by Rosen, Sue;
The denial of water will therefore be confined to areas that have to be evacuated.
(a) Cities and towns - Should the military necessity arise for the complete evacuation of any urban areas, water may then be denied to the enemy. This would be done only under orders from the Army and the work will come under the supervision of the Public Works Department in Country areas, or the Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board for the Sydney Metropolitan Area, or the Hunter District Water Board for Newcastle.
(b) Rural communities - Small communities might decide to migrate before an advancing enemy - most likely into the bush. Such evacuations could not be prevented, and it is therefore important that members of such communities, whether villages or stations, should understand their duty and take steps to deny easily-won supplies of water if they withdraw of their own volition. This will be the responsibility of the individual. (See also Citizen Code).
(ii) Electricity: The actual denial of electrical power is less important than the denial of the plan it drives; and any denial that is necessary to supplement other plans must be carried out with circumspection.
Denial of electricity should therefore work back from the factory workshop. Electric plant in these places is dealt with under the Industrial and Manufacturing Plan and the most effective denial possible is demanded. Power lines and sectional transformer stations no longer required will then be dealt with, and the process will continue until the power station itself is in danger of falling into enemy hands when its destruction will be undertaken. (If, however, the power station earlier comes into danger, it must be put out of action). Plans should whenever possible aim at the maintenance of electric pumps on water distribution systems to the last.
(iii) Gas: This is principally used as a source of heat for domestic purposes and to that extent is unimportant militarily, but the byproducts of its manufacture along with the stocks of gas-coal are of great use in war. The degree of denial must be decided on for each locality.
DENIAL METHODS:
(i) Water:
(a) Gravitational mains: In towns supplied by gravitational main from a pipehead weir or dam, denial can be most effectively brought about by smashing as much of the main as possible and running the water to waste:
(i) Fibrolite and cast-iron mains - smash (after draining if necessary).
(ii) Wood-stave mains - cut metal bindings.
(iii) Steel (welded or rivetted) - cut exposed sections with oxyacetylene or remove supports where line crosses gullies.
(b) Pumping schemes: Where delivery depends on pumps, the most effective denial will be obtained by destroying motors and pumps.
(i) Electric motors - smash end casing with sledge hammer and make up a fire of oily waste or the like to burn out insulation of windings or otherwise destroy windings.
(ii) Pumps - remove and conceal essential parts or smash pumps with sledge hammers.
(ii) Electricity:
The means of applying power to productive machinery require first attention. Destroy power lines and sectional transformers.
When it becomes necessary to demolish the power station explosives may not be available. In such case the plans shall be made for the complete denial by simple means.
Suggested simple methods follow:-
Steam turbines - allow water to be carried over with steam to destroy blades;
or
Shut off lubricating oil supply, put safety devices out of action and run over-speeded;
or
Remove and hide, or smash essential parts.
Boilers - drain water and maintain fire under dry boiler;
or
Screw down safety valve, smash feed pump and leave with large fire;
or
Place gelignite charge in tubes or fire box.
Oil engines - destroy governor, smash cylinder heads or remove and conceal essential parts;
or
Make a fire around machinery using oil stocks as main fuel.
Generators - make up fires around generators with the object of destroying windings, or remove and conceal essential parts.
Switchboards - smash.
Hydro-electric plants. Denial of such plants should not be based on cutting off the water power. Turbines, and generators and other purely electrical apparatus should be demolished as the means of denial.
(iii) Gas: The following are suggested denial methods:-
Boosters - wreck by jamming governor and opening throttle valve.
Exhausters - smash in end covers (this is most effective while running).
Washer-scrubbers - fire explosive near base and adjacent to gas inlet.
Gas-holders - puncture and ignite escaping gas.
Coal Stocks - destroy by fire, assisted by inflammable liquids.
Note: Each authority should have ready for invasion emergency, its own plan of denial for its installation, so that if military necessities require, they may readily implement the denial at last moment command.
The above are notes for the guidance of authorities in the preparation of their own plans and organisation.
E.H.F. SWAIN,
Chairman.
Scorched Earth Sub-Committee.
State (N.S.W.) War Effort Co-ordination Committee.
APPENDIX A.
GRAVITATION WATER SUPPLIES.
Town. Source of Supply. Controlling Authority.
Armidale. Dumaresq Creek and Puddledock Creek. Armidale City Council.
Ballina. Duck Creek. Ballina Municipal Council.
Bathurst. Winburndale Creek (also pumping supply). Bathurst City Council.
Berry. Learys Creek (pipehead) (also pumping supply). Berry Municipal Council.
Bolong Jaspers Creek (pipehead). “ “ “
Grafton & Sth. Grafton. Nymboida River. Grafton and South Grafton Water Board.
Jamberoo. Hyams Creek. Jamberoo Municipal Council.
Kiama. Fountaindale Creek. Kiama Municipal Council.
Lithgow. Farmers Creek and Middle River (also pump supply under construction). Lithgow Municipal Council.
Mt Victoria. Blackheath Service Reservoir (filled by pumping). Blue Mountains Shire Council.
Mullumbimbi. Wilsons Creek. Mullumbimbi Municipal Council.
Murrurundi. Page River. Murrurundi Municipal Council.
Murwillumbah. Kurrumbin Creek (also pumping supply) Murwillumbah Municipal Council.
Narooma. Dromedary Creek. Eurobodalla Shire Council.
Nowra. Good Dog Creek (also pumping supply). Nowra Municipal Council.
Portland. Back Creek (also subartesian supply). Blaxland Shire Council.
Picton. Bargo River. Wollondilly Shire Council.
Tweed Heads. Coolangatta - Nerang authority. Tweed Shire Council.
Wauchope. Blue Creek. Hastings Shire Council.
Newcastle. Chichester River. Hunter District Water Board.
APPENDIX B.
WATER SUPPLIES (PUMPING SCHEMES).
Town. Source of Supply. Controlling Authority.
Aberdeen. Drift Well near Hunter River. Upper Hunter Shire Ccl.
Bathurst. Macquarie River (also Grav. supply). Bathurst City Council.
Bega. Well in Bega River. Bega Municipal Council.
Bellingen. Drift well near Bellinger River. Bellingen Shire Council.
Berry. Broughton Creek (also Grav. supply). Berry Municipal Council.
Blackheath. Storage on Adams Creek. Blackheath Mun. Council
Bomaderry. Bomaderry Creek. Berry Municipal Council.
Bombala. Storage on Coolumbooka River. Bombala Municipal Ccl.
Bowral. Storage on Wingecarribee Swamp. Bowral Municipal Council.
Burradoo. Bulk purchase from Bowral. Nattai Shire Council.
Casino. Richmond River. Casino Municipal Council.
Coff’s Harbour. Orara River. Dorrigo Shire Council, Coramba.
Cooma. Murrumbidgee River. Cooma Municipal Council.
Crookwell. Dam on Back Creek. Crookwell Shire Council
.
Dungog. Williams River. Dungog Municipal Council.
Glen Innes. Storage on Beardy River. Glen Innes Munic. Council.
Gloucester. Gloucester River & Barrington River. Gloucester Shire Council.
Gosford. Mooney Mooney Creek. Gosford Municipal Council.
Goulburn. Storage on Sooley Creek and Weirs on Wollondilly River. Goulburn City Council.
Katoomba. Storages on Cascade Creek. Katoomba Municipal Ccl.
Kempsey. Drift Well on Macleay River. Kempsey Municipal Council.
Kyogle. Richmond River. Kyogle Shire Council.
Lismore. Wilsons Creek. Lismore Municipal Council.
Lithgow. Bungleboori Creek (under construction) (also Grav. Supply). Lithgow Municipal Council.
Medlow Bath. Adams Creek Storage. Blackheath Munic. Council.
Mittagong. Nattai Creek. Nattai Shire Council.
Moss Vale. Bong Bong Creek Storage. Wingecarribee Shire Ccl.
Murwillumbah. Tweed River (also Grav. supply). Murwillumbah Municipa1 Council.
Muswellbrook. Hunter River. Muswellbrook Munic. Cc1.
Nowra. Flat Rock Creek (also Grav. supply). Nowra Municipal Council.
Penrith. Nepean River. Penrith Municipal Council.
Portland. Subartesian (also Grav. supply). Blaxland Shire Council.
Queanbeyan. Cotter River. Bulk from A.C.T.
Quirindi. Drift Well on Quirindi Ck. Quirindi Municipal Council.
Scone. Drift Well on Kingdon Ponds Creek. Scone Municipal Council.
Singleton. Infiltration Wells on Hunter River. Singleton Municipal Council.
Taree. Dingo Creek. Taree-Wingham Water Board Taree.
Tenterfield. Tenterfield Creek. Tenterfield Municipal Ccl.
Ura11a. Kentucky Creek. Gostwyck Shire, Uralla.
Windsor. Hawkesbury River. Windsor Municipal Ccl.
Wingham. See Taree.
Wyong. Wyong Creek. Erina Shire Gosford.
Yass. Yass River. Yass Municipa1 Council.
Central Blue Mountains Villages. Emergency Supply from Wentworth Creek. Blue Mountains Shire Council Lawson.
Lower Blue Mountains Villages. Pumping from Woodford Creek Storage. Blue Mountains Shire Council.
Pumping from Woodford Creek Storage.
Hunter District. Walcha Scheme. Hunter River Water Board.
MINOR SYSTEMS.
Name. Source of Supply. Authority.
Milson & Rabbit Small Storage Health
Island. Dam. Department.
Morisset Mental Duck Creek “ “
Hospital. Storages.
Scheyville Training Farm, Windsor. Hawkesbury River. Department of Labour & Industry
Waterfall Waratah Riverlet Health
Sanatorium. Storage. Department.
APPENDIX C.
Areas Supplied by Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board Metropolitan Water Supply - City of Sydney and Suburbs.
Wollongong & South Coast Water Supply - Austinmer, Balgownie, Bulli, Clifton, Coledale, Corrimal, Dapto, Fairy Meadow, Fern Hill, Fig Tree, Keiraville, Kembla Heights, Mangerton, Mount Keira, Mount Kembla, Port Kembla, Reidtown, Russell Vale, Scarborough, Tarrawanna, Thirroul, Unanderra, Wollongong, Woonona.
Woronora Scheme - Burraneer, Caringbah, Cronulla, Engadine, Miranda, Sutherland.
Country Water Supplies - Campbelltown, Liverpool, Smithfield and Fairfield, Camden, Ingleburn, Minto, Blacktown, St. Marys, Riverstone, Asquith, Mt. Colah, Brooklyn, Menangle and North Menangle, West Fairfield, Raby, Austral-Hoxton Park, Hills District, Richmond.
APPENDIX D.
ELECTRIC POWER STATIONS.
Name. Authority. Capacity K.Ws. Type.
Sydney. Department of Railways. 201,000 Steam.
Newcastle. do. 45,500 do.
Lithgow. do. 10,000 do.
Burrinjuck. Department of Public Works. 20,000 Hydro.
Port Kembla. do. 14,500 Steam.
Sydney. County Council. 225,000 do.
Clarence River. do. 8,300 Oil & Hydro.
Bega Valley. do. 482 Oil.
Armidale. Municipal Council. 1,120 Gas & Oil.
Cooma. do. 332 Oil.
Glen Innes. do. 840 Oil.
Katoomba. do. 1,725 Steam.
Mullumbimby. do. 645 Oil & Hydro.
Murwillumbah. do. 925 Steam
Newcastle. Newcastle (City) Council. 3,500 Steam.
Port Macquarie. do. 324 Oil.
Quirindi. do. 330 Steam & Oil.
Tamworth. do. 4,300 Steam.
Tenterfield. do. 364 Oil.
Crookwell. Shire Council. 202 Gas & Oil.
Dorrigo. do. 344 Oil & Hydro
Ballina. Electric Construction Co. of Aust. 970 Oil.
Bellbird. Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd. 2,000 Steam.
Berrima. Southern Portland Cement Ltd. 3,750 Steam.
Bombala. Bombala Elect. Supply. 200 Oil.
Braidwood. Braidwood Elect. Supply Co. 48 Oil.
Cessnock. Caledonian Collieries Ltd. 13,222 Steam.
Eden Eden Electricity Supply. 57 Oil.
Guyra. Guyra Electric Supply Co. 116 Oil.
Illawarra Nth. Corrimal Coal & Coke Pty. Ltd. 1,960 Steam.
Kempsey. Kempsey Electric Light & Power Co. Ltd. 568 Oil.
Merriwa. M. Campbell & Co. 94 Oil.
Milton. E.H. Riley. Oil.
Moruya. Moruya Electrical Supply Co. 55 Oil.
Murrurundi. The Murrurundi Electric Supply Co. Ltd. 89 Oil.
Narooma. Narooma Electricity Supply Co. Pty. Ltd. 112 Oil.
Oberon. A.F. Anstiss. 63 Oil.
Pambula. Godfrey’s Motors Ltd. 12 Oil.
Tuncurry. Cape Hawke District Rural Co-op. Society Ltd. Oil.
Wauchope. Wauchope Electric Supply Ltd. 92 Oil.
Sydney. Electric Light & Power Supply Corp. Ltd. 41,750 Steam.
Weston. Hebburn Collieries Ltd. 3,000 Steam.
14.11.’42
Scorched Earth Support Squads were formed to help instruct and train members of the public in the content of the Scorched Earth policy and the specific measures needed to implement it. Sound knowledge of the terrain and local resources that might prove useful to the enemy was important, so these squads were composed mostly of local residents. In most cases, they were formed around local fire brigades and Volunteer Defence Corps units at centres such as Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Taree, Bega, Tamworth, Singleton and Tenterfield.
ORGANISATION OF SCORCHED EARTH SUPPORT SQUADS.
NOTES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF ORGANISING OFFICERS:
Generally - and subject to any revision that may be found desirable as a result of development experience - the arrangements for Scorched Earth Support Squad organisation will be as follows:-
1. North and South Coast to be visited and organised westward to the edge of the tableland, (Port Stephens - Port Kembla defended areas excepted), but including the Singleton-New England Highway centres to Wallangarra.
2. Possible extension of organisation subsequently.
3. Coast Scorched Earth Support Squad Areas will usually correspond with V.D.C. battalion areas, as follows:-
(i) Queensland border south to Evans Head and Ampledale on the railway (1 V.D.C. battalion).
(ii) Thence south to Corindi and Glenreagh (2 V.D.C. battalion).
(iii) Thence south to Telegraph Point (16 V.D.C. battalion).
(iv) Thence south to Port Stephens and Martin’s Creek on the railway (4 V.D.C. battalion).
(v) Wollongong to Victorian Border (13, 14 and 15 V.D.C. battalion.
(vi) Singleton-Tenterfield (Eastern parts of 6 V.D.C. and 3 V.D.C. battalion areas) Scorched Earth operations will be restricted at present to the coastal area up to the edge of the tableland and to the Singleton-Tenterfield area.
4. V.D.C. commanders should be contacted:-
Lismore Capt. T. Dwyer, M.C., 31 Second Av., Lismore.
Grafton Lt. Col. E.A. Woodward, Grafton.
Coffs Hbr. T.C. Johnston, Karangi, via Coffs H
arbour (sector headquarters at Kempsey).
Taree Lt. S.K. Lipscombe, Taree (sector headquarters at Wauchope).
Bega T.W. Walcott, Bombala (sector headquarters Bega, Cooma, Wagga).
Tamworth Lt. Col. H.F. White, C.M.G., D.S.O. (sector headquarters Narrabri, Tamworth, Scone).
5. The police officer in each locality should also be contacted. The Commissioner for Police has been informed fully of the Scorched Earth proposals through Police Inspector Standen, who is a member of the Scorched Earth Committee and no doubt will issue suitable directions to members of the Police Force throughout the territory covered.
6. Public Servants might also be contacted. (The Chairman of the Sub-Committee, as Commissioner for Forests, has asked all forest officers to collaborate with the Scorched Earth organisers).
7. Two officers of each S.E.S.S. area, in company, but dividing the work: Responsibility will be to the Board of Fire Commissioners of N.S.W., representing the State War Effort Co-Ordination Committee (Scorched Earth Sub-Committee, the Secretary and official address of which is “Forestry Commission, Presbyterian Assembly Building, York and Margaret Streets, Sydney”.)
8. A “Scorched Earth Code” (State War Effort Co-Ordination Committee - N.S.W.) has been prepared for the guidance of Scorched Earth Support Squad officers: copies are supplied; for distribution only to responsible persons collaborating in Scorched Earth operations.
9. S.E.S.S. officers will call upon the Local Governing Authorities, present their credentials; will explain the “Scorched Earth Code” and invite collaboration, particularly from (i) governmental and local governmental authorities; (ii) principal trades, industries &c. (The Premier’s Department will write beforehand to the Mayors and Presidents of such authorities, briefly advising them of the projected visits and their purpose).
Help should be sought also in the provision of any necessary office accommodation, and if possible local transport.
10. The local Fire Brigades will form the Scorched Earth Support Squad nucleus, co-opting selected local volunteers. Where there is no Fire Brigade, viz. outside the present jurisdiction of the Board of Fire Commissioners of N.S.W., the organisers will form a subsidiary Scorched Earth Support Squad having liaison with the nearest Fire Brigade.
