The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:30 pm Post subject: additional war risks

I was part of a discussion a few weeks ago about what additional risks existed during WW1 and WW2 to non service personnel and I thought that the topic might have a second airing here.

So in no particular order.......

Medical personnel might be required to work in less than sanitary conditions and be more likely to contract disease than in peacetime

Miners often had to work without the benefit of more experienced men (who were off at the front), pressure was greater to produce more coal, safety rules were less rigidly enforced and machinery was not so well maintained - all resulting in increased risk

Farm and forestry workers had minimal training and little experienced supervision so risks of accidents increased

Railways - steam trains had less frequent boiler inspections (no evidence for this but it is possible) and service intervals were extended, makeshift repairs to lines and rolling stock along with reduction in safety standards to 'get the job done'

Fisherman and Merchant Navy - anti submarine nets, direct conflict with enemy of course, mines, lack of weather reports (they were classified), lack of ships navigation lights, lighthouses and foghorns out of action, risk of attack by friendly forces and working beyond what is normally safe because it is 'for the war effort'

Anyone have any other thoughts?

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:29 pm Post subject:

Volunteers in roles such as ARP and Home Guard were also doing their day jobs in many cases. With longer working hours than today and additional hours as a volunteer there would have been many cases of exhaustion or near exhaustion possibly leading to accidents on-duty or at work.

The SS Ashbury which foundered in 1945 is a classic case of a ship which should have been scrapped being kept in service and ended up sinking in bad weather causing the deaths of her crew.

Adam

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:11 pm Post subject:

Mined fields and beaches as well as sea mines washing up killed plenty civilians.

Apparently deaths of munition wokers are not commemorated by CWGC as it is deemed their was no additional risk in their job due to wartime conditions?

You'd have though the longer hours and demand for higher numbers of shells produced would add to the risk?

what about the black out? Loadsa sentries seemed to shoot innocent folk and people drowed in canals a bit more due to the darkness.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 7:54 pm Post subject:

McDOWALL, JANE BARR. Age:18 Rank:Civilian Date of Death:23/09/1942
Jane was a Firewatcher, the daughter of David and Marion McDowall, of 7 Harbour Street, Creetown. Jane was killed in a car crash involving an army dispatch rider, at Newton Farm just outside Gatehouse-of-Fleet, as she and her Fire Guard colleagues were returning from a training exercise.
She is buried with her brother William Barr McDowall, Driver 14246984 Royal Engineers, who died on 7 January 1945 aged 21, in a CWG in Kirkmabreck Parish Churchyard, Creetown, Kirkcudbrightshire.
http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/scottishwargraves-ftopic1373.html
_________________
Ken

spoons · Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:47 pm Post subject:

Some really good examples here. I know that road deaths, both in vehicles and pedestrians, increased significantly during the blackout in WW2.

\Paul