Wartime Blackout, 1941

Decontamination squad in protective suits, c.1939. Courtesy State Library of Victoria

Have you visited the exhibition celebrating the centenary of Strathfield Town Hall yet? It’s on display in the Ironbark Gallery at Strathfield Council Library & Innovation Hub until 10 December and includes items from the Town Hall’s use during World War II. You are also invited to attend a free talk on Sunday 19 November. Please see https://events.humanitix.com/strathfield-town-hall-exhibition-and-talk for details.

Interestingly, one of the most intriguing incidents in the Town Hall’s history never actually took place.

It was wartime and Australia was fearful of invasion. At 9pm on 21 September 1941, ‘the ghostly wailing of sirens throughout the Metropolitan area and its environs set up their mournful cacophony of sound.’[1] Sydney was enveloped in blackness for an hour as the city practised Australia’s biggest blackout test of its wartime procedures. From Sydney to the Blue Mountains, Camden and the Hawkesbury River 11,000 wardens and 1200 police patrolled the streets as all lights were extinguished.

Daily Telegraph 21 September 1941 p.5 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/27282847

Can you imagine it? Thousands of people lined the streets with 1.4 million residents affected by the blackout. On the harbour a ferry forgot to turn off its lights and, in the city, ‘one glaring electric sign visible from several parts of the city’[2] was a significant breach. Residents sat patiently in dark, stationary buses and trams or congregated in parks or on beaches. A tailor’s shop in Park Street in the city had two lights burning and there were calls to smash the windows. The owner was sick in bed at Strathfield and instructed his nurse to ring and ‘express his regret.'[3] Both his sons were wardens.

Over in Strathfield, the National Emergency Services’ (NES) wardens were ready – which was just as well – as there were challenges ahead when a surprise attack ‘demolished’ the Strathfield Town Hall control centre along with 14 first aid and gas decontamination posts. Local wardens managed to establish a new control centre within 15 minutes, using reserve equipment. ‘No organisation could have been given a severer test than this “attack”, plans for which were kept secret from the entire staff of 350.’[4] High praise indeed.

Local WWII sign donated to Strathfield Library by Judith Roberts

An Air Raid Precautions (ARP) post had been opened at the Town Hall during April 1939 with weekly lectures held. NES first aid exercises were also conducted in Strathfield during May 1941 when large fire crackers in Florence Street simulated the bomb blasts that resulted in 30 young ‘casualties.’

Daily Telegraph 5 May 1941 p.5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/248140031

Sydney Morning Herald 6 May 1941 p.12 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17756284

There were many training exercises held locally during the war, capably managed by the Strathfield and Homebush wardens of the National Emergency Services. During March 1942 Strathfield Council’s Evacuation Committee called upon all residents to be registered in case of emergencies, following the Government’s proclamation allowing councils to compile such registers of citizens. A dedicated control room was also added to Strathfield Town Hall.

Page from Abbotsford Road of Strathfield Council’s evacuation register currently on display in the exhibition.

Abbotsford Road has been renumbered since this time. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies.

 

This Remembrance Day we acknowledge the contributions of all those who have served our country during wartime – at home as well as abroad.

Lest We Forget

 

By J.J. MacRitchie

Local Studies Advisor

 

References

[1] Examiner (Launceston, TAS) 1 October 1941 p.4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52467217

 

[2] Examiner (Launceston, TAS) 1 October 1941 p.4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52467217

 

[3] Examiner (Launceston, TAS) 1 October 1941 p.4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52467217

 

[4] Examiner (Launceston, TAS) 1 October 1941 p.4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52467217