Born in 1909, John Ashmore trained as a Lithographic Artist and worked as a Surveyor and Planning Draughtsman in the City Engineers Department in Leeds before the war. During the war, John was a Civil Defence Staff Officer and was a member of the West Riding Special Constabulary from 1936 until 1973.

With respect to this service the Archive holds many artefacts including John’s Special Constable’s uniform, notebooks, a Home Guard Pocket Manual and ID card.

The Centre is delighted to have close links with Barbara Dawson, John Ashmore’s elder daughter, who is a valued Friend and supporter of the Centre and who generously presented us with her father’s impressive collection of memorabilia.

Inventory of the Donation
• Special Constable’s uniform
• Eyeshields, Anti-gas, Mk. 11
• Silver buttons
• ‘Daily Sketch’ newspaper, 1938
• Constabulary note books
• Occurrence book
• Book of circulars, procedures etc.
• Recipe book, ‘Good Fare: a Book of Wartime Recipes’
• HMSO booklet, ‘Police War Duties Manual’
• ID card
• Special Constabulary Handbook
• The Home Guard Pocket Manual
• Certificates – Anti-Gas Training, Air Raid Precautions and St John Ambulance first aid
• Typescript notice of retirement
• Notice of release from service
• Letter to newspapers telling of retirement and length of service
• Photographs

Components of the medical kit are:
• Ointment. Anti-Gas no. 2. Apply freely to affected portion of skin
• Wound dressing. Standard dressing no. 8
• First Field Dressing. Contents: 2 dressings in waterproof covers each consisting of a gauze pad stitched to a bandage plus a safety pin