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Despite the fact that the threat of invasion was remote, it must have come as something of a shock to read, in early January, instructions from the government on what to do in the event of a 'landing by the enemy in this country.'
The police would declare a state of emergency and :
- all motors, bicycles, horses, mules, donkeys, carts, carriages and other vehicles, harness, petrol, launches and lighters must be moved as far away from the area of military operations as possible. Those that could not be moved should be destroyed or rendered useless.
- live stock must be driven off and, if possible, clear of public roads. If this was not possible they should be slaughtered.
- small tools must be placed at the hands of the military authorities or destroyed or rendered useless.
- all physically fit persons will be required to do any work deemed appropriate.
- the civil population must avoid roads.
These instructions no doubt caused some heated discussion around the dinner tables of the parish and some may genuinely have been alarmed that West Calder, with its surrounding oil companies, could have been a priority target for enemy action !
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