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BRIEFING: Members of the Food Flying Squad are briefed on Exercise Minerva at Winchester before leaving for Southampton.

The Food Flying Squad sprung into action as soon as the sirens wailed the alert across Southampton signalling the start of Exercise Minerva nearly 55 years ago.

Named after the Roman goddess of war, the three day long Civil Defence exercise in and around Southampton came at a time when international relations were decidedly cool and many people feared the possibility of another war.

The use of the name, Civil Defence, began in the late 1930s when emergency services that existed to respond to the threat of enemy air raids were brought together even before war was declared.

As conflict loomed ever closer in 1939 more than 1.5m men and women joined up as Air Raid Precautions wardens and performed heroic actions throughout the Second World War.

Rare photos When peace returned the Civil Defence force continued to play a vital role and members regularly trained in case their expertise was called upon again in any future disaster.

Exercise Minerva was a major military manoeuvre and included the Food Flying Squad, formed by the Women's Voluntary Service, which was mobilised, as part of the war-game, to provide meals and hot drinks for the many rescue teams and officials.

Now a set of three rarely seen photographs of this exercise, which took place more than half a century ago, has been discovered by Steve Tanti, who buys and sells books and photographs from his shop over the post office in Hedge End.

The photographs, showing the Food Flying Squad on the move through Southampton, came to light while Steve was recently searching through a collection of books.

Established in 1938, the work of the WVS had a simple philosophy - if the job needed doing, it was done.

The WVS played a key part in evacuation of youngsters away from dangers of the big cities and towns to the safer countryside.

However, the reality of taking children out of danger proved far more difficult than anybody had expected but despite this the organisation was credited with helping to move 1.5 million people, primarily children, in the early days of September 1939.

When troops returned from Dunkirk, members of the WVS were there to greet them and hand out food, drink and warm clothing.

During enemy air raids the WVS were adept at providing food and drink around the clock. While ARP wardens and firemen fought the fires, women set up mobile canteens to keep them refreshed but by doing this, they placed themselves in the heart of danger with collapsing buildings a constant threat.

In the years following the war, WVS continued to help people cope in difficult circumstances. Harsh winters and a coal shortage meant that members were called upon to alleviate loneliness and discomfort and set up Darby and Joan clubs for older people and residential clubs for those with limited means.

It was in 1966 that the work of the organisation was recognised and the WVS was honoured with the addition of "Royal'' in its title.

n For more information contact Steve Tanti on 01489 788980.

12:16pm Tuesday 5th February 2008

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