North Queensferry School – WWII

1938 – Gas Masks

Air Raid Precautions – gas masks, air-raid shelters, evacuation plans, and barrage balloons

By the late 1930’s the threat of war was creeping ever closer, and the advances in air-power meant that the coming war would affect civilians as much as the military.

This became harsh reality on April 26, 1937 when German bombers destroyed the sleepy Spanish market town of Guernica.

In 1938 the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain placed Sir John Anderson in charge of Air Raid Precautions (A.R.P.) – gas masks, air-raid shelters and evacuation plans.

On 29th September 1938, gas masks were distributed all of the children at North Queensferry School

There were 76 children on the roll at this time.