by Rosen, Sue;
AN INDUSTRIAL V.D.C. (= C.C.C.).
officered by its own management, planning its war functions (i-vii) for itself but in conformity with the Master C.C.C. Plan, and with responsibility of the Management to the War Effort Co-ordination Committee for approval and supervision, in accordance with the militarily-endorsed Master C.C.C. Plan.
For convenience, this type of organisation is named the “Civil Collaboration Column”; in itself it is unarmed, but a volunteer section of each industrial C.C.C. should be enlisted as a V.D.C. section to act as guard to it, and to combine in emergency with the V.D.C. sections of neighbouring C.C.C. industrial detachments into a guard for a street block or defined locality under an Area Leader, with its own casualty clearing station.
This type of organisation should reconcile both the military concept and the emotional urge of the Reserved Occupations (expressed in demands for a Peoples’ Army &c), for more direct participation in defence.
It would:
(i) Ensure instant-automatic civil collaboration with military strategy and tactic in emergency, and relieve the military general staff of civil dead weight.
(ii) Use the part-time energies of the civil worker where they can best be organised and applied.
(iii) Satisfy the psychological need of the reserved worker for self-approved warlike activity; inspire a corporate aggressive morale; and harness industrial energy to the war machine.
(iv) Produce a degree of mobility and self-defence in the civil structure and make each building a fortified post.
(v) Call upon each unit-organisation for self-finance, with appropriate tax rebate.
(vi) Require after-hours drill; support of National Emergency regulation, and supervisory control by the War Effort Coordination Committee to make it effective.
The first draft of the NSW Scorched Earth Code was distributed for comment in early April 1942, just over six weeks after the Swain subcommittee’s first meeting. In that time, the subcommittee, with input from the military and state government officials, had refined Swain’s document, ‘Total War and Total Citizen Collaboration’, to produce the Scorched Earth Code. The Code was divided into two components, the General Citizen Code and the Industrial and Services Code. These were covered in more detail in separate documents (reproduced in chapters 3 and 4).
The summarised Code reproduced here set out a prioritised list of the public and industrial resources that must be denied to the enemy; the agency or department responsible for them; the local entity that would carry out the denial; and the means of denial—explosives, fire and axe, scuttling, smashing, and so on. The highest priority for denial was given to resources in country areas outside the industrial strip from Newcastle through Sydney to Port Kembla.
The summary also considered resources held by individual citizens that might also aid the enemy. These included small watercraft, motor vehicles, binoculars and cameras, maps, batteries, tents, horses, saddles, first aid kits, food, boots and blankets. Like the larger resources, these were to be destroyed at the last minute, but the task of doing so would have to be entrusted to the owners—some of whom would find it difficult or impossible to follow through. Destruction was to be ‘Simple, Silent, Selective, Swift’. Wherever possible, objects were to be first smashed or disabled, then burned or blown up.
The population of an invaded area was to disperse before military operations began and not return unless ordered by the military. This was to ensure that operations were not impeded by the movement of civilians.
N.S.W. STATE WAR EFFORT CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE.
THE SCORCHED EARTH CODE.
ø/ Scorched Earth Strategy.
ø/ Category of Denials in Services and Industries.
ø/ Citizen Possessions and Responsibilities.
ø/ The Citizen’s Role.
ø/ Support Squads - as Citizen Aids.
ø/ War Damage and Scorched Earth Insurance.
ø/ National Security Regulations and Military Powers.
ø/ Dispersal and Disposal First!
ø/ Destruction - simple, silent, selective, swift!
ø/ Scorched Earth Codes:
GENERAL CITIZEN CODE.
INDUSTRIAL AND SERVICES CODE.
SCORCHED EARTH STRATEGY AND PURPOSES:
The purposes of Scorched Earth operations are:
ø/ To prevent the enemy living on the country, and using our property against us.
ø/ To force him to use his own precious shipping, to deplete his own country of supplies, to sustain and maintain his own armies.
ø/ To attack him, through fire and destruction.
ø/ To obstruct and to impede him, and dislodge his foothold.
ø/ To slow up his advance.
ø/ To leave him nothing to loot and remove to his own country.
ø/ To deny him everything in our country.
Either we employ Scorched Earth against the enemy - or he uses it against us!
We have to face up to a Scorched Earth Policy as the Russians did at Dnepropetrovsk Dam1 and elsewhere; as the Chinese did in China.
We can’t mix Peace and War!
We are at Total War!
We can build again - and better - when we have thrown the last Japanese into the Pacific.
Scorched Earth is a counter offensive.
It requires ruthless resolution and aggression.
Category of Priorities in Services and Industries:
Although Scorched Earth operations may be ruthless, they must he calculated; military and civil reasons are given here; military control must be maintained - lest unwanted and wanton destruction occur.
To be most effective, a Scorched Earth policy must be selective.
It must be applied thoroughly at all key points from which the enemy can derive benefit, and to that which he most needs and has greatest difficulty in replacing.
At military discretion, it can be applied also in the first, second, or third degree, viz:
First degree - Tactical demolitions.
Second degree - Parched Earth destruction.
Third degree - Scorched Earth destruction.
The first degree relates to such things as jetties, bridges, railways, roads, telegraphs &c. The second extends to oil wells and oil supplies, coastal craft, motor vehicles, foodstuffs and other things of early use to the enemy. The third degree extends to everything!
Here is a category of our resources, arranged in order of likely enemy use:
SCORCHED EARTH CATEGORY.
(Listing resources in general order of denial value for selective demolition - subject to all possible prior dispersal, disposal or salvage.)
Resource Groups. Supervising Agency for State War Effort Co-ordination Committee Scorched Earth Operational Plans. Local Agency for Action Detail operations and execution. Denial Methods Abridged (see Unit Codes).
A. Landing facilities (exclusive of those between Port Stephens and Port Kembla):
(i) Ocean jetties wharves, bunkers &c.
Public Works Dept. Local Public Works Dept. staff. Explosives.
(ii) Estuary jetties, wharves, bunkers etc.
Public Works Dept. and affected Shires. Local Public Works Dept. and Shire Staffs. Fire and axe.
B. Coastwise infiltration facilities:
(i) Pleasure and non-essential boats and watercraft.
Maritime Services Board - Fisheries (in collaboration with the Navy up to the mooring point or thereafter with the Army). Local Fisheries Inspectors and Maritime Services Bd. officers - with boatmen crews. Mooring at heads of rivers, with subsequent salvaging of engines &c. and scuttling or burning in emergency.
(ii) Economically essential boats and watercraft.
C. Public Transport Systems:
(i) Railways and rolling stock, repair shops.
Department of Railways. Railway staff. Special action detail.
(ii) Roads, road bridges and crossings, road-making plant and equipment.
Department of Main Roads. Local Main Roads and
Shire staff. Explosives, fire and axe.
D. Motor Fuels:
(i) Petrol, diesel fuels, oils, greases, kerosene, power alcohol.
Defence Forces Defence Forces’ Personnel. Running to waste; firing as a last resort.
(ii) Charcoal.
State Charcoal Production Management. Local staffs. Burning and scattering.
E. Motor & other Transport:
Cars, trucks lorries, trailers.
Department of Road Transport. Citizen owner or user. Removing & smashing essential working parts.
Tractors. Tyres. Batteries. Tools and accessories.
Running to seize up. Slashing, burning. Smashing. Burying, throwing in deep water.
Buses.
Department of Road Transport. Department of Road Transport. Special action detail.
Bicycles.
Scorched Earth Support Squads, and Local Government Authorities. Citizen owner or user. Smashing wheels and forks.
Waggons, drays, sulkies, buggies. Horses.
“ “ Smashing wheels, burning. Shooting.
F. Repair Equipment and Replacements:
Spare parts and accessories.
Scorched Earth Support Squads, and Proprietors or Managers & Staffs of Garages, Smashing, burying.
Trade and ordinary tools. Workshop equipment.
Local Govt. Authorities and Trade Groups Engineering and Blacksmiths’ shops and stores. Destroying power plant, essential tools, parts and machines.
G. Communication Systems:
Resource Groups. Supervising Agency for State War Effort Co-ordination Committee Scorched Earth Operational Plans. Local Agency for Action Detail operations and execution. Denial Methods Abridged (see Unit Codes).
Transmitting Stations
Postmaster General’s Dept. Broadcasting Station management staff. Special action detail.
Telegraph & Telephone Exchanges and Systems:
Postmaster General’s Dept. Post & Telegraph staffs, supervisors &c. Special action detail.
Postmaster General’s.
Exchange staffs, supervisors &c.
Railway.
Department of Railways. Railway staff. “
Wireless receiving sets - battery and electric.
Scorched Earth Support Squads & Local Govt. Authorities. The citizen owner or user. Smashing valves, transformers and essential parts.
H. Coal Stocks and Mines:
Colliery pit heads, installations and machinery
Department of Mines. Colliery Management and Staffs. Special action detail.
I. Industrial Stocks: At Factories, Wholesalers, Retailers:
Coal, fuels, charcoal, timber
Scorched Earth Support Squads, Local Govt. Authorities & Industrial and Trade Groups. Industrial management & staffs, or Citizen owner. Burning.
Raw materials, manufactured articles, food and especially spirits, beers, wines & salt.
“ “ Smashing, burning, burying, throwing into deep water, running to waste and dispersing.
J. Household foodstuffs, spirits, beer, wines, salt, clothing, tools, wireless sets, telephones:
Scorched Earth Support Squads & Local Govt. Authorities. The Citizen owner or user. Smashing, burning, burying, throwing into deep water, running to waste and dispersing.
Supplies of Water:
Tanks, wells, dams, windmills, pipes, pumps.
Scorched Earth Support Squads and Local Government Authorities. The Citizen Owner or User. Running to waste, puncturing, smashing.
K. Bulk Wool Bulk Flour Bulk Grain and Cereals (Rice, Wheat, Maize &c.)
At wool stores and woollen mills:
N.S.W. Wool Committee. Management & staffs of wool stores and woollen mills. Special action detail.
At flour mills:
Dept. of Agriculture. Mill & management staffs. Special action detail.
At grain silos & stacks:
Dept. of Agriculture. Grain Elevator Staffs. Special action detail.
L. Farmers & Graziers’ Stock and Produce.
Fodder:
Growing crops, haystacks, ensilage. Rice crops.
Scorched Earth Support Squads & Local Govt. Authorities. The farmer and grazier owner Mowing, drying & firing. Draining water from green rice crops; burning ripe rice crops.
Stock:
Horses, cattle, pigs, poultry.
“ “ Slaughtering.
Cereals & Grain
Stocks:
“ “ Scattering or soaking with water.
Wheat, rice, maize & c.
M. Forests and Bush Timber Depots.
Forestry Commission. Forestry Commission’s staff & citizen owners. Fire.
N. Primary Production: Equipment:
Pastoral and farming machinery and implements.
Scorched Earth Support Squads & Local Govt. Authorities. Farmer or grazier owner or user. Breaking wheels and working parts; removing and burying tines, shares, discs &c. Smashing power plant.
O. Installations:
Electric light & power generating and distributing plants and stations.
Public Works Department. County Councils’ Staffs. Special action detail.
Gas supply.
Local Government Dept. Municipal Councils and Gas Companies’ staffs. Special action detail.
Water Storage and Reticulation.
Metropolitan Water Sewerage & Drainage Board. Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission. Water Board’s, Irrigation’s, and Municipal & Shire Councils’ staffs. Special action detail.
P. Manufacturing & Industrial:
(a) General Plant &
Machinery:
Machine tools. Power Units. Welding plants. Furnaces. Compressors. Precision tools and gauges.
Scorched Earth Support Squads and Industrial & Trade Groups. Factory and workshop management and staffs. See Industrial Code for detailed methods of denial.
(b) Particular Plant Machinery and Materials:
(1) Metal Industries and General Engineering. Agricultural implement Manufacture.
Aluminium manufacture. Brass and bronze manufacture. Electro-plating. Engineering, foundry and boiler making. Farriers and blacksmiths. Fences and gate manufacture.
Galvanising works. Iron and steel production. Machinery manufacture. Mining and ore treatment plants. Motor industry. Nails, barbed wire, bolts and nuts. Nickelware manufacture. Plumbing and hot water engineering. Refrigeration. Repair equipment - garage and general. Sawmills. Spring makers. Ship Builders.
Scorched Earth Support Squads and Industrial & Trade Groups. Factory and workshop management and staffs. See Industrial Code for detailed methods of denial.
Tin smiths and sheet metal works. Tool making. Wire rope. Wire drawers.
2. Precision Instruments: Opticians and watchmakers. Scientific instrument makers. Surgical instrument makers. Survey instrument makers.
3. Chemical Industries: Oil refining and distribution. Explosive manufacture.
Glue, glycerine and soap factories. Dry battery manufacture. Acid manufacture. Arsenic production and refining. Photographic apparatus and materials. Pharmaceutical, chemical manufactures. Optical glass manufacture and assembly plants. Paint and varnish factories.
Scorched Earth Support Squads and Industrial & Trade Groups. Factory and workshop management and staffs. See Industrial Code for detailed methods of denial.
4. Electrical Industries:
Accumulator and battery makers. Electrical machinery and apparatus. Insulation manufacture.
5. Foodstuff industries: Breweries. Distilleries. Wine industries. Flour and rice mills. Abbatoirs and butcheries. Dairy produce factories. Canneries. Sugar refineries.
6. Textile and Leather Industries:
Scorched Earth Support Squads and Industrial & Trade Groups. Factory and workshop management and staffs. See Industrial Code for detailed methods of denial.
Boot factories. Tents, sails and canvas goods. Woollen, cotton, weaving & knitwear industries. Ropes and twines. Leather trades - general. Wate
r proof and gasproof materials. Paper manufacture.
NOTE: FIRST ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO COUNTRY UNITS OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRIAL CENTRES OF NEWCASTLE, SYDNEY and PORT KEMBLA, PARTICULARLY THOSE ON THE COAST.
A warden uncovers an unexploded shell after the shelling of Sydney on 8 June 1942.
Against each item is given the authority, owner or user; who will be required:
(i) To prepare at once an effective plan of destruction.
(ii) To prepare at once complete working arrangements for demolition.
(iii) To train and rehearse existing staff so that they are ready to ruthlessly demolish at a moment’s notice.
(iv) As civil soldiers, to carry out the military order instantly it is received.
(v) To stick to their civil posts until the job is done; that is, until the enemy is denied the use of the item.
An appropriate method of demolition is cited against each item.
Citizen Commodities and Responsibilities:
In his private capacity as well as in trade, business, industry or administration, the plain citizen owns things which the enemy must not get hold of:
Such are:
Survey and scientific instruments, binoculars, cameras &c.
Maps, even ordinary tourist and advertising maps.
Radio receiving sets - especially battery sets.
Tools - axes, mattocks, shovels, picks, etc.
Rope, tennis nets, string and twine - these can be used for camouflage nets.
Water - tanks and drums.
Oil tanks, drums and tins.
Firearms and ammunition.
Explosives.
Launches and small craft.
Petrol, diesel fuels, oils, greases, kerosene.
Power alcohols, charcoal.
Tyres, rubber hoses, &c.
Trucks, lorries, cycles, cars, buses, trailers.
