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by Stanley Holloway (1940)
Air Raid Precautions (A.R.P.) wardens were unpaid volunteers tasked with protecting civilians from the danger of air-raids.
They had wide powers and could order people to evacuate to shelters, and at night, to seal their windows with blackout material. The wardens tended to be men not called up to fight due to their age, health, etc.
Regular police officers also took on the role and because of this, some civilian A.R.P. wardens believed they themselves were de facto police officers and assumed an air of superiority which got up people's noses.
Hence poems such as this, where Mrs Ramsbottom shows scant respect to the warden. This leads to the warden complaining "They take no bloody notice of me", modified to "They take no blooming notice of me" for BBC radio broadcast.
But behind all the banter, there is no doubt that these men saved many lives during WWII, risking their own lives in the process. Trained in first aid and fire fighting, they were usually first on the scene of any incident.
Have you heard how young Albert Ramsbottom The stick with the 'orse's 'ead 'andle, Pa saw them off at the station, | |
Ma got corner seat for young Albert, They arrived at last somewhere in England, The very first night in the blackout, It flashed on an A.R.P. warden So reading his book of instructions It was opened by Mrs Ramsbottom |
This fair upset Mrs Ramsbottom, "Has your son been evacuated?" "Be off, now," said Mrs Ramsbottom Now that were unlucky for Albert, |
"Put out that light," a voice shouted. Soon Mrs Ramsbottom and Albert When at last they reached home to Father "Hello, Mother," said Mr Ramsbottom, "First aid?" said Mrs Ramsbottom |