Page 662 - Reading Mercury

The roof collapsed with a roar, tiles splintered and flew in all directions, there were
clouds of smoke and a great deal of heat. Chief Officer, W.B. Martin, of the
Wokingham Brigade, revelled in the unusual experience of letting the fire do its
worst. Towards the end he directed a party of men in the work of demolishing some
parts of the wall which were in a dangerous condition. Then he gave the official
“alarm” to A.F.S. members lurking in adjacent streets, and they rushed
enthusiastically to their duty.
They had the fire out in next to no time, four lines of hose being used. It seemed a
pity to have gone to the trouble of dressing up in oilskins and of running-out the hose
for such short work so, simultaneously, they all turned the hoses on each other. The
battle waged furiously to the hilarious delight of the children who were looking on—
well out of range.
To conclude a most entertaining evening, the A.R.P. demolition squad, under Mr.
L.R. Sears and Mr. W. Holton, pulled down part of a nearby block of 300-years-old
houses in preparation for an even bigger and better fire in about a month’s time.

st
Fri 1 Sept.
THE GOVERNMENT’S EVACUATION SCHEME
PAYMENTS TO HOUSEHOLDERS
A circular issued by Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence gives full
particulars to house-holders, regarding the Evacuation Scheme which covers the
following classes of persons:-
(a) School children with their teachers.
(b) Children under five accompanied by their mother or other responsible adult.
(c) Expectant mothers.
(d) Adult blind and crippled so far as removal is feasible.
BILLETS.
The Government carried out the Billeting Survey in order to ascertain what
accommodation there was available and which householders would be willing to take
charge of unaccompanied children, but those not able to offer for this service may be
required by the Government to take others who would normally be children under five
accompanied by an adult, as these persons would not require the same attention as
unaccompanied children.

BEDDING AND BLANKETS.
Children will not be bringing any bedding with them. Arrangements are being made
locally to store sufficient to supply those who have already intimated that they would
require: additional bedding and blankets. If stores are inadequate at first, householders
who are not receiving evacuated persons may be asked by the Local Authority to lend
blankets and spare bedding.
PAYMENT.
In the case of unaccompanied children, householders will receive 10s. 6d. a week
where one child is taken and 8s. 6d for each child, where more than one child is taken.
This payment is intended to cover full board, lodging and all the care that would be
given to the child in its own home. It is not intended to cover the cost of clothes or
medical expenses.
For children under school age, accompanied by their mother or other responsible
adult, householders will be asked to provide lodgings, access to water and sanitary
arrangements, and it is hoped, cooking facilities. In this case, a payment of 5s. a week
for each adult and 3s. a week per child will be made.

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