World War II
Source Sheet No. 44
During the Second World War a range of measures were introduced by national and local governing authorities to
counter the threat of an aerial attack on the City. The Council’s City Engineer’s Department, under the supervision
of the State Civil Defence Department, was responsible for ‘Air Raid Precautions’ which included the planning
and building of air raid shelters and trenches at strategic points around the City (extensive trench works and pipe
shelters were installed in Victoria Square and North Terrace). The Council also collaborated with the military in
producing plans to counter the effects of aerial gas attacks, providing ‘anti gas’ training and decontamination drills
for the City’s inhabitants. A considerable number of Corporation employees also served in the armed forces during
the War. Although no official Corporation Honour Roll appears to have been created for those who served in
World War II (unlike World War I when an official roll was made), the names of those employees who did enlist
are recorded in Town Clerk’s Docket 192 of 1946 ‘Honour Roll – Corporation Officers and Employees’. A City
Volunteers Roll and a Nurses Roll were erected at the Town Hall.
Archival Sources
Record Description
Date Range
Accession Number(s)
Master Index [to Town Clerk’s Dockets and Special Files]
c1930 - 1976
2426
Town Clerk’s Department Dockets
1856 - 1976
2530
Town Clerk’s Letters Received Books
1862 - 1976
4182
Index of Town Clerk’s Letters Received
1856 - 1973
4183
Morison Index
c1920 - 1972
228
Town Clerk’s Special File 233 ‘The War’
1915 - 1950
352
Town Clerk’s Special File 269 ‘Post War Works’
1943 - 1946
352
Town Clerk’s Special File 64 ‘Extension of / Improved Pavements /
North Terrace’
1919 – 1940
352
Town Clerk’s Special File 111 ‘National War Memorial - King
William Rd’
1913 - 1955
352
War Zone Plans – Map of the World
1940 – 1942
3040
Map – New Guinea Victories
1944
3040
War Damage Commission
1942 -1945
4662, 4663
Anti-gas Instructional Diagrams
1938 - 1939
5869
City Engineer’s Files [1942]028 – [1942]032 – Air Raid Precaution
Trenches Plans
1942
4070
City Engineer’s Files – Civil Defence - Box 53
1942 - 1944
4070
City Engineer’s Docket 1120A – Civil Defence
1942 – 1947
825
City Engineer’s Dockets 1121 – Air Raid Shelters
1942 - 1946
825
City Engineer’s Dockets
c1902 - 1979
City Engineer’s Documented Index
1902 - 1970
Air Raid Victims Fund (Books)
1941- 1942
2242
Air Raid Victims Fund - 057, 058, 059, 060
1940 -1942
249
Air Raid Precautions – Veale’s Papers (Item 3)
1939
1102
Extracts from Annual Report of Acting City Engineer and Surveyor –
Air Raid Precaution Activities of the City Corporation
1942
2354,3080,4612
Town Clerk’s Department Newspaper Clippings - General
1939 - 1946
283
Historical Pictorial Collection
1850 - 1970
S59,1461,3016, 5531
Photos of London taken during World War ii bombing
1940
Further sources.
See Annual Reports and the Digests of Proceedings 1939 – 1946
City Archives Source Sheet No.50 Corporation Honour Rolls
Further Information
City Archives: Topham Mall, off Currie and Waymouth Streets, Adelaide 5000
Telephone: 8203 7439 Fax: 8203 7336 Email: cityarchives@adelaidecitycouncil.com
3946