Miscellaneous Chronological facts
On November 16th 1937..... the Daily Telegraph declared that we had the best "Gas mask supply in Europe"
On 4th April 1938..... the Eastbourne ARP invited Eastbourne residents to "sample" the garden shelter constructed in Meads Road.......
On 24th June 1938..... the WVS was created....... it still exists in 1998 and does excellent work in our town as the Womens Royal Voluntary Service......
By June 29th 1938 473 men had enrolled as street wardens.......
On 20th July 1938..... Major Christie was appointed ARP officer for Eastbourne......
July 29th 1938 saw the first trial of an air raid siren in Eastbourne by steam hooter...... do you remember it?
In September 1938........ girls who worked in leading multiple stores were asked to assemble 60,000 gas masks................ and the Observer Corps were called out
7th January 1939.... Eastbourne was designated by the Government as a Safety Zone"...... this meant that Eastbourne would receive evacuees.
28th January 1939...... old buses were converted into ambulances.
10th March 1939.... Famous last words........ The MP C S Taylor said that Eastbourne need have no fear of being bombed !!!!.
21st April 1939...... Eastbourne blacked out for air raid siren and warning practice.