Gettingreadyfor Glasgowevacuees

Fearing an imminent outbreak of war, the Observer of August 1939, told how Stirlingshire was finalising preparations to receive about 7500 evacuees from Glasgow.

Stirling Evacuation Committee, chaired by Councillor John M Hay, met at the town’s Municpal Building to consider lastminute arrangements for the influx of refugees set to be moved because of the threat of air raids.

Much preparation had already been done and at an earlier evacuation committee meeting, an official of the Department of Health said Stirling was further ahead in its arrangements to receive evacuees then any other burgh in Scotland.

Stirling itself was expecting to provide accommodation for 5464 evacuees from Glasgow, among them more than 2500 unaccompanied children and 600 expectant mothers.

The Observer said arrangements for the reception of the refugees were regarded as `fairly adequate’ and a total of 270 people had volunteered their services as billeting officers and assistants.

Others had offered to use their cars to transport the refugees from reception centres to their accommodation.

The Observer said: `The major problem for the Stirlingshire receiving authorities is going to be the provision of blankets for the incoming children and mothers.

`Government supplies have not been not been arriving as quickly as was anticipated and although local officials have been informed they can buy locally where supplies are available, the necessary stocks of blankets are still deficient.’

To tackle the bedding shortage, the evacuation committee appealed for gifts of blankets and also of folding and camp beds.

The evacuees were expected to arrive at Stirling Station at half-hourly intervals. Children would be `marched’ to schools within the burgh and provided with a hot drink and 48 hours of rations before proceeding to homes they had been allocated.

Householders were expected to receive the number of evacuees they had been allotted, based on the size of their accommodation. They could, however, appeal to a `billeting tribunal’ if the size of their home had altered or they wanted to change the number of evacuees assigned to them.

Among other preparations being made for an outbreak of hostilities was the painting of white lines on the streets and edges of traffic islands. This was to assist should wartime lighting restrictions come into force. At Stirling Station, lamps were semi-obscured and dark blue bulbs fitted.

Owners of shops, offices and homes were told to prepare to darken their lighting and the demand for black window curtains had swamped many dealers.