Marple Locks in World War II
Air Raid Precautions

These two letters about Air Raid Precautions were written by Mr L Machin at the Marple Section Office on Thursday, 20 March and Saturday, 29 March 1941.

Marple                                                  March 20th 1941

Dear Sir                                                S.A.4'

     Payments for Special Overtime and Sunday Working
     due to Air Raid Precautions Duties for (illegible March 15 incl.

Date             Place + Reason         Time engaged        Total Hours
                                     from   -  to
 9.3.41 Sunday  Marple Top Lock      8.45pm -  9.15pm         30 mts
10.3.41 Mon     Watching            11.55pm - 12.25am         30 mts
11.3 41 Tues    Canal levels         1.40am -  2.45am          1 Hr
                Warehouses, shops    8.50pm - 11.55pm          3 Hrs
12.3.41 Wed     Locks etc            8.30pm -  3.55am          7 Hrs
13.3.41 Thur                         8.45pm -  1.45am          5 Hrs
14.3.41 Fri                          8.50pm -  2.40am          6 Hrs  
                Total                                         23 Hours

                                                      L. Machin

 

Marple                                                March 29th 1941

Dear Sir                                              S.A.4'

     Payments for Special Overtime and Sunday Working due
     to Air Raid Precautionary Duties for Week ending March 29

Date             Place + Reason         Time engaged        Total Hours

Monday          Marple Top Lock
                Watching Canal
                Levels, Warehouse
                + Locks                 3.30am - 4am          30 mts
                                      Total                  ½ hour

                                                       L. Machin

To put these Air Raid Precaution duties into context, the following is a brief account of the air raid that occurred on the Tuesday, 11 March 1941. There was a three-hour raid on Manchester in which bombs were dropped on several districts, with Stretford (Trafford Wharf, Cornbrook Sidings and Pomona Docks) being the most heavily attacked. Bombs were also dropped on Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Salford, Eccles, Gorse Hill, Swinton and Firswood. The football ground of Manchester United in Trafford Park was also severely damaged.