protection against weather and frequent changes of driver, resulted in frequent breakdown. A maintenance
-department with one mechanic, later increased to two, was established in Bell Road and thus a sufficient
number of vehicles was always available for immediate use despite the steadily increasing difficulty in
obtaining spare parts. Later a central repair depot was established by the County Council to which
vehicles requiring major repairs or overhaul were sent.
CONTROL AND REPOR T CENTRE.—A responsible member of the Health Department staff
was always available for duty at the Control Centre where, in conjunction with the staff of the Controller,
Air Raid Precautions Officer and the Borough Engineer, the necessary action was taken when enemy
activity occurred. During normal working hours staff was always available at the Health Department
to undertake this work but at other times a rota of staff was on duty or immediate call during daylight
-and on duty at the Control Centre during darkness.
DECONTAMINATION OF CIVILIANS.—Provision for the decontamination of personnel in the
event of blister gas being used was provided at each depot. For the general population decontamination
facilities were provided at the first aid posts and at Hounslow and Isleworth Public Baths. The facilities
at the baths were restricted to uninjured persons. With the co-operation of the Women's Voluntary
Service, householders, willing to place their bathrooms at the disposal of gas contaminated persons, were
listed in as many streets as possible. Emergency stocks of clothing were held at decontamination centres
for issue to persons after treatment.
DECONTAMINATION OF CIVILIAN CLOTHING.—Plant was installed at Hounslow Public
Baths and Hounslow Model Laundries for the decontamination of civilian clothing. A scheme was
prepared for the collection, labelling, treatment and return of gas contaminated clothing from
decontamination centres and private houses.
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