To mark the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, here’s a look at some of the extra roles ironstone miners took up during the Second World War.
Ironstone mining was largely in decline at this time, but mines at Lingdale, Kilton, North Skelton, South Skelton and Loftus were still active. I have looked at the 1939 Register which was taken at onset of war with the purpose of producing National Identity Cards. Additions were made over the war years to records civil defense duties performed. Here are some examples of those roles from Lingdale. (raw information for more residents can be found here)
Harold Foster served as an ARP Warden. Jobs would have included ensuring the blackout was observed, sounding air raid sirens and guiding people to air raid shelters.
Harold Blenkey volunteered for the Auxiliary Fire Service, they would have been called on to assist the regular fire services.
Ernest Stocks volunteered as an Ambulance Warden, from the recruitment poster below it can be seen that Ambulance Driving was one of the roles women could also take on.
One of the more unusual jobs was taken by George Wright, who helped the National Pigeon Service. 200,000 messenger pigeons were provided during the war by the members of this group.
Robert W Barwick is a very interesting case, he’s listed as being in the Territorial Army and Green Howards but the comments say he was “Sent back home to work” showing the importance of mining at his time.
