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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
Only in March 1918 did The Commissioner of Metropolitan Police and the Home Secretary (no longer John Simon) set up a system of public air raid warnings for use at night as well as in the day. 6 National government’s reluctance to set up a system of night-time warnings may have been that it preferred people to be in the relative safety of their homes rather than coming out onto the streets. The school log books do not reveal much about experiencing a night-time raid. How many people went outside and spoke to neighbours ? How many parents told their children to put their heads back on the pillow and try and ignore the noise ? Does the presence of a child comfort the parent ? Clearly the threat of bombing created stress, and it was a great relief when the war ended.
I find grim humour in this entry in the Downsell Road Girls' School log book “Nov: 15th. [1918] Attendance still very low owing to the prevalence of Influenza & the Armistice rejoicings”. In fact the number of deaths caused by flu in and after the War was terrible. Fighting stopped but suffering caused by the war continued long afterwards.
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