Abstract
This article examines wartime drainage and water level management in the East Riding of Yorkshire, a microcosm of what transpired right across lowland England between 1939 and 1945. War enabled the British state through its local representatives, the East Riding War Agricultural Executive Committee and the River Hull Catchment Board, to pass measures deemed necessary for improving land drainage and managing water levels that it had little likelihood of realising in peacetime. As the conflict intensified, drainage works undertaken as part of the war effort to increase domestic food production were transformed by time and necessity into virtual weapons of war, and water levels were manipulated to provide essential services to urban and rural communities alike. The significance of flooding, too, underwent a subtle change. From being considered merely a threat to urban properties and rural livelihoods, flood became an existential threat to the nation, a form of “sabotage” carried out by a “fifth columnist” nature and demanding to be combated as such. As with all other sectors of society and the economy, the drains of Britain and how they were managed were mobilised for total war.
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Notes
A rare exception is the draining of the Mesopotamian Marshes by Saddam Hussein in 1993 to deny Shia insurgents a sanctuary (Ahram 2015).
On the fertility of farming in Scotland and Northern Ireland, see Ministry of Information (1945, pp. 65–84).
This view has recently been challenged (Brassley et al. 2006).
CWAEC in each county of England and Wales were charged with advising, directing, and, if necessary, sanctioning farmers to produce more cereals and tubers (particularly potatoes and sugar beet) by converting land from pasture to arable, bringing marginal lands under the plough, and restoring waterlogged fields to production. First created in World War I, the reimposition of CWAEC had been strongly advocated in the 1930s and their chairperson and executive officers already selected by 1936. Formally established by the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 and the Defence (General) Regulations in August 1939, CWAEC assumed their responsibilities on the first day of war. Their role and function were subsequently regarded as “vital to the British war effort” (Short 2014, pp. 54–89).
Farmers who ploughed-up permanent grass (land under grass for at least seven years) and who re-seeded or replanted it with wheat, oats, barely, rye, mixed corn, or potatoes were paid £2 per acre under the provisions of the Agriculture Development Act 1939 (Walford 2013).
Each CWAEC initiated a range of subcommittees to undertake more specialised tasks such as land drainage. Altogether, there were 771 specialist subcommittees recorded between 1939 and 1945 with the precise number of such committees varying from county to county and from one year to another. The East Riding of Yorkshire had 19 such subcommittees, one of the highest numbers in the country (Short 2014, pp. 67–69).
It is unclear whether the decision to delegate was adopted only in the East Riding of Yorkshire or more generally.
Batters is a term referring to the slope of a structure such as a wall/embankment.
Brassley maintains that higher input growth (land and labour) and not technological change drove the wartime expansion of agriculture (Brassley 2006, p. 48).
Unlike other parts of the United Kingdom, there was no military conscription in Northern Ireland because of perceived Nationalist Catholic sensitivities to what was seen as a British rather than an Irish war (Short 2014, p. 322).
The AFS was formed in January 1938 to supplement the existing full-time Fire Brigade. It had its own fire stations set up in schools, garages, and factories, and used its own equipment (Bevir 1940).
The NFS was created in August 1941 by the amalgamation of the wartime national AFS and the local authority fire brigades (about 1600 of them).
The post-war employment of POW was permitted under the Geneva Convention as POW status only ceases with the signing of a peace treaty (Moore-Colyer 2006).
Telephone message from Mr Jones, War Ag, Beverley, dated 25 September 1945 and handwritten on the back of a note (ERA 1945e).
Handwritten note written on the back (ERA 1945f).
Archives
East Riding Archives
(1927) Evidence of the surveyor and clerk of the court of sewers submitted to the Royal Commission dated June 1927. CSR 31/60, p.3.
(1932–46) JS Johnson, labour officer, ERYWAEC, no date. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1936–51) Extracts from diary. ADA Conference 1936–51, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/4.
(1938–52) Ditch from Tuffy’s and Hull Corporation gravel pits. Various Drainage 1938–52, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/2/8.
(1939a) Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, circular letter to all drainage authorities in England and Wales, functions of drainage authorities in relation to County War Agricultural Executive Committees, December 1939. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/4.
(1939b) Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, Hull, 22 September 1939. DBC0 1/1/2.
(1939c) Alex L. West, Chairman and F.B. Moss Blundell, Clerk, Hull, November 1939. Allotments 1937–40, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/2/6.
(1939d) River Hull Catchment Board, instructions to workmen upon the action to be taken when air raid warnings sounded, Beverley, 2 November 1939. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/3.
(1939e) J.C. Mac Iver, Home Office to the Secretary, Catchment Boards Association, London, 1 December 1937, Air Raid Precautions 1939. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/8.
(1939f) River Hull Catchment Board, report of engineer and clerk on engineering matters, air raid precautions, Hull Corporation’s emergency fire schemes, February 1939. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/3.
(1939g) To the chairman and commissioners, 1 February 1939. Surveyor Report 1934–4, Beverley & Barmston Drainage Commissioners, DCBH 3/5.
(1939h) To the chairman and commissioners, 1 March 1939. Surveyor Report 1934–41, Beverley & Barmston Drainage Commissioners, DCBH 3/5.
(1939i) River Hull Catchment Board, supplementary report by engineer, Watton Beck, breach in Northerly Bank at Topilow, Beverley, 8 February 1939. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/3.
(1939j) River Hull Catchment Board, minutes of a meeting of the Watton Beck Breach Sub-Committee, held on the site on Tuesday, 14 February 1939. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/3.
(1939k) River Hull Catchment Board, public utility undertakings, protection against sabotage, Beverley 6 April 1939. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/3.
(1940a) River Hull Catchment Board, supplementary report by the engineer, Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Act 1940, state aided drainage schemes etc., April 1940. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/4.
(1940b) River Hull Catchment Board to Cottingham IDB, Hull, 15 March 1940. Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, Hull, 29 March 1940, DBC0 1/1/2.
(1940c) River Hull Catchment Board, Report of the Engineer, Nafferton Highland Stream, Scheme under Agricultural Act 1937, January 1940. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/4.
(1940d) River Hull Catchment Board, War Service, Committee and General Clerk, June 1940. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/4.
(1940e) River Hull Catchment Board, Report of the engineer, air raid precautions, hiring of transport in emergency, January 1940. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/4.
(1940f) River Hull Catchment Board, engineers report, air raid warning messages, telephone facilities at foreman’s residence, Beverley, 6 July 1940. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/4.
(1940g) Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, Hull, 15 March 1940. Cottingham IDB, DBC0 1/1/2.
(1940h) River Hull Catchment Board, engineers report, Beverley and Barmston Drain, application to a wrecked pumping platform, Beverley, 6 July 1940. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/4.
(1940i) JM to the chairman and members of the Cottingham Drainage Board, 14 June 1940, drainage projects 1936–41. ERA, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/3.
(1941a) River Hull Catchment Board, notes for joint conference re subsidiary watercourses, et cetera between representatives of East Riding War Agricultural Committee, Internal Drainage Authorities and the River Hull Catchment Board, Beverley, March 1941. Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941b) Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, Hull, 28 March 1941. DBC0 1/1/3.
(1941c) War Agricultural Executive Committee, Henry T. Tate, Executive Officer to G. Ellison, Esq, clerk to the River Hull Catchment Board, Beverley 1 May 1941. Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941d) Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, Hull, 15 April 1941. DBC0 1/1/3.
(1941e) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, schemes under Agricultural Act, 1937—Section 15, progress report, September 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941f) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, internal districts transferred under Section 11, Dredger Works, September 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941g) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, military service, schedule of reserved occupations and protected work, Beverley, 3 May 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941h) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, estimates 1941/42, April 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941i) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, labour, use of men of the Military Pioneer Corp, May 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941j) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, labour, use of Pioneer Corps and other personnel, 7 June 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941k) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, clothes rationing scheme, rubber boots for workmen, September 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941l) River Hull Catchment Board, Report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, land drainage machinery, necessity for user to fullest possible extent, Beverley, 5 July 1941.Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941m) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, excavators, training additional personnel as drivers, Beverley, 8 August 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941n) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, subsidiary watercourses, conference of local drainage authorities, Beverley, 3 May 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941o) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, Fordyke Stream, water for fire-fighting and for industrial purposes of East Hull Gas Company, April 1941 Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941p) Minutes of Cottingham IDB, Hull, 7 November 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBC0 1/1/3.
(1941q) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, filling of bomb craters, application for services of ‘Cub’ excavator, Beverley, 3 October 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941r) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, essential building and plant (Repair of War Damage) Act 1939, damage to river embankment, April 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941s) To the chairman and commissioners, drains, 26 March 1941. Beverley & Barmston Drainage Commissioners, surveyor report 1934–41, DCBH 3/5.
(1941t) Diary for 1941. Cottingham IDB, Drainage Diaries 1941, DBCO 5/2.
(1941u) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on administrative matters, War Damage Act 1941, insurance of property, movable plant, et cetera, July 1941. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941v) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, main rivers embankment, damage caused by military operations, September 1941, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1941w) To the chairman and commissioners, 12 February 1941. Surveyor Report 1934–41, Beverley & Barmston Drainage Commissioners, DCBH 3/5.
(1941x) To the chairman and commissioners, weather and work, 26 November 1941. Surveyor Report 1934–41, Beverley & Barmston Drainage Commissioners, DCBH 3/5.
(1941y) River Hull Catchment Board, report by engineer and clerk on engineering matters, flood records, winter of 1940/41, April 1941, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 8/1/5.
(1943) Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, Hull, 15 March 1943. Cottingham IDB, DBC0 1/1/3.
(1945a) Minutes of the Cottingham IDB, Hull, 21 March 1945. Cottingham IDB, DBC0 1/1/3.
(1945b) Memorandum of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 18 September 1945. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1945c) F.B. Abundale, clerk, to K.P.H. Langton, regional engineer, MAF, 26 September 1945. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1945d) JGS Green, drainage officer, ERYWAEC, 24 July 1945. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1945e) FB Abundale, clerk, to KPH Langton, regional engineer, MAF, 26 September 1945. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1945f) Labour department circular, third-party claims in respect of injury or damaged alleged to have been caused by prisoners of war, R.D. Ferro, ERYWAEC, 8 December 1945. German POWs 1932–46. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1945g) JS Johnson, labour officer, ERYWAEC, 10 August 1945. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1946a) JGS Green, drainage officer to C Lee, rating officer, Cottingham Internal Drainage Board, ERYWAEC, 22 March 1946. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1946b) JS Johnson, labour officer, ERYWAEC, 28 March 1946. German POWs 1932–46, Cottingham IDB, DBCO 2/3/1.
(1946c) Drainage diaries 1946. Cottingham IDB, DBCO 5/5 1946.
Skeffling Drainage Board
(1945) Minutes of the meeting held at Patrington Junction on Tuesday 3 April 1945, South Holderness IDB Office, 18 Market Pl, Patrington, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU12 0RB. Minute book of the Skeffling Drainage Board.
The National Archives
(1930a) Land Drainage Bill 1930—Deputations from drainage authorities. MAF 49/777.
(1930b) Land Drainage Act 1930—General regulations and drainage board election regulations. MAF 49/792.
(1939) Letter by R.C. Treadgold, the first Honorary Secretary of ADA, 13 September 1939. MAF 49/1815.
(1944) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, rubber thigh boots for P.O.W., 20 December 1944. MAF 80/3457.
(1945a) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary's Manor, Beverley, armoured excavator, Beverley, 18 July 1945. MAF 80/3458.
(1945b) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, armoured excavator, Beverley, 26 September 1945. MAF 80/3458.
(1945c) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, government assisted drainage schemes submitted for the approval of the drainage subcommittee, completed schemes—payments of Grants, 19 December 1945. MAF 80/3458.
(1945d) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, government assisted drainage schemes submitted for the approval of the drainage subcommittee, completed schemes—payments of grants, 21 November 1945. MAF 80/3458.
(1946a) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, 17 July 1946. MAF 80/3459.
(1946b) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, Brandesburton drainage scheme, 9 October 1946. MAF 80/3460.
(1946c) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, Brandesburton drainage scheme, 23 October 1946. MAF 80/3460.
(1946d) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, government assisted drainage schemes submitted for the approval of the drainage subcommittee, completed schemes—payments of grants, 16 January 1946. MAF 80/3459.
(1946e) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee held at St Mary’s Manor, Beverley, government assisted drainage schemes submitted for the approval of the drainage subcommittee, completed Schemes—payments of grants, 9 October 1946. MAF 80/3460.
(1947) East Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, minutes of proceedings at a meeting of the drainage subcommittee, labour, 9 April 1947. MAF 80/3460.
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Bankoff, G. Wartime drainage and water level management in the East Riding of Yorkshire 1939–1945. Water Hist (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12685-024-00337-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12685-024-00337-6