Big ‘blackout’ is voted a hit

An exercise to find out if Stirling – and other parts of the country – were ready for war took place in March 1939, when a ‘big black-out’ was staged.

It was, said the paper, `the first and greatest spectacle of its kind to date’ and generally declared a success.

Townsfolk in Stirling cooperated in `splendid manner’ and the appeal for lights out between 10pm and midnight was `readily obeyed’ – although some had to be told by Air Raid Precaution wardens to `put that light out.’

An Observer reporter made a tour of darkened streets during the black-out and found residents `groping their way home apparently without difficulty’ but, judging by the jokes being cracked, accepting the conditions in a `light frame of mind’.

Special constables and wardens were at their posts when the siren sounded, marking the start of the exercise, but it was not clear what there exact duties would be until a sealed envelope containing their orders was handed over.

As sounds of exploding bombs were played across the town, news of the first real `incident’ emerged.

An incendiary bomb had apparently exploded at Broad Street, in front of the Mercat Cross, causing a `great conflagration. However, as the Observer pointed out, it was a bonfire comprising old boxes and paper.

A large crowd gathered to see how the wardens and firefighters reacted to the pretend emergency. Firefighters took a few minutes to find a fire hydrant but eventually extinguished the flames.

The next `emergency’ occurred outside the County Buildings where mustard gas was said to have been released.

Wardens sounded the wooden rackets – used specially as a warning for gas attacks – and the area where the gas was `released’ was cordoned off to keep out civilians.

A decontamination squad was summoned and spectators watched as the men in masks and oilskins dealt with the gas.

At the same spot a “bomb” had also exploded causing a number of casualties causing an additional headache for the emergency services who also had to deal with injuries arising from incidents in other parts of the town.

Officials in the County Buildings and Springbank coordinated their exercise and they were kept in touch with events on the ground through a constant stream of messages.

Adverse weather conditions had prevented aeroplanes from taking part in the black-out.

Emergency services traffic had passed through the town without mishap and there were no casualties among pedestrians.

Simulated in the Stirling and Clackmannan joint authority area during the exercise was the discharge of about 20 tons of high explosive bombs, plus 25 cluster releases of small incendiary bombs and five discharges of gas bombs.

Black-out exercises also took place in rural villages including Gargunnock and Buchlyvie.

In Gargunnock special constables had to deal with 12 simulated incidents involving casualties.

According to the village’s correspondent, the average time that elapsed between the arrival of news about the casualty and first aid being administered was 27 minutes.

hat was thought to be a good outcome given that the incident had to be reported by a warden, a team, equipped with splints and bandages, dispatched to the scene, and the casualty taken by ambulance to the first aid post.

Buchlyvie was also said to have successfully coped during the black-out, with all lights being put out and vehicles on the road using onlf half lights.

Wardens had been quick on the scene when a `bomb exploded in the village’.

Villagers were congratulated for following instructions.