Leyton & Leytonstone
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by David Boote
what head teachers’ ‘school log books’ tell us about the effect of air raids on Leyton and Leytonstone
The Metropolitan Police at their Scotland Yard headquarters were told when coastal observation stations saw airships heading for London, but there was no system for passing this message to others. The Commissioner of Police and the Home Secretary opposed public announcements. The Home Secretary, Sir John Simon, MP for Walthamstow, told the House of Commons in October 1915 that official warnings would encourage people to come out into the street where they would be more vulnerable, and information about imminent raids was unreliable. This remained the government stance until July 1917 when a system of public warnings of raids was introduced, and then only in daylight. 3
The lack of official air raid warnings could cause problems for head teachers. Leyton High Road Mixed School has a log book entry for 30 November 1916 : “Six mothers withdrew their children at 11.45 owing to a rumour that hostile aircraft were in the London area.” Downsell Road Girls' School has this note for 14 June 1917 : “School closed at 3.20 p.m. owing to ['rumours of' inserted] warnings as to hostile air raids.”
Some parents seem to have been anxious that their children be at home during a raid. The log book for Harrow Green Infants has this entry for 13 June 1917 : “Air Raid in Neighbourhood. At 11.20 sounds of what seemed to be hostile aircraft were very distinctively heard, & shortly afterwards there was loud firing, as the children were told to take cover under their desks. A few parents came up while the firing was in progress, and two or three claimed their children, while the others, realizing that the children were safe & being well looked after, went away. At twelve oclock the danger seemed to be over, and many parents then came for the scholars, so the school was dismissed at the usual time.”