Warwick at War by local author Graham Sutherland

Before the Second World War began, Warwick had already planned public air raid shelters and distributed gas masks. A power struggle also developed when Warwickshire County Council took over Air Raid Warden training from the police; the chief constable based in Warwick, was a difficult man and later subject to a Home Office Enquiry. Although Warwick was not a prime target for the Luftwaffe, they flew over the town en route to nearby Coventry. Consequently, the most insignificant contraventions of the blackout regulations, and a very serious one, resulted in court proceedings. When Coventry was blitzed in November 1940, many refugees streamed into Warwick from the stricken city. Most visiting troops, especially Canadians and later Americans, were welcomed. but there were exceptions as their arrival coincided with a shortage of local men. Bigamy and allegations of other sexual offences were not uncommon. Meanwhile, rationing brought its own problems, as petrol shortages led to a rise in offences in the use of bicycles, mainly by service personnel. With more military vehicles on the road, often driven by inexperienced people, there was also a sharp rise in fatal collisions. By late 1944, it was apparent the Allies were wining the struggle and plans for post-war Britain were well underway, including controversial proposals on redeveloping Warwick. Graham Sutherland has lived in Warwick for nearly fifty years. A retired police inspector, he is married with three adult children and grandchildren. After retiring as Warwick's town crier for twenty-eight years, he now works as a Blue Badge tourist guide specialising in Warwick and the Cotswolds as well as being a speaker and story teller. Graham writes a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books, many of which take place in Warwick.