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.