North Queensferry School – WWII

May 1939 – Problems with Anderson Shelters

 
However Anderson Shelters were not a universal solution.

Not everyone had a garden.

Building on a shared garden or common land required consent of all the land-owners, which could be a bureaucratic nightmare.

And some areas did not have suitable geology – this included North Queensferry.

The issue of the situation in North Queensferry was first raised in May 1939

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1939
NORTH QUEENSFERRY’S POSITION
AUTHORITIES URGED TO TAKE ACTION

In view of the fact that North Queensferry is situated almost under the Forth Bridge, and in close proximity to Rosyth Dockyard and other naval and military establishments which, in the event of war, are likely to become objects of special attack by high explosive bombs, and that a Fife A.R.P. official, after a brief examination, has advised that only splinter-proof shelters should provide protection to the villagers, who are urged not to use the deep and efficient mineral railway situated close to the village, a public meeting was held at which it was decided to urge that the Fife or other competent A.R.P. authority should have a more thorough investigation made on the spot, and that if the authorities are then satisfied that a special danger exists at North Queensferry, they should meet such danger either by (a) arranging immediately for the evacuation of the population in whole or part on the outbreak of hostilities or (b) in other ways ensuring adequate protection to the people of North Queensferry.

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 1939

POLITICAL NOTES
A.R.P. DEFECTS IN NORTH QUEENSFERRY
MR GALLACHER AND A TUNNEL
(From our Lobby Correspondent)
Westminster, Wednesday Morning

Alleged “grave dissatisfaction” in North Queensferry at the refusal of the authorities to make adequate provision for air raid precautions is mentioned by Mr W, Gallacher, Communist MP,. in a protest he has made to Sir John Anderson, Lord Privy Seal/

Mr Gallacher points out that North Queensferry is likely to be a particularly vulnerable spot if time of war.  He complains that an air raid precaution official has declared that only splinter-proof shelters are required in the village.  Mr Gallacher suggests to the Lord Privy Seal that there is a deep and efficient mineral railway tunnel nearby which could be adapted to A.R.P. purposes.  He also proposes that arrangements should be made for the evacuation of the whole or part of the population of North Queensferry on the outbreak of hostilities.

Sir John has ordered an investigation.

The Fife Free Press, Saturday May 27, 1939

NORTH QUEENSFERRY WANTS
MORE PROTECTION

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT

Mr Gallacher (West Fife) asked the Lord Privy Seal, in the Commons on Thursday, whether he was aware of the grave dissatisfaction in North Queensferry, a particularly vulnerable spot in the event of air raids at the refusal of the authorities to make adequate provision for air raid precautions, that an air-raid precautions official had declared that only splinter-proof shelters are required in the village and that attempts had been made to dissuade from the use of a deep and efficient mineral tunnel situated nearby for air raid precaution purposes.

He also asked whether he would arrange a more thorough examination to be made on the spot with a view to arranging for the evacuation of North Queensferry in whole or part on the outbreak of hostilities and other means of ensuring protection to the people of North Queensferry.

Sir John Anderson – North Queensferry is included in the areas in which the Government’s shelter policy will be applied in full, but I have hot had referred to me any proposals for special arrangements for shelter in this area, nor any statement of the ground on which it might be urged that such special provision is required.

Mr Gallacher said that North Queensferry lay at the north end of the Forth Bridge and would be in a most serious danger in wartime.  There was a very deep dissatisfaction at the lack of arrangements for deep shelters.  He asked if the Minister would arrange for one of his officers to visit the area with him (Mr Gallacher) when he was there on Tuesday.

Sir John – I will see if that is practicable.  I must look to the local authority in the first place to make representations on the subject.

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS,
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 1939

A.R.P. AT NORTH QUEENSFERRY

Mr W Gallacher, the Communist Member for West Fife, has written Sir John Anderson regarding the A.R.P. arrangements being made for North Queensferry.  In this letter Mr Gallacher points out that he visited North Queensferry for the purpose of discussing the measures necessary to provide protection for the inhabitants in the event of war and air raids.  He explains that the only shelter provision available is the regulation steel shelter, but as North Queensferry is built on rock with only a thin surface of soil, it is impossible to sink these shelters.  In many cases, he says, people are luck if they have three inches of soil.

Mr Gallacher has also protested to the Minister that North Queensferry is not being treated as part of an evacuation area.  “I can scarcely believe this to be true,” he writes “but they assure me that there is to be no evacuation for the women and children of the village.”

ROCK TUNNELS

Mr Gallacher proceeds to argue that advantage ought to be taken of the quarry in the cleared space in the village which rises up to a height of 80 to 100 feet.  A series of short tunnels cut in this rock face would, says Mr Gallacher, provide easily accessible and exceptionally safe shelters.

He adds that if this was carried out the danger to local inhabitants would be reduced to a minimum.