On this day in Yorkshire 1940

From next Monday a curfew lasting from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise is to be imposed on a part of the Yorkshire Coast stretching about 45 miles from Scarborough to Withernsea.

The official announcement is as follows:-

“Under egualtion 16A of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939 the Regional Commissioner for the North Eastern Defence Area has issued directions imposing a curfew along the coast of the Region.

The curfew comes into force on the evening of Monday, July 15, and applies to the parts of the East Riding between the sea and the roads Scarborough-Bridlington-Winestead-Paull, including the roads themselves, the towns of Filey, Bridlington, Hornsea and Withernsea and the neighbourhood of Hornsea Mere.

Further details can be obtained from the police.

In this area no person may be out of doors between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise except in cases of necessity specified in the direction.

The hours of the curfew will be reconsidered as winter approaches.

The curfew applies to all persons, whether in vehicles or not, except persons who are necessarily out of doors for the execution of duties on behalf of the Crown or a local authority or public utility undertaking, or as workmen or employers or supervisors of labour, or as ministers of religion, doctors, midwives nurses or veterinary surgeons, required to attend urgently upon cases of illness or injury, or for the purpose of securing the attendance of such persons as have just been mentioned when urgently required, or going to the nearest available air shelter in the event of an air raid air raid warning or returning from such shelter when the raid or warning period is over.

The curfew area contains many specific military works, pickets and patrols, and unnecessary movement in the area during the hours darkness is not only an embarrassment to the military, but also a source danger to civilians.

Persons who are out of doors during the curfew period will be liable to be challenged by the military police, and may be detained unless they can show that they have right to be out doors.

Penalties are prescribed for infractions of the Commissioner’s directions.

No permits will be issued, and persons who must be out at night should be particularly careful to carry their National Registration Identity Cards and any available documents supporting their right to be out of doors during the curfew period.

If you own a seaside bungalow or cottage in a defence area where entry is restricted, you cannot go there now for “pleasure or holiday purposes.”

You must produce evidence if you do go that your visit is not merely for those purposes.

If you are a schoolchild going home there, for the holidays, or a soldier visiting home there on leave, you will be regarded as a person ordinarily resident in the area, and then the prohibition does not apply.

People wishing to enter for business purposes and workers who lived normally outside the area but spent their week-ends and spare time with their families at home will be able to enter.

Normally people wishing to visit evacuated school children or sick or aged relatives would also be allowed.”

These instances of how the restrictions work were given last night by the Ministry of Home Security.

Sir Arthur Lambert, Commissioner for the Northern Region, which includes Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire states that he is not imposing a curfew on his coastal area at present.

There is a curfew which the Commissioner has agreed may be applied at the discretion of the military authorities to the foreshore and the immediate approaches between Berwick and Scarborough.

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