Mexborough and Swinton Times October 7, 1938
Behind The “Masks”
“The finest example of improvised organisation the township has known for some time,” is what most observers have thought of the respirator distribution at Wombwell.
The success of the work, carried out at short notice under the direction of M. Albert S. Barnes, chief warden, with the assistance of police officers and a small army of voluntary workers, shows to what heights of willing service the district can attain in times of emergency.
Mr. Barnes is cashier at Wombwell Main Colliery and well known as a football referee. For this special task he was temporarily released by the colliery company. High tribute ‘has been paid to hiswork by those in authority.
Rush Work.
Following a conference at Barnsley on Monday of last week 16,750 respirators were delivered at Wombwell on Tuesday morning. By four o’clock the same day the components had all been assembled and 4,100 masks had been sent to Hemingfield and Jump, where the work of distribution was carried out under the direction respectively of Mr: F. Barnes, headmaster at Hemingfield Ellis School, and Councillor R. T. Preston.
Most of the respirators had been issued by Wednesday and the distribution continued slowly throughout the week. On Sunday respirators were taken out to sick and infirm people who had not been able to attend at the Billiards Hall in Hough Lane, motorists cheerfully lending their cars for the purpose.
“I cannot speak too highly of the team spirit shown all round.” said Mr. Barnes. “From early morning until late at night they all worked like n—–s. Sore fingers and aching backs made no difference. I never heard a word of complaint.”
Mr. Barnes himself had less than twenty hours’ sleep between Monday morning and Friday night, and the same could be said of his deputy-chief warden, Mr. Arthur Binns. The staff of the Town Hall worked manfully all week, checking off the names of those to whom respirators had been issued with the electoral rolls.
“The public were fine,” said Mr, Barnes. “They seemed to realise what we were up against and helped us all they could.”
It is computed that, including babies, for whom masks are not yet available, four out of five persons in Wombwell are now equipped with respirators. At Hemingfield the issue is complete. More A.R.P. work was achieved in seven days in Wombwell than in the previous twelve months.