31st March 1941 - Evacuation in case of Invasion

A Police Notice appears on EJR's journal page for 31st March 1941. The notice contains printed numbers on one side and instructions on the back for the evacuation of Colchester in the event of invasion. The issuing of this notice at this time makes it apparent that the authorities considered invasion to be a real threat in the Spring of 1941. CP

The Police Notice reads as follows:

The Regional Commissioner has decided that it is necessary to make plans in advance for the removal of the population by train, in case he or the Military Authorities, should have to decide that the town must be evacuated at very short notice.

Your Warden is calling upon you personally with this leaflet to explain what is required of you.

All you are asked to do at the moment is to display at once in a prominent position at the TOP of a window, facing the road, a figure (cut from this leaflet) indicating the number of people living in your house.

This is for the information of your Warden and THE FIGURE SHOULD BE ALTERED FROM TIME TO TIME if the number of people living in your house changes for any reason.

It is essential for the Warden to have this information up-to-date so that train services may be properly organised.

If and when the order comes it is proposed to notify you by Police and Wardens:-
(1) Where and when transport will be waiting to take you to the station
(2) The number of the train upon which you will travel
(3) The time of departure of the train

Please bear in mind that your Warden is doing this work voluntarily under government instructions for your benefit. Please give him every assistance and avoid keeping him waiting.

By order,
H.C. Stockwell, Lt.-Col.
Chief Constable
March 31st 1941

CARRY YOUR GAS MASK ALWAYS


The printed numbers used to show how many people were living in a house, with a discoloured number 3 for the Rudsdales' home to indicate EJR and his parents lived there. (Courtesy of Essex Record Office)

30th March 1941

Went over to Dedham to tea at Sissons'. Felt very ill with bad pain. Ate supper, most unwisely, and felt much worse. Left at 11pm, under the impression it was 10 o’clock. Had a dreadful job getting home – wondered how I should do it. A certain amount of bombing and firing was going on in the direction of Clacton, and many searchlights out, but no planes came over my road. I could see flashes of bursting bombs. Alarm on when I got to Colchester, but felt so bad I turned in right away and to hell with it!

29th March 1941

Hampshire Bacon got hold of a new pony and cart today, a very handy little turnout which will be useful in carting down to the field.

Had tea at Jacklin’s this afternoon with George [Farmer] and his wife. I do not think he is at all happy, although he says he has not done one stroke of work since he joined [the RAF]. More rain today.

26th March 1941

Extraordinary development in “coin stealing” case. Detective came in today and informed Poulter that three young boys had been apprehended, and had stated that Chapman had found them with the coin drawer open, and had taken the coins away from them. This Chapman has now admitted, so I suppose these were the coins I found on the cabinet on Monday night. This is an amazing and discreditable affair, and Chapman will be very lucky if he does not lose his job. Whether any other action is taken will depend on the police. Poulter is very despondent as to his chances.

Heavy rain again tonight. My streams and ditches at Bourne Pond in full spate, roaring like Welsh cataracts.

24th March 1941

Heavy rain all day. Heard for the first time this afternoon that besides the coin drawer, the coins exhibition case was attacked and also the Contributions Box, which was seriously damaged, large pieces being broken off. Obviously the thief had plenty of time and excellent opportunity.

Tonight, soon after 11p.m., I was making my final patrol of the building, when I came upon 14 coins of Gordianus, Alexander Severns etc. lying on top of the coin drawers. Whether the thieves have brought them back, or whether Hull put them there I do not know, but I left them for him to see.

23rd March 1941

Went over to Lawford to lunch, to the Parrington’s. Penelope Belfield was there, just as beautiful as ever and still stammering. We went out with the pony this afternoon to Frank Girling’s, at Holly Lodge, to deliver some cream. He was not there. Back to a lovely “high tea” at Sherbourne Mill, including cream and jam in quantities, such as I have not seen since last August. Left at 6, and down to Dedham, calling on the Sissons for an hour, then back to Colchester on duty. A lovely day, although very cold, in fact there was quite a fall of snow this morning.

When I got in to the Castle, I found Hull standing on the spiral stairs in complete darkness. He is always in some odd position like this when I come to relieve him.

He said he had locked his office and had locked the keys inside or else left them at home, so had been wandering about in the darkening Castle for a couple of hours. After he had gone, Poulter came over to tell me [that some] coins, nearly all 1st century, were stolen yesterday morning and a number of them were found on the Castle bridge by some children during the afternoon. These were taken to Poulter, who happened to be in the building at the time. I cannot understand where Chapman was at the moment, but everything in the Castle is so out of control that in all probability he was out. About 2 dozen coins and 50 packets were found, nearly all torn up, but how many coins are missing is not known, (and probably never will be, thanks to the state of our records). Hull turned up from somewhere, fell into an awful flap, sent for the police, and generally took charge of the situation.

21st March 1941

New “invasion” scare today. Heard that Hull has been saying that the army are demanding the removal of 60% of the population of Colchester by April 1st, but do not know whether this is true.

His accident was mentioned in a news item in the paper tonight, where he appeared as “M.R. Hull, an Elmstead cyclist”, who “in some way fell from his machine …”