Buy this book on-line

NOT IDENTIFIED : 1941 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT NOTEBOOK HANDWRITTEN BY A DUBLIN IRELAND ARW AIR RAID PRECAUTION WARDEN MAKING FOR THE FASCINATING PERSPECTIVE OF WWII FROM NEUTRAL IRELAND

48mo - over 3" - 4" tall. On offer is an extremely interesting and unique wartime diary written during World War 2 bombings of Ireland. This small pocket diary measures 4 inches by 2.5 inches. It contains 52 pages plus memoranda pages and is about 80% complete. The condition is good and all pages are intact. The handwriting is small but legible. The author of this diary is unknown. What we do know is that he is Irish and that he lives in Ireland. He joined the ARP (Air Raid Precaution) Service in July of 1940. Throughout World War II, Ireland's official policy was that of neutrality. However, as the United Kingdom was at war with Germany, Ireland needed to be prepared for the possibility of air-raids and indeed, the Republic was bombed by the German Luftwaffe a number of times between 1940 and 1941. The Air-Raid Precautions Act passed in Ireland in 1939 was modeled exactly on the Act that passed two years earlier in the United Kingdom. Under the Act, designated local bodies were required to prepare plans which detailing how civilians and property would be protected in the event of an air raid. Included in the act was provision for Wardens to assist civilians and enforce blackouts. The diary opens with Ireland's first bombing: "Went to pictures to see Deanna Durbin in Spring parade at the Savoy. An enjoyable picture but not up to her best. First fall of snow this year - not very heavy. Very cold weather. One bomb identified as German." [Jan 1, 1941]. "Dublin again bombed last night. Houses damaged within 1/2 mile radius, some demolished. Seven people injured as far as known, none serious, heard plane about 3 PM today. No knowledge of its identity. I had to patrol from 8 to 1 AM. All wardens were patrolling." [Jan 3, 1941]. Again on May 31st: "2 O'Clock when on phone to Message Centre, I heard the scream of a bomb falling. I threw myself flat on the ground. Terrific explosion. Landed on North Strand Road 9the city side of Newcomen Bridge, 20 houses completely demolished. Hundreds of others damaged. 20 people died and over 100 injured. ... 6 o'clock played tennis match ..." [May 31]. He references ARP meetings throughout the period covered - usually training meetings: "Went to ARP meeting. Lecture on Message Sending. [ ] reports about equipment ..." [Mar 24]. Went out on short march with ARP, also had some drill instruction". [Apr 8]. " ... gave out ARP pamphlets re Immunization Against Dysentery." [Apr 30]. He makes reference to event of the war such as: "Yugoslavia government overthrown by military coup. King Peter accepts the thrown (age 17) ... " [Mar 27]. "... British doing bad in Libia. Falling back badly. Outlook in general not so hot. But I still have faith in them. I still say they will win." [Apr 12]. Many entries revolve around social events - movies he sees, football (soccer) matches he attends, tennis games he plays and dances that he goes to. He has a very active social life. He sees movies several times a week and notes the actors playing in them. Tennis takes up a great deal of his time and he is an avid player. Although he makes reference to going on holidays (Aug 9) and refers to work on Sept 25, there is no indication of what type of work he does. Whatever it is, the hours are flexible. A historian would find this is an excellent description of social life in Dublin during the early war years as seen through the eyes of a young single man. Next door to one of the major combatants, yet protected by the cloak of neutrality, World War 2 seems at once close at hand and a rather distant experience.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.