The Rushden Echo and Argus, 13th June 1941, transcribed by Jim Hollis
M.B.E. For Rushden A.R.P. Officer - Won M.C. in Last War
The Birthday Honours List published on Thursday included the award of the M.B.E., Civil Division to Capt. J. Marshall Bailey, M.C., A.R.P. Officer to the Rushden Urban Council and Corps Supt. of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.
Captain Bailey won his Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Westhoek Ridge in August, 1917. He is connected with the firm of B. Ladds, Ltd., and has been Corps Superintendent of the St. John Brigade for 14 years. Before that he was Superintendent of the Rushden Division for six years.
He assumed charge of Rushden’s A.R.P. arrangements in 1937.
Captain Bailey said on Thursday: “I think one may safely say that whatever I have done it is also a compliment and honour to others who have done jolly well. I have got the award, but the job has been done by everybody.
“The Regional Commissioner’s Inspector has been more than satisfied with the way we have overcome our difficulties in A.R.P. work. We have had our trials but we did not break down. The hard work was done back in 1937 and 1938. The making of the machine is a great deal harder than working it.”
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M.B.E. Congratulated
“We are all very proud of our civil defence services,” said Mr. Cox, “They have proved themselves on more than one occasion to be of the highest efficiency. Indeed, we have reason just now to be doubly proud of our civil defence services because, as you have learned this week, it has pleased His Majesty the King to confer on one of our townsmen, Capt. Bailey, our A.R.P. Officer, the Order of M.B.E. as a signal honour for the great service that he has rendered to this town and county. I know that you will regard this honour as a tribute to all his workers as well as himself, but I feel you would like me publicly to voice our appreciation of all the work he has done, and to congratulate him upon this award from His Majesty.”
They could not all be civil defence workers, and their social service must go on. They had shown by their splendid turnout that the people of Rushden did not forget their obligations to the men serving in H.M. Forces or to their hospitals and kindred services.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 16th January, 1942, transcribed by Jim Hollis
Rushden Civil Defence Workers Refuse Uniform
“Official Extravagance” Denounced by Committee
Official extravagance in offering uniforms to Civil Defence workers who do not desire them was condemned at Wednesday’s meeting of the Rushden Urban Council, and another feature of the evening was an appeal to the town for an all-out paper salvage drive during the next fortnight.
Councillor Bailey said it was pleasing to read of the action taken by the committee and the A.R.P. personnel. Many had expressed contempt of the proposal to spend thousands of pounds on uniforms which were not necessary and not wanted by the members of the services. It said something for the services that they had declined the uniforms.
“I wish,” said Mr. Bailey, “that if they have so many thousands of pounds to spend they would attend to the black-out of the depot.”
Coun. Waring said that many areas took a similar view.
The chairman (Coun. T. W. Cox) : I am sure we shall all congratulate the committee on its decision.
The Council agreed to enter the national £20,000 waste paper competition and to make a special effort in this branch of salvage during January – chiefly through the Aid-to-Russia salvage campaign which opens next week.
Coun. Capon said that a small committee had been set up in connection with the Aid-to-Russia campaign and was arranging for every house to be canvassed. “We hope to secure a prize,” he added confidently.
The Chairman said that Coun. Sawford was leader of the committee. They were asking everybody in the town to give the whole of their waste paper during the last two weeks of January, thereby helping the Russia Fund and the national effort at the same time.
Coun. Sawford appealed for all possible support from the townspeople.
The Surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd) reported that the December salvage was valued at £53 and included 11 tons of paper, two tons of tins, nine cwt. of bones, 1¼ tons of bagging and 2¼ tons of kitchen waste. [part of a longer article - see Wartime in Rushden Jauary 1942]
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Rushden Echo & Argus, 30th June 1944, transcribed by Kay Collins
Rescue Work and Decontamination - Rushden Civil Defenders Give a Display
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Rushden's ingenious Salute the Soldier target indicator has the bold figure of a British 'Tommy' whose bayonet 'prods' the rising total. The slogan to the left reads: Save And Lend Until The End.
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Rushden people were invited to see their Civil Defence services in action in College-street on Tuesday evening, and a large crowd watched a display by the Wardens, Rescue Service and other units.
Mock air raid incidents were staged outside Messrs. John Cave and Sons' factory, and were explained over a microphone by Mr. J. Marshall Bailey, M.C., M.B.E., the town's A.R.P. Officer.
Minor cases—badly burned hands, fractured collar bone. etc.—were first dealt with and taken away by ambulance. Surmising that the stairs to the top floor were impracticable, a demonstration of rescue by ladder was given. A reconnaissance mem¬ber wearing apparatus as protection from coal gas, and keeping communication with his colleagues by means of a life-line, entered an upper room and rendered first-aid. A stretcher was manoeuvred into position and the patient carefully and comfortably lowered, then revived by being rocked face downwards to expel foul air from the lungs.
Next was the decontamination of a stretch of the road affected by mustard gas, the decontamination squad wearing gas-protective clothing. The patch was completely covered with sawdust (representing bleaching powder) and the adjacent walls were washed down.
The last item was the setting-up of the mobile gas cleansing unit.
At the conclusion Dr. R. W. Davies, J.P. (Chairman of the R.U.D.C.) thanked the members of the C.D. for their loyal service and urged them to keep in top form till the war was over. Mr. Bailey replied that every one could be assured of their continued support and effort in time of need.
The display was given in connection with Salute the Soldier Week.
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