Civil Nursing Reserve Cap NA 86

5/19/2025

A recent blog entry showed a stand-down photograph featuring members of Epping Forest Civil Defence, the British Red Cross Society, and nursing. A lady in this photo was wearing the uniform of the Civil Nursing Reserve (see below). I now have details about the cap she was wearing.

The archives record that in October 1943, members of the Civil Nursing Reserve (CNR) who were Trained Nurses were given a more distinctive uniform; a blue grey cloth greatcoat replaced the gabardine coat, the breast badge was woven rather than printed, and they were issued a blue grey cloth cap worn with the metal CNR cap badge. The Post Office records list "Hat, Blue/Grey gabardine" as Cap, NA, 86.

I am again indebted to Jon Mills for filling in the details regarding this particular cap.

Civil Nursing Reserve nurse

Member of the Civil Nursing Reserve (CNR) with the hat released in 1943

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Fake Padded ARP Breast Badge

4/22/2025

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I have encountered quite a few oval ARP breast badges over the years, but the example below is the first I've come across that is thickly padded. Most embroidered examples are on dark blue bluette (cotton twill) fabric, as is this badge. This example also used a thick red thread for the lettering and the oval.

After a steer from a regular contributor to the site, I had a much closer look at the badge. I opened up one seam carefully and found there was a paper lining. And on the paper? Arabic writing...

So, if you come across a very padded ARP breast badge, chances are it's a fake.

Fake padded ARP breast badge

Arabic text on paper lining

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More reproduction Air Raid Warden Armbands Sold On As Original

3/30/2025

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Nearly every week, we have the same reproduction armbands available from Soldier of Fortune for a tenner appearing on the tat bazaar that is eBay. The armbands, sold by a notorious eBay shyster, have various crappy stamps inside, the latest being "L.C.C 1939" (note the missing full stop at the end there). Punters are regularly wasting their money on these. Wake up, people...

Fake L.C.C air raid warden armband

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Reproduction Air Raid Warden Armband Being Sold As Original

2/10/2025

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These reproduction armbands have been on sale for a few years on Soldier of Fortune's website (this is based on an original printed armband). To drive up the price a well-known shyster on eBay has got his well-used John Bull printing set out and added - very poorly - "COVENTRY D.C. 1939". What an absolute shower...