SHORTLY after 11.30am on September 3, 1939, the words “This country is at war with Germany” meant its menfolk were off to fight once more. In May, 1940 an appeal was made to people aged 17 to 65 to register at police stations to form the Local Defence Volunteers — later to be known as the Home Guard.

Within a few days, 132 people had registered at Bacup — many more having been thanked but politely refused due to their age. There was an acute shortage of weapons, and for a while the men had to drill with wooden sticks.

During the war the baths became the headquarters of the Civil Defence Service. The large pool was boarded over so that the room could be a decontamination and first-aid area, while the Home Guard were based in Holmes Mill.

They used reject bullets to practise with which were given to them by the munitions workers of Lumb Hall Engineering, also based in the mill. Each division was responsible for guarding the roads into Bacup — at Newkin, Sharneyford, Britannia and Stacksteads.

Although the first air-raid warning in Bacup did not come until 6pm on June 20, 1940, and lasted until 3.44am, the town had been well prepared for such occasions. In the first weeks of the war, shelters were created to protect the people of Bacup against air raids, with the shelters including the cellars of St John’s church, in Burnley Road. Sandbagging under the market hall gave access to the cellars of four of the former shops; these cellars would hold up to 180 people.

In Stacksteads the cellars of the working men’s club could hold up to 100 people.

By February, 1941, a number of rest centres had also been set up, mainly in local Sunday schools, as well as Stacksteads Working Men’s Club. A booklet was issued advising residents of the help available if they became a casualty of an air raid.

People became used to carrying gas masks at all times. And because of safety, some who set off for work in the mill without them were turned away.

Sand bins throughout Bacup and Stacksteads were filled by the corporation. Householders were entitled to a free bucket of sand in case of fire. Warnings were made that it had to be kept dry because wet sand was no good for incendiary bombs.

The flying of kites and fireworks was banned. And 49 pigeon fanciers had to register with police, who inspected their pigeon lofts — any bird not wearing a ring of identification was destroyed.

One of the first signs that Bacup was at war was the day kerbstones were painted — so that they would guide pedestrians and motorists to their destination in the hours of darkness during the blackout. Blackout regulations were strict and those showing even a chink of light often had a court appearance and a fine of 10/- or even £1.

Because of the restrictions, Bacup market closed at 7pm in September. And the town’s trades council advised that its members would be closing at 8pm on Saturdays rather than the usual 9pm.

Words and pictures courtesy of bacuptimes.co.uk.