Air raid shelters

The 'Anderson' and 'Morrison' Shelters
The Government were anxious to protect the general public, householders and their fam­ilies from bombing and blast, so they suppl­ied a very thick gauge of corrugated steel bent in a circular shape. The householder dug out the ground in his back garden, setting the corrugated steel cover into the dug out ground. Then he would cover the whole with all the earth (and more if he had got it) and so make a large mound to protect the people and children inside the shelter from the effects of bomb blast. This particular shelter was called the Anderson shelter, because Sir John Anderson was the Home Secretary in 1939 and 1940. Two and a quarter million were made and distributed free to people who were earning less then £250 a year. Those earning over this amount were charged £7. Many families in London spent every night in their shelter during the heavy air raids.

There was another shelter for use in the home; called the Morrison shelter (I had one in my home). This was a large heavy gauge steel top about 48" x 36", complete with four heavy angled legs 30" high, bolted to the top. On completion this formed a table to have your meals on. When the Alert siren went the family would crouch down and get inside for security. Around the two ends of the shelter and along one side, was a squared sheet of steel mesh wire, bolted to the legs. Also a wire mesh to form a spring-wired mattress was bolted to the bottom and an ordinary bed mattress was placed on top of this for comfort. The children were put in this shelter at night to sleep, making sure there was enough room for us parents should we have to leave our beds and get inside same for a little safety. These also were supplied free to low income families. When the end of the war came the councils were ordered by the government to collect these shelters and pay the householders £1 if they were complete.
Albert Paul - Hard work and no consideration

At night during some of the raids or when the siren sounded, we'd sleep in the Morrison Shelter in the dining room behind the shop. This was a large heavy metal cage-like thing with a thick top which sometimes served as a table when the sides which were made of metal squares were removed. A mattress at the bottom, then sheets and blankets and pillows and it was quite comfortable to sleep in. We'd take our 'iron rations', flask, biscuits, candles, matches and torch, tuck in the dog and cat, put up the sides and we felt as safe as houses! Thank goodness we didn't need to sleep in it very often, but when the Doodlebugs started coming over, it was our refuge, many a time we dived for cover as one of these devilish things cut out overhead. They sounded like flying express trains, the first time we heard them. When I saw one going over with the flames shooting from its tail, it looked as if it had flown straight out of Hell!
Doreen Blake in Brighton behind the Front

Releasing People from Air Raid Shelters
We quickly unloaded our tools and got to work, first removing heavy timbers and brick rubble from these shelters, and so releasing those families from their pri­sons, where some had fainted. While we worked on, the ambulance men were doing their wonderful job. We went through every street releasing and digging out trapped families. After we were satisfied that no more people or children were trapped in shelters or debris, we then set to work doing the first aid repairs. These people up north are wonderful sociable people, making us men happy with their hospitality, also plenty of cups of tea during daylight hours.
Albert Paul - Hard work and no consideration