The Third World War (58 page)

I: A summary of events in civil defence in the seven vital years 1978-85

1978

Government allocation for civil defence at approximately Ł2 million (in real terms about one-twentieth of the 1968 budget) is totally inadequate. Government directives and plans for dealing with emergencies are out of date and irrelevant. Except in a few co untie? there is little or no interest in civil defence or emergency planning.

1979

Formation of National Emergency Volunteers (
NEV
)—a voluntary, self-financing organization formed to recruit, train and equip civil defence workers at parish/community level and to encourage parishes and urban communities to plan and organize as survival units in an emergency—with the emphasis on self-sufficiency.

In a period of massive unemployment and uncertainty the
NEV
rally strong support. Under imaginative and forceful leadership it begins to impress government and local government with the urgent necessity of taking positive action to restore a civil defence capability.

In late 1979 the government passes legislation facilitating the embodiment of
TAVR
in an emergency.

1980 and 1981

The
NEV
increase rapidly in all counties. Fifty per cent of all rural parishes now have workable emergency plans and are equipped with radiac instruments and chemical detector papers, and 65 per cent have one or more civil defence advisers. In urban communities the proportions are 12 per cent and 18 per cent.

1982

In March 1982 a US bomber carrying five 10-megaton nuclear weapons collides in mid-air with a Jumbo jet over Hampshire and crashes in flames on Fawley oil refinery. There is no nuclear explosion, but a substantial escape of radioactive cloud which btows across Southampton Water. Radiation is detected by a
NEV
operator in Warsash. His early warning makes possible rapid evacuation of population in the path of the fallout as far inland as Petersfield. Casualties.treated number 631 and include five deaths. Population in southern counties alerted.

Later in the year the
IRA
threaten to detonate a nuclear warhead in the Bristol Channel. The partial evacuation of Bristol is started before the threat is disposed of. The public is now aroused to demand that the government provide proper protection in an emergency with a faster reaction time.

1983

The government passes the Civil Protection (Emergencies) Act, giving statutory recognition to the
NEV
with an annual allocation of Ł2 million per annum for the purchase of civil defence equipment at parish/community level, and to defray administrative and training costs.

The total grant for civil defence and emergency is increased by Ł30 million per annum; this includes provision for the hardening of essential communications systems against
BMP
(electro-magnetic pulse).

This Act sweeps away the former emphasis on secrecy, and introduces a new two-stage emergency warning—Phase 1, ‘Warning Standby*; Phase 2, ‘Action’—and stresses that each level of authority in an emergency—region, county, district, parish, ward, street association, etc.—must plan and equip to be self-contained at immediate notice and to survive for at least a week without help from outside.

All authorities down to and including parish/community level are directed to prepare and update emergency plans for approval by government inspectors. These plans should provide for the appointment of a controller and emergency committee with the necessary powers to run the parish/community and co-ordinate survival measures in emergency for a considerable period.

1984

International tension is growing. There is talk of a possible world war.
NEV
step up recruiting and training. Most rural parishes are equipped and ready. Less than 40 per cent of urban communities are prepared.

The government holds a national civil defence exercise in August with simulated emergency alerts and trial evacuations. Existing evacuation plans are modified to a more flexible system. The lessons of the exercise are that law and order may be a major problem.

A new government booklet. Civil Protection in an Emergency, is issued to local authorities down to parish/community level, to government and local services, and to the
NEV
and voluntary bodies.

1985

In the summer international tension, less in the early part of the year, is again acute.

20 July. In response to its recognition that the Warsaw Pact is mobilizing
NATO
begins to put Allied armed forces on a war footing. The
USA
prepares to airlift troops to Europe and loads war equipment on to shipping.

The UK. government issues Emergency Phase 1 warning and distributes a Civil Protection booklet to all householders. Radio and TV broadcasts and newspaper articles advise the public how to behave and survive under attack. Evacuation plans are explained. The orderly evacuation of school children is to start on 22 July. Plans for petrol and food rationing are announced. The Stock Exchange is closed.

All community councils and local authorities convene extraordinary meetings and update emergency plans. Councils confirm appointment of controllers and emergency committee members. Final preparations are made to put emergency plans into operation.

II: Extracts from the Emergency Diaries kept by three English communities, recording the course of events in seventeen critical days, 4-20 August 1985

4 August

Branscombe. a village in Devon, pop. 400

0900* Emergency Diary opened. BBC has reported Warsaw Pact forces advancing into West Germany—only conventional munitions (incl. chemical) reported used so far. UK Govt declares State of Emergency (Phase 2).

0920 District Controller confirms State of Emergency locally.

0931 Chairman Parish Council directs activation of Branscombe Emergency Plan (
BREMPLAN
).

0940 Branscombe Emergency Committee (
BREMCO
) takes over Holt House (a private dwelling) as Emergency Control HQ. Instructions issued to establish Feeding and Rest, and Hospital and First Aid Centres.

0950 Report received that already 4,000 holiday-makers and refugees are in the parish and more arriving at approx fifty per hour. Controller asks police in Seaton to divert refugees. Reply negative (have no authority and we are already overwhelmed with problems in Seaton and Beer).

1005 In agreement with Chairman Parish Council, Controller blocks roads into Branscombe with bulldozers leaving Gatedown Lane open with Control Post at northern end.

_ All times are according to British Standard Time._ 1200 PM broadcasts to the nation. State of War exists but we will not be first to use nuclear weapons. 1400 Meeting in Village Hall. Chairman Parish Council and

Controller speaks to villagers and visitors. Parish

ration/identity cards issued. 1500
BBC
reports
NATO
troops withdrawing. 1600 Survey team starts continuous radiac monitoring watch. 1700 Govt broadcast advising population to remain calm and all except key personnel to remain at home and await further instructions; meantime to carry out directions of Govt booklet.

Buxford, a town south of Manchester, pop. 8.000 1700 Buxford Emergency Committee activated, Emergency Control HQ established and Control Staff closed up at full strength. Continuous watch opened with radiac equipment and chemical detector papers. Large numbers of refugees moving south from Manchester by car and on foot, but passing through.

Sparksley Green, an urban community in central Birmingham, pop. 2,075

1810 Emergency Control HQ established atthe’Red Cow’. Only Controller and two Communications Officers have reported. No radiac or other equipment. HQ organized on reporting basis only. Rapid exodus of population, roads blocked. Some looting of food shops and liquor shops. Few police in evidence.

5 August

Branscombe 0915 All private cars moved to parks in fields and tanks drained.

Hospital operating Edge Hill. Feeding arrangments going well. Emergency latrines being dug at Rest Centres and at all Billeting Centres on main drainage. 1000 All refugees reported under cover. Emergency water scheme operational. 1100 Stocks of detergents, lavatory paper, pharmaceutical and medical supplies received from District Controller. 1200 Steady stream of US transport planes flying overhead since

0900.

p.

2300 Signal from District that enemy bombing can now be expected at any time—probably from aircraft using HE and chemical weapons. 2400 Electricity supply failed. Switched to own generator.

Buxford

1200 Emergency plans operating well. Refugee stream to south continues. US planes arriving in some numbers Manchester Airport-Buxford population fear they will attract Soviet attack and 20 per cent have already left. Control Staff at 90 per cent strength.

2300 District warn that enemy are expected to start bombing our airfields at any time.

2400 Electricity failed. Standby candles.

Sparksley Green

1200 Still on reporting watch only with Controller and two Communications Officers—no equipment. Approx half population seem to have left. Armed police are bringing looting under control. Two looters shot, one policeman murdered and two injured-A number of fires which a depleted fire brigade have difficulty in controlling.

2300 Signal that bombing attack expected. District sending two spare Communications Officers with radiac and chemical detectors. Two Emergency Committee members reporting at 1000 tomorrow.

2400 Electricity cut.

6 August

Branscombe

0350 Air.raid alert.

0415 Sound ofA/C overhead. Bombs falling to east and west—

0430 Signal that our airfields under heavy bombardment.

0730 ‘All Clear’ sounded.

1000 Signal received that bombs dropped during night had contained HE, incendiary and nerve gases (tabun, sarin and VX). 1700 Air raid alerts and Alt Clears have followed each other all day. Controller directed that no further air raid warnings would be sounded in the village unless bombs were seen to be dropping or there was threat of a nuclear attack. Hot meal ordered for all at 1830.

1930 US transport A/C flew over Parish-at 2,000 metres on fire—parachutes emerging as A/C flies off west. Reported to District

1935 Enemy A/C flew low across Parish west to east. Reported.

2300 Electricity restored.

Buxford

0350 Air raid warning.

0400 to 0600 Heavy air raid high level A/C-100+bombs land Buxford area. Survey team make short recce at 0500 during lull—report much damage and many fires, and chemical detector papers show positive readings. Police, ambulance, fire brigade and rescue squads working in respirators and protective clothing.

0615 All Clear. Survey team report bombs still exploding intermittently—presumably with delayed action fuses. As some contain nerve gas it is agreed with police to resound Alert to get everyone under cover while unexploded bombs are dealt with.

0800 Survey report shows approx !,200 casualties of which 157 are dead.

0900 Two enemy A/C attack airport. No bombs on Buxford. US transport planes continue to come in in spite of bombing.

1006 One US and one Soviet A/C come down in flames over Buxford. Both crash to south.

1138 Five A/ C attack airport—50+ bombs on Buxford including .nerve gas.

1400 District Controller agrees allcivilians except key personnel be evacuated.-Control Staff to stay.

Sparksley Green

0550 Air raid warning.

0600 A/ C overhead, bombs falling and exploding to east. None in our area. Reported. 0615 All Clear. 0700 District advise water will be cut off at 1200. Police agree to tour area with car loud-hailers to advise householders to fill baths and containers before 1200 and to use plastic bags etc for toilet purposes.

1500 Police are withdrawn. Looting and fire-raising starts again. Three murders in streets and some inter-racial fighting. All food shops run out or looted. Communal meals supplied by District at school. Less than 25 per cent of population remain.

7 August

Branscombe

1200 Much A/C activity all morning. Villagers and refugees continue to work on farms and at allotted tasks.

1341 Electricity fails. District advises water will be cut off 1600. Emergency water and hygiene plans activated.

1400 At
BREMCO
Conference with Parish Council a reserve Controller and four Committee members chosen to replace existing
BREMCO
team should they become casualties. The Parsonage House chosen as an alternative Control HQ if Holt House destroyed. Directed that second copies of Emergency Diary and Financial Records be kept there.

Buxford

1000 No air raids for 20 hours; area declared clear of bombs and contamination. Buxford Controller suffered nervous breakdown—his 70th birthday. Cncllr Deschet appointed as new Controller.

1115 Gang of four armed youths reported looting iiquor warehouse—no police or troops available. Controller with armed posse goes to restore order.

1330 Controller returns with posse and police Inspector, who has charged Controller with murder and malicious wounding. He charges that after the youths had been disarmed in the warehouse the Controller held a summary court martiah and sentenced the four youths to death. When he ordered his armed posse to carry out sentence and shoot the boys they refused, whereupon he took one of the guns himself and opened fire, killing one and wounding three. At this point the Inspector arrived. Chairman of Buxford Council arrives, relieves Cncllr Deschet of his appointment and replaces him with Cncllr Burt-Rand.

Sparksley Green 1200 For mutual protection and support most of remaining inhabitants have concentrated in the area round the school and the Red Cow’.

8 August

Branscombe 0600 Signal ex-District—enemy concentrating attacks on power stations, oil depots and ports. 0700 Farmers northern perimeter of Parish report tooting of

food stocks during night. 0800 Recce of N perimeter report 850+ refugees camped