These two memorandums about Air Raid Precautions were issued by Leslie Machin at the Marple Section Office in 1941. Leslie Machin was born at Marple, Cheshire, on the 24 Jul 1910 and by 1939 he was resident at the Top Lock, Wharfside, Marple, employed as a Canal Inspector.
Marple March 20th 1941 Dear Sir S.A.4 Payments for Special Overtime and Sunday Working due to Air Raid Precautions Duties for (illegible) March 15 incl. Date Place + Reason Time engaged Total Hours from - to 9.3.41 Sunday Marple Top Lock 8.45pm - 9.15pm 30 mts 10.3.41 Mon Watching 11.55pm - 12.25am 30 mts 11.3 41 Tues Canal levels 1.40am - 2.45am 1 Hr Warehouses, shops 8.50pm - 11.55pm 3 Hrs 12.3.41 Wed Locks etc 8.30pm - 3.55am 7 Hrs 13.3.41 Thur 8.45pm - 1.45am 5 Hrs 14.3.41 Fri 8.50pm - 2.40am 6 Hrs Total 23 Hours L. Machin
Marple March 29th 1941 Dear Sir S.A.4 Payments for Special Overtime and Sunday Working due to Air Raid Precautionary Duties for Week ending March 29 Date Place + Reason Time engaged Total Hours Monday Marple Top Lock Watching Canal Levels, Warehouse + Locks 3.30am - 4am 30 mts Total ½ hour L. Machin
To put these Air Raid Precaution duties into context, the following is a brief account of the air raid that occurred on the 11 Mar 1941. There was a three-hour raid on Manchester in which bombs were dropped on several districts, with Stretford (Trafford Wharf, Cornbrook Sidings and Pomona Docks) being the most heavily attacked. Bombs were also dropped on Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Salford, Eccles, Gorse Hill, Swinton and Firswood. The football ground of Manchester United in Trafford Park was also severely damaged.