Letter from Jenny Fleming about problems with public shelters addressed to Herbert Morrison, 23 October, Catalogue ref: HO 207/783
Transcript
23 October 1940
The Ministry of security
MR HERBERT MORRISON
Dear Sir,
I belong to the small community which meets at every nightfall at the public shelter, in Leinster Square, W.2.
On the 17th of September I was in the same shelter, which the H.E.-bomb honoured with its visit. And in spite of the shock (one was killed and two wounded inside, the shelter, one of 3 sisters in a room in a house opposite- one was killed, one wounded, one unhurt) I went there again, night after night. The reason: It was light the whole night through.
One could read and forget the nearness of danger, – there was always a shelter-marshal, which gave you the feeling after my earlier experience that in case of danger would always be a person at hand who would arrest at once any panic; or stop little nervous disputes with friendly tact.
WHEN IT RAINED THE WATER LEAKED THROUGH, BUT WE HOPED, THIS WOULD BE STOPPED.
It was damp and cold. One kind Warden brought a small electric stove which gave us the illusion at least, of warming the place.
The benches are so high, narrow and agonising that I am sure, Hitler has – though some secret means – purposely devised it, thus to break our morale!
Since yesterday there is an order, to extinguish all the lights, except one small electric light – not enough to let one read, but enough to let one see the depressing surrounding, and wait for the next shell.
The Warden gives you as reason, that people want to sleep and would be disturbed.
There are (see the plan) – 2 big shelter, with each 2 big rooms and eleven brilliant lights. After llockl. the 4 brilliant lights in the room are extinguished and only the light in the Lav. and the cupboard stay on, and in each of those rooms is only the wretched little lamp burning.
….
Please let me apologise for my bad spelling and writing. I am a good British subject, but unfortunately not a British-born one!
I am yours
Very faithfully
(Mrs.) Jenny Fleming
15, Leinster Square, W.2.
Bayswater 0479.
[Illustration of frowning woman sitting on a wet bench holding an umbrella:]
TOO COLD AND WET!
[Illustration of frowning woman knitting while sitting on a cushion on a wooden bench:]
TOO HIGH WITH A CUSHION!
[Illustration of a woman clutching her lower back:]
TOO HARD WITHOUT A CUSHION!
[Illustration of a brick wall with ‘NO SMOKING’ written on it:]
TOO SAD WITH BARE WALLS!
[Illustration of someone reading in a dark room under a small lightbulb:]
TOO DARK WITH THE DIM LIGHT!