Historical information

Mr Joseph George of 26 Scheele Street Pictured as an Air Raid Precautions Officer during the 1939 – 1945 war. ARP officers controlled the areas around their homes to check on tell-tale lights showing in the ‘brownout’ conditions and advising on the black-out of homes. Street lights were dimmed and screened downwards and Joseph’s daughter Marie remembered sewing black Italian cloth curtains to hang over the windows. Joseph taught adult first aid classes in local schools, church halls and at The Surrey Dive. Joseph conducted his practical training sessions at the Quarry in Grovedale Road, in case they had to deal with an emergency in such a site.
Joseph (Joe) and wife Emily Ruth were English migrants; they bought their home in Scheele Street in 1919. Daughter Marie was born in 1914 when they are listed in the electoral roll at 'Hasland', Croydon Road, Surrey Hills; his occupation is given as a boilermaker.
Emily (nee Sturgess) - d 15 November, 1960; buried Box Hill Cemetery - M-199A-0034 along with daughter Marie. Possible birth c Oct 1880, Birmingham (not confirmed); marriage to Joseph George c Jan 1905, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
The donor was his daughter, Marie, who was a school teacher and was on the staff at Chatham Primary School for a number of years. She died in February 1989.

Physical description

A black and white photograph of a man in uniform standing in a garden, with a small case beside him.