The Blackout

THE ‘BLACKOUT’ now associated more with the Second World War came about at the beginning of the First World War with the threat of bombing raids from German Zeppelins.

Though Saddleworth was never affected by these, there was a blackout introduced in 1915. Though the local council at first felt it wasn’t necessary for such a step in the area it was imposed by the military.

In March 1915 the local paper recorded… ‘A month ago the military requisition to darken the lights was treated with some indifference, and it is well for the members that no visiting German airship passed over the district and dropped one or two of their disastrous bombs. Had this taken place the committee, as pointed out by the clerk, would have been held responsible.

‘Even yet there are mill owners who are hesitating about darkening their windows and roof lights when working through the night … It is surprising to find how many there are who do not yet realise that we are at war.’

The restrictions were lifted in 1918 following the cessation of fighting.

The threat of the Second World War in 1939 prompted the Air Ministry to forecast that Britain would suffer night air raids, causing large numbers of civilian casualties and mass destruction.

It was realised that the first defence against these raids was the introduction of a ‘blackout’, prompting man-made lights to be extinguished or reduced to make navigation and targeting more difficult for the enemy.

In July 1939, Public Information Leaflet No2 ‘Air Raid Precautions’ was issued to all households and businesses advising on enforced blackout and Saddleworth witnessed practice sessions at the time.

On 1 September 1939, just two days before war was declared, blackout regulations were imposed throughout Britain, demanding all windows and doors should be covered at night, factories had to reduce lighting, street lights were dimmed and lights for vehicles had to be masked.

The blackout was monitored by the Air Raid Protection wardens who were patrolling the district and if a chink of light showed there would be a knock on your door.

The local papers listed those that were up in court and apart from that a fine was imposed – ‘……..unscreened lights in Uppermill …..was fined 15sh (75p) for showing a bright light from her house at 7-25pm on December 12^th 1939’.

There were numerous prosecutions which included warning people about the use of unscreened torches, fines for not screening sidelights on a car and threats of prison if fines were unpaid.

The ‘swealing’ of fields when farmers used to burn off the dead grass during March was also banned.

‘Star lights’ were introduced for street lighting which gave some improved lighting and in September 1944 the local council noted that of 1,046 gas lamps, 356 had been converted.

By the end of 1944 the war in Europe was nearing its end and in September the blackout restrictions were considerably relaxed so that providing curtains were thick enough to make objects inside the room indistinguishable they were considered adequate.

The relaxing of the blackout prompted the organising of a party at Greenfield Mill Social Club at the end of September 1944 which raised £50 for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

The return to full lighting and lifting of blackout restrictions finally came in April 1945, the national papers recording that ‘Big Ben’ was lit five years and 123 days after restrictions were first imposed.

One product that Saddleworth Museum has in its collection that was made locally and contributed to the war effort and the blackout was the ‘Hartley Headlamp Cowl’.

Made in the thousands it was invented by Vincent Hartley, a prolific inventor who was the founder of V & N Hartley (now Hartley Botanic).