THE CHINA MAIL SPECIAL A‚R.P. SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 20, 1940.-
Development Of The H.K.
Corps Of Air Raid Wardens
The map of District D." Con-
Warden's Job
THE Hong Kong Corps tral Division, shown on this page
of Air Raid Wardens is a perfect example of the A.R. has been built up from District. the bottom upwards in the sense that the unit of the organisation, viz., the Post has been the seed from which the whole tree has grown up.
The Warden's. Post. is a selected place in a bullding, which has a telephone and is centrally situated as regards a certain area. It is located in a strongly built build- ing, easily protected from blast and collapse and it is further pro. tected by sandbagging.
Around the Post is the Sector. The Sector is a well defined area which can be efficiently patrolled by two werdens patrolling in- dividually. The size of the Sector varies with the density of the population, the nature and vulner ability of surrounding buildings. and the geographical situation of the Sector itself,
Mr. B. H. Puckle, D.S:O.. Deputy Director for Air Raid Precautions.
An Air Raid Worden is chosen as a responsible and reliable mem-. ber of the public who will under- take to advise and help his fellow citizens in all risks and calamities which might follow from an air attack. His responsibilities when on duty are confined to his post. - and his sector.
A warden should know who
lives in his sector, who are the people that can be relied upon to help in an emergency, and who are those likely to need help on account of age or infirmity,
A warden must know where are
the Fire Hydrapts, and Fire Posts, if there are any places of special danger such as Petrol Stores, Tim- ber Yards or other premises con- taining materials which might explode or burn very freely.
He should make a special note of the telephones' in his sector which might be used in an emer- gency. He must learn the locations of all the public shelters or other places of comparative safety. He- must keep a list of the nanies, ad- dresses and telephone numbers of doctors, chemists, and nurses re- siding in his sector.
In Time Of War
In time of War a warden helps to clear the streets, to direct peo- ple to the nearest public shelters and he himself takes shelter dur- ing a raid. If bombs have fallen in his sector the first duty of an Air Raid Warden is to get a re- port through to his Post; to give local gas warnings, and any in- dividual help he can give with- out delaying the sending of bis reports.
The Warden must see that all the people in a building where an incendiary bomb has been dropped are warned of the incident and told to evacuate the building. When rescue parties, Eire Brigade, or, the Police arrive a warden is to be ready to guide them and ex- plain to them what has happened. After the raid the warden must
go round the streets of the sector. to complete his work and find out if there are any casualties who are not attended to..
The keynotes of the Warden's conquet are courage and presence -cf mind.
Important Post
The Sector is under the com- mand of a Senior Warden who has a Deputy and lour Air Rald, Ward-
By A. E. Gerondal,
Deputy Chief A.R.W.
For Hong Kong
ens under him. As the strength of the organisation grows, it is in- tended to double the
Next to he Sector comes the Group which is purely an act- ministrative echelon consisting of not more than three Sectors and commanded by a Group Warden who pets as Liaison Officer be- tween the District Wardens and the Senior Wardens. His duties are similar to those of a Senior Ward- den, but he must speak Chinese and English, and, if possible, be an A.R.P. Instructor.
The Sectors are "all-grouped in a District which consists of not more than thirty-six Sectors and is commanded by a District Ward- en assisted by two Deputies.
Divisional Areas
Finally the Districts are group number of ed into a Division, the boundaries
One of the classes (District "E" of Central Division, under District Warden J. C. Lang) > No. 252, Hollywood Road,
Wardens