Second World War source list - Falkirk Community Trust

Falkirk Archives
Source List 3 - The Second World War
in Falkirk district
Contents
Introduction
The Home Front
Rationing
National Registration
Billeting Schemes and Evacuees
Fund-raising
Entertainment
Wartime Work
Victory celebrations
Further reading
This source list contains a list of some of the archives and photographs held
by Falkirk Archives which can be used to find out what happened during the
Second World War in the Falkirk area. Digital versions of some of the
documents can be found on the Collections Browser, on the Falkirk
Community Trust website or on the Falkirk Archives pages in GLOW.
The source list is divided into a number of topics. For each topic you will find
a brief introduction to the topic and a list of some of the archives and
photographs in Falkirk Archives.
What other options are there?
Visit Falkirk Archives to see the archives and photographs in the list
Look at digital copies of some photographs on the Collections Browser
http://collections.falkirk.gov.uk/
Visit your local library to read the Falkirk Herald and other local
newspapers for the 1940s.
Falkirk Archives
Callendar House
Callendar Park
Falkirk, FK1 1YR
Tel: 01324 503779
Email: archives@falkirkcommunitytrust.org
Opening hours: 10.00-12.30, 1,30-5.00; Monday to
Friday

The Home Front
The minutes of the town councils of Falkirk, Grangemouth, Denny &
Dunipace and Bo’ness are amongst the best sources for information about
what happened locally during the Second World War. In these you will find
arguments about who should pay for the air raid shelters which local people
were building, discussions about who was responsible for fires which crossed
boundaries, where evacuees could be billeted, what fund-raising efforts could
be encouraged and progress reports on wartime activities and arrangements.
You will also find all the routine matters which Town Councils remained
responsible for, even during wartime - renting and building houses, letting
town halls, regulating shops and factories and caring for parks and
cemeteries. By reading through these minutes, you can discover for yourself
the changes people had to make to their lives because of the war, and you
can see how people tried to get on with normal, everyday life despite the war.
A818.001/49-55 1939-1946 Bo’ness Town Council minutes
A814.001/20-24 1939-1946 Denny & Dunipace Town Council minutes
A812.001/44-49 1939-1946 Falkirk Town Council minutes
A816.001/43-49 1939-1945 Grangemouth Town Council minutes
A066.073 (1939) War damage to property claim form
A066.089 1939 Form (unused) for taking possessing land
under Defence Regulations, 1939 by Falkirk
Town Clerk
A066.090 1939 Unused form for possession of land or
premises under the Defence (General)
Regulations 1939
A066.091 1939 Claim form for making good damage under
the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939,
relating to compulsory possession of land or
premises
A066.116 1940 Notice concerning late opening hours of
shops in Falkirk
A486.02 (c. 1946) Photocopy of economy label for envelope,
Ministry of National Insurance, 26 East
Bridge St, Falkirk
A753.002 1944 Christmas card to Mrs Alexander Bell, 51B
Philpinstone Terr, Bo'ness, from Pte A Bell,
General Hospital (annotated "from Italy")

Rationing
Food, clothing, petrol and most other items had to be rationed from the early
stages of the Second World War. Britain was cut off from its main suppliers
by the submarine blockade around the shores. The Merchant Navy
organised convoys. Neutral and friendly countries provided supplies to Britain
on the promise of repayment after the war. The people of Britain had to
economise as much as possible in order to survive. Rationing of personal
items was only one way of coping. people were also encouraged to “Dig for
Victory” by turning flower gardens into productive vegetable plots. Re-cycling
and re-using goods was an important part of the war effort.
You will find references to what happened locally in the local newspapers.
The Falkirk Herald and other newspapers are available on microfilm in the
libraries.
A192.001/01 1953-1954 Food Ration Book of William Cockburn, 66 Main
Street, Bainsford. Stamped by Falkirk & District
United Co-op Society Ltd.
A192.001/02 1953-1954 Food Ration Book of Catherine Cockburn, 66
Main Street, Bainsford. Stamped by Falkirk &
District United Co-op Society Ltd.
A258.29/01 1947-1948 Clothing Ration Book
A424.01/05 1953-1954 Ration book of Flora MacDonald of Ronaldshay
Crescent, Grangemouth
A431.003 1945-1946 Clothing ration book of N Roberton, 71 Dollar
Ave, Falkirk
A466.01 (1940s) Motor fuel ration book (unused)
A598.01 1953-1954 Ministry of Food ration book of Benjamin
Aitchison,
A598.02 1953-1954 Ministry of Food ration book of Mary G
Aitchison, 104 Thornhill Road, Falkirk
A598.03 (c 1946) Ration Book Holder
A738.007 1953-1954 Food ration book of Arthur McHugh, 15
Lochhead Ave, Denny. Held in leather Ration
Book Case
A738.008 1953-1954 Food ration book of James McHugh, 15
Lochhead Ave, Denny. Held in leather Ration
Book Case
A738.009 1953-1954 Food ration book of Mary McHugh, 15 Lochhead
Ave, Denny. Held in leather Ration Book Case
P22431 1940s Caravan with recycling advertising during
Second World War
P22432 1940s Caravan with recycling advertising
P22433 1940S Shop window display about recycling from
domestic refuse during Second World War
P22448 1940s Recycling display on mock tank in Glasgow
during the Second World War
P22496 1940s Group of 5 adults and 2 children on salvage
drive during Second World War

National Registration
In wartime, people were afraid of spies and invading forces. One way to
counter this was the issue of identity cards to everyone who lived in Britain.
This allowed the authorities to identify anyone who was a citizen of one of the
enemy countries. Unfortunately, many innocent people were interned during
the war, simply because they were citizens of an enemy country - Italians who
had lived in Scotland for many years were interned. Some prominent
conscientious objectors were also interned, because they were regarded as a
threat to the war effort. Some Irish citizens were interned, although Ireland
was neutral.
Everyone was required to carry their identity card at all times. Even children
had identity cards. In an area like Grangemouth where there were shipyards
and significant munitions manufacturing, identity cards were very important.
A192.002 1943 Identity Card of Catherine Cockburn, 79 Main
Street, Bainsford
A424.01/01 (1943-1946) National Registration Identity Card of Flora
MacDonald, Carronflats Rd, Grangemouth
A424.01/02 1948 National Identity Card of Robert M MacDonald,
Carronflats Rd, Grangemouth
A583.03 1946, 1949 National Registration Identity Card of Alastair
C.B. Robb
A583.04 1046-1949 National Registration Identity Card for Jean McC
Robb
A738.010 1940 Sep 9 National Registration Identity Card with
endorsement (Police) of James McHugh, Police
Officer, Denny
A738.011 1943 National Registration Identity Card of Mary
McHugh, Denny

Billeting Schemes
Early on in the Second World War, people were given the chance to evacuate
their children to safer parts of the country. many children did not travel very
far: children from Clydebank were evacuated to Renton, near Glasgow, for
example. Children from the Clydebank area and other more dangerous areas
were also evacuated to the Falkirk area. Arrangements had to be made to
accommodate these children. In most cases, evacuees were taken in
voluntarily, but if there were not enough volunteers, then billeting became
compulsory.
Essential workers were also billeted on local families. Nurses, doctors, fire
officers and Air Raid Precautions officers were all considered essential, and if
they came from other parts of the country they were often billeted on local
families who had a spare room or who could make space for someone else.
Billeting was organised by the local authorities - usually the town clerks and
their staff.
A066.081 (1941) Forms and instructions relating to billeting of
children during the Second World War (unused)
A474.001 c. 1940 Billeting Scheme. Note of available surplus
accommodation in the neighbourhood of Falkirk
High School. Contains list of addresses,
householder's name and number of rooms available
A474.002 c. 1940 Billeting Scheme. Note of available surplus
accommodation in the neighbourhood of Carmuirs
School. Contains list of addresses, householder's
name and number of rooms available
A474.003 c. 1940 Billeting Scheme. Note of available surplus
accommodation in the neighbourhood of Camelon
School. Contains list of addresses, householder's
name and number of rooms available
A474.004 c. 1940 Billeting Scheme. Note of available surplus
accommodation in the neighbourhood of St. Francis
School. Contains list of addresses, householder's
name and number of rooms available
A474.005 c. 1940 Billeting Scheme. Note of available surplus
accommodation in the neighbourhood of Meeks
Road School. Contains list of addresses,
householder's name and number of rooms available
A474.006 c. 1940 Billeting Scheme. Note of available surplus
accommodation in the neighbourhood of Victoria
School. Contains list of addresses, householder's
name and number of rooms available
A474.007 c. 1940 Billeting Scheme. Note of available surplus
accommodation in the neighbourhood of Northern
School. Contains list of addresses, householder's
name and number of rooms available
A474.008 c. 1940 Billeting Scheme. Note of available surplus
accommodation in the neighbourhood of Bainsford
School. Contains list of addresses, householder's
name and number of rooms available
A474.009 1938 A.R.P Evacuation correspondence file. Contains

circular letters from Department of Health for
Scotland to local authorities with instructions on the
evacuation schemes
A474.010 1939-1942 Billeting of persons rendered homeless.
Correspondence file. Contains scheme of
arrangements for billeting in Falkirk, with lists of
billeting officers, rest centres, instructions for an
Emergency Relief exercise in Falkirk, 1941, training
material and official forms
A474.011 1944 Hillside - requisitioning for billeting under
Government Evacuation scheme. Correspondence
file.
A474.012 1940-1042 Correspondence file relating to emergency billeting
of nursing and medical staff for Falkirk & District
Royal Infirmary and notices to evacuated persons,
government circulars to local authorities, and other
papers
A474.013 1939-1946 Correspondence, government circulars and notes
relating to billeting scheme in Falkirk and recovery
of cost of billeting individuals
A474.014 1940-1945 Correspondence relating to billeting of individuals in
Falkirk
A474.015 1944-1945 Correspondence relating to billeting of individuals in
Falkirk and return of individuals to home areas, with
lists of unaccompanied children
A474.016 1940-1942 Sample blank forms relating to billeting scheme.
Includes notice of claim for compensation following
requisition of property, notices to owner and
occupier on requisition of property, scheme of
arrangements for billeting of persons rendered
homeless resulting from enemy action, billeting
guide and government circulars Also includes
signed notice appointing Robert Lyle, Town Clerk,
as Billeting Officer for Falkirk Burgh

Fund-raising
The government encouraged local fund-raising to support the Forces and the
cost of producing munitions, tanks, planes and ships. Local areas “adopted”
ships or planes while local people held concerts, bazaars and rallies to raise
money for the Red Cross parcels to prisoners or funds for different fighting
campaigns or regiments. Fund-raising was important to keep the war effort
going, but it also gave people at home the chance to participate and it
boosted their morale.
A076.010 1943 Poster advertising Christmas Sale in aid of Red
Cross Funds
A076.011 1943 Mar 20 Poster advertising Castlerankine Camp dance in
aid of China Fund in Drill Hall, Denny
A163.001 1940s Photocopy of directory "The County of Stirling -
for the services". Includes adverts, lists of
football fixtures, information on sports clubs,
libraries, post offices, Ministry of Food office, and
historical sketches of Stirlingshire and notable
features
A240.008 1940 Nov 1 Programme : The Spitfire Fund concert at Falkirk
Town Hall, with Sir Harry Lauder
A319.002 (1942) Pamphlet "51st Highland Division in North Africa
and Sicily" printed in aid of the 51st Highland
Division Trust Fund
P11420 c. 1940 People at Fund-raising Event
Photographer : Telfer Drummond

Entertainment during the Second World War
Despite the war, life went on for most. People still went to school, grew up,
got married, had children, became ill, died of natural causes, and took part all
the normal activities of life. Young people in particular needed things to do,
despite the black-out. Dances were very popular, especially as there were
camps of soldiers in training nearby. The cinema was another important
source of information and entertainment. Older people continued to run
weekly social events in their social or work clubs. A paper shortage limited
the size of magazines and newspapers, but these were still published
because they helped to boost morale.
A076.009 1943 Oct 20 Poster advertising “A” Coy. Home Guard dancing
in Drill Hall, Denny
A076.012 1943 Poster advertising Firemen's Social Club weekly
whist drive in club rooms
War-time magazines
A306.01/01 Jun 1943 "Woman's Magazine",
A306.01/02 Nov 1943 "Woman's Magazine",
A306.01/03 Jan 1944 “Woman's Magazine"
A306.01/04 Aug 1945 "Woman's Magazine"
A306.01/06 Jul 1942 "Woman's Magazine" ,
A306.02 (1940s) "London Opinion and the Humorist",
A306.05 > Jun 1940 "Good Housekeeping"
A212.001 1941-1944 The War Illustrated
A416.001 1945 Jul "The Prisoner of War" the official journal of the
prisoner of war department of the Red Cross and
St John's war organisation (final issue)

Wartime Work
Lots of people did different work in wartime from the work they would have
done in peacetime. Women took over jobs left vacant by men who had been
called up - working in shops, offices, factories and on the land. Women also
joined the forces, acting as telephone and radio operators, clerical assistants
and taking on other support roles. Men in essential work were exempt from
being called up. Work was regulated by law, and workers gained better
conditions during the war as a result.
A349.01/01 1944 May 27 Notice of discharge from employment issued to
Margaret Torrance , process worker, under
National Service regulations
A349.01/02 1944 May 27 Notice giving permission to Margaret Torrance
to leave employment as process worker.
Annotated on back - left to become nurse.
A365.02 1942 Membership card of Marion Cullen, City and
Royal Burgh of Edinburgh Fire Guard
A521.003 1941 Sep 23 Warrant of appointment of Robert Meek
MacDonald as temporary Lieutenant in the
Royal Navy Reserve. HMS Spartiate
A761.001 1946 Soldier's Release Book Class "A" of Private
John Louden
A761.002 1940s Army Identity Card of John Louden, attached to
the Medical Services
A287.01 1944-1946 Soldier's Service and Pay Book
P17927 1939-1940 Airport Workers
P17928 1939-1940 Airport Workers
P19486 1940s Female munitions workers at Carron Iron
Works in Second World War
P19487 1940s Female munitions workers at Carron Iron
Works in Second World
P20259 1944, Dec New Year Card from Henry Russell Ltd to
employees in the Forces
P25977 1940s Woman working at Carron Iron Works
A220.003 1945 Oct Leaflet "Carron in Wartime" Contains
description of wartime work, including
munitions, heating and cooking equipment,
tank track links, roller shackles, engine
forgings and other equipment. Mentions SS
Forth

Civil Defence and Air Raid Precautions in the Second World War
Fire officers, ARP wardens and the Home Guard were made up of volunteers.
The volunteers included men in exempt occupations, men who were too old
and boys who were too young for the regular forces and men who were
conscientious objectors. These were potentially very dangerous noncombatant
jobs. When the big cities were being bombed during the Blitz,
many civil defence volunteers were killed while fighting fires or rescuing
trapped people from bombed buildings.
A332.01 nd Falkirk Iron Co. Directions for use of the "Vitair"
general service respirator (gas mask) (See
gas mask 1983-41-10)
A332.02 (1940s) Falkirk Iron Co. Instruction leaflet for the
National Eye Protector
A332.04 (1940s) Falkirk Iron Co. Pamphlet "The Fire Guard's
Pocket Chart"
A337.04 1944 Notice : devolution of A.R.P. control to Burgh of
Falkirk
A686.018 1940-1942 Correspondence, A Trotter, Superintendent,
Office of Docks & Traffic, Grangemouth Docks
with War Office, regarding defence regulations
A760.001 1940s Stirling & Clackmannan A.R.P. Joint Authority
Blank form: A R P Training Wardens' Sector
Diary
P14887 1943 2nd Stirlingshire Home Guard, Shieldhill
Platoon
P17339 1941 Home Guard
P19530 1941 Jul 20 Falkirk Home Guard on Callendar Estate
Photographer : A A Dickson
P19608 1940 Soldiers Photographer : Falkirk Herald
P19671 1940s ARP warden group
P19726 1940s 2nd Stirlingshire Battalion Home Guard "A"
Company
P20889 1940s Home Guard marching along Lumley Street,
Grangemouth
P23220 1939 Aug Platoon of territorials in the Argyll and
Sutherlands, at Grangemouth Dock
P25326 1940s Group of ARP wardens in Camelon Town Hall
P26002 1940s Slamannan Home Guard - group photograph
P26005 Home Guard Insignia - Local Defence
Volunteers (LDV)armband
P26006 Home Guard insignia, with words 'Home Guard'
P26007 Home Guard insignia - four stripes
P26017 c 1942 Miss Janet Miller in her ARP uniform,
ambulance section
P26032 1942-1943 Grangemouth Army Cadet Force outside
Grangemouth Parish Church
P26043 c. 1942 Miss Janet Miller in her ARP uniform,
ambulance section, with her brother Alexander,
a radio mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm

Victory Celebrations
After the war, communities across Scotland found ways to recognise the
sacrifices of the men and women in the Forces. The war memorials were, of
course, an obvious way to mark those who did not return. A printed Roll of
Honour in Bo’ness listed both the dead and the survivors. Welcome Home
Committees were set up in many local areas and various functions were held
to celebrate their homecoming. In Falkirk, the first group who were
demobilised were treated to tea at Matheson’s. However, Matheson’s was
destroyed by a fire shortly after this, and all the remaining demobbed soldiers
were sent a card and £1.00 instead.
A066.133 1945 Tags: Falkirk Burgh Victory Celebrations -
Member of Committee
A258.25 1945 Order of service: Second Army Thanksgiving
Service on conclusion of the campaign in North
West Europe
A486.01 1946 Mar 4 Photocopy of invitation to reception given by
Burgh of Falkirk Welcome Home and
Commemoration Fund
A761.003 1946 Apr 3 Programme for reception and welcome home in
West Church Hall, Falkirk (following end of
Second World War)
A669.001 1946 Welcome Home Card issued by Burgh of
Falkirk to returning demobilised members of
the armed forces
A985.001 1946 Jun 8 Denny & Dunipace Burgh Souvenir
programme for Victory Celebrations. Includes
Children's Gala Day, dancing and fireworks
A542.01 1945 Photocopy of certificate "The citizens of
Bonnybridge and District welcome you home"
issued to John Reid
A669.002 1946 Card issued to members of the Rhine Army on
demobilisation
A618.001 1939-1945 Bo'ness and Carriden Parishes Roll of Honour
World War 1939-1945. Also includes
Blackness and District Roll of Honour
P16627 1945 Photograph of street decorations
P25245 c 1945 Grave of Flying Office R Moyes in Grandsable
Cemetery, Polmont

Further Reading
Falkirk Local History Society Calatria. Vol 10. The Journal Of The Falkirk
Local History Society. Includes article : Falkirk At War 1939-45
Winter 1996
Geoff Bailey Hard as nails (the Home Guard in Falkirk district), 2008