| AdminHistory | The Air Raid Precautions Committee was appointed during February 1936, after the Home Office recommended in July 1935 that Local Authorities should make provisional plans for air raids should war break out. Despite a number of abortive air-raids on Birmingham during the First World War, there was no provision made at a local level for civil defence prior to 1936.
The committee was simply an advisory body, and comprised a chairman; the Lord Mayor; two members from the General Purposes Committee; the chairperson of the Finance Committee and the City Treasurer; the chairperson of the Public Works and Town Planning Committee; the City Engineer and Surveyor; Chair of the Health Committee and Medical Officer; the chair of the Transport Committee and the General Manager; the chairmen of the Gas, Electric and Water Committees and the General Managers; chair of the Education Committee and Chief Education Officer; the Chairman of the Watch Committee and the Chief Constable and Chief Fire Officer; the Town Clerk; an appointed Fuel Officer, Ambulance Officer and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. It considered all aspects of air raid precautions (civilian warning system, emergency lighting, evacuation, fire brigade and policing, casualty treatment and maintenance of essential public services) and then report to the Home Office. |