The manual was originally produced during the First World War and was amongst the earliest ‘government war books’ ever created.
It remained in circulation until the early 2000s, before being discontinued due to financial constraints.
Now, amid escalating global tensions, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton has confirmed the book will be reissued to assist the public in preparing for potential conflict.
He stated that the manual would draw on lessons from the Cold War but “in a modern context, with a modern society, with modern infrastructure.”
The handbook outlined procedures that were frequently rehearsed under the direction of the Cabinet Office, and is widely believed to have strengthened national resilience.
A contemporary version of the guide would cover similar ground to its predecessor, including how to shut schools, ration food, clear hospitals and protect national treasures.
It would additionally encompass plans to mobilise both military personnel and civilians.
The proposal to reintroduce an updated edition of the handbook follows warnings from opposition politicians and experts that Britain is ill-equipped for conflict.
The defence chief said: “NATO describes the transition to conflict as a military component, but it also has a civilian component.”
While Britain has enjoyed a prolonged period of peace, Sir Richard Knighton noted that Britons must remain vigilant of the growing threats to that stability. “That requires us to educate ourselves and help the population understand some of those threats and help them understand what they can do to support the nation and potentially support the armed forces,” he added.
He said: “I talked before Christmas of the need for – when we think about renewing our water infrastructure or electricity or transport infrastructure – thinking about the threat of action from an adversary that is above the threshold of war, not just a hybrid threat.
‘”And think about how we build in that resilience as we renew it and that requires making some different choices and different priorities and that work that the Cabinet Office is doing across the whole of government is something that I really welcome.”
