Publications
Growing Up in Eastbourne during WW2, by John Ranger, published March 2014 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 21 no. 1, article, pp.36-39) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/508980]
Preview:We lived in Palmers Green, Middlesex prior to the last war and on the outbreak of hostilities my father, who was a carpenter, lost his job so he decided to look for work elsewhere. Thinking he would get a better chance of work on the south coast, we moved to Eastbourne and rented part of a house with a man - Mr WOODS at 36 Junction Road. He was a real misery, probably because he had a family from London foisted on him. I cannot remember much about him, just that the house was dark, unfriendly and he was always moaning.
During the early part of the war, the Observer Corps were set up to report on enemy aircraft approaching. Initially they were not allowed to sound the air raid sirens but had to get permission from somewhere, I believe in London, before doing so. This resulted in a lot of unnecessary deaths from bombs because the public were not aware enemy aircraft were on their way. This rule was soon changed.
During the early part of the war, the Observer Corps were set up to report on enemy aircraft approaching. Initially they were not allowed to sound the air raid sirens but had to get permission from somewhere, I believe in London, before doing so. This resulted in a lot of unnecessary deaths from bombs because the public were not aware enemy aircraft were on their way. This rule was soon changed.