Wartime Operations (1939 – 1945)

The outbreak of war in September 1939 reshaped municipal operations across Britain, and Chester’s undertaking was no exception.  Service patterns were adjusted, with curtailment after 21:30 and a sharp increase in movements related to military establishments in and around the city—Huntingdon camp, an officer cadet school at Eaton Hall, and nearby airfields at Harwarden and Sealand.  Vehicle markings and equipment reflected blackout requirements: photographs from 1939 – 44 show white‑edged mudguards, a large white spot at the rear and masked or disconnected headlights. 

At the same time the Corporation continued to receive new vehicles.  In early 1940 three AEC Regents (Nos.  37 – 39) arrived with Massey bodies featuring a modified front dome; these later adopted the post‑war destination layout and maroon livery.  In 1941 three Leyland TD7s (Nos.  40 – 42) followed—technically refined evolutions of the TD5—with Massey bodies; these ‘unfrozen’ wartime builds were completed from pre‑war component sets to meet urgent demand.  In 1942 the first Guy Arabs (Nos.  43 – 44) joined the fleet with Massey austerity bodies.  Their chassis, derived from the pre‑war Arab, gained heavier cast‑iron components and a high‑set radiator during the war; bodies were to the official austere specification with minimal opening windows and wood‑slatted seating.  Chester’s examples were later repainted into post‑war maroon and ultimately exported when withdrawn in 1954.

Six further vehicles arrived in 1943; Daimler CWG5 No.  45 (June) brought the fluid‑flywheel and pre‑selector epicyclic transmission to the fleet—a refined arrangement that required care on long inclines.  Guy Arab II No.  46 (August) followed, later rebodied in 1952 by Massey to a style closely matching early‑1950s Guys.  In November 1943 four Daimler CWA6s (Nos.  47 – 50) arrived with Duple austerity bodies identifiable by ribbed roofs and single‑aperture destination displays; their AEC A173 engines gave lively performance.  The largest single wartime intake came in 1944 – 45.  March 1944 brought three more Guy Arabs (Nos.  51 – 53), again to Massey austerity pattern, with later post‑war changes including upholstered seats downstairs and extra opening lights.  In May two further Guys (Nos.  54 – 55) arrived, both later rebodied in 1952 (Davies for 54; Massey for 55).  Finally, four Daimler CWA6s (Nos.  56 – 59) with Brush bodies were delivered between November 1944 and January 1945.  Their mid‑body ventilation louvres constrained fleet name positioning and were later modified on at least one vehicle to permit a standard layout. 

The wartime years also produced distinct operating practices.  Race‑day arrangements persisted, supplemented by special workings; route information was occasionally improvised within the limits of the single‑line wartime blinds.  Vehicles worked hard and long, with austerity materials in bodies foreshadowing post‑war rebodying programmes.  Despite constraints, deliveries occurred in every war year, and by 1945 the Corporation could look to post‑war policy with a substantially renewed double‑deck fleet and a coherent, if tired, collection of pre‑war single‑deckers awaiting replacement.

Timeline  –  Wartime Years (1939 – 1945)

• 1939 — September: Wartime conditions begin; service curtailment after 21:30; strong growth in military traffic.  Blackout markings applied (white mudguards, rear white spot, masked or disconnected lamps).
• 1940 — June: AEC Regents Nos.  37 – 39 (EFM 909 – 911) delivered with Massey bodies and modified front domes; later standardised to post‑war blind layout and maroon livery; all withdrawn in 1955.
• 1941 — April – June: Three Leyland TD7 (Nos.  40 – 42, FFM 113 – 115) delivered as “unfrozen” wartime builds; Massey bodies to late pre‑war pattern; withdrawn 1950 – 51.
• 1942 — September:  Two Guy Arabs (Nos.  43 – 44, FFM 232 – 233) delivered with Massey austerity bodies (limited opening windows, wood‑slatted seating); exported 1954 on withdrawal.
• 1943 — June: Daimler CWG5 No.  45 (FFM 270) with fluid‑flywheel/pre‑selector gearbox delivered.  August: Guy Arab II No.  46 (FFM 278) delivered (later rebodied 1952 by Massey).  November: four Daimler CWA6 (Nos.  47 – 50) with Duple austerity bodies delivered.
• 1944 — March: Guy Arab II Nos.  51 – 53 (FFM 295 – 297) delivered (Massey austerity bodies).  May: Guy Arab II Nos.  54 – 55 (FFM 298 – 299) delivered.
• 1944 – 1945 — November – January: Four Daimler CWA6 with Brush bodies (Nos.  56 – 59, FFM 321 – 324) delivered; fitted with louvered panels between decks affects fleetname placement; subsequent post‑war modifications recorded.