<![CDATA[WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia, Helmets and Equipment

<![CDATA[WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia, Helmets and Equipment - Blog]]>Sat, 09 May 2026 17:57:54 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[1941-Dated Adie Bros. ARP Whistle]]>Sat, 09 May 2026 16:50:56 GMThttps://www.ww2civildefence.co.uk/blog/1941-dated-adie-bros-arp-whistleFinally added the Adie Bros. 1941-marked ARP whistle to the collection. With more services being issued with whistles, Adie Bros. Ltd. in Birmingham were engaged to produce ARP whistles. Almost identical in manufacture to the Hudson ARP whistle, examples are stamped 1941.

There were also over half-a-million black acetate whistles manufactured and I'm on the look-out for one of those.

More details about ARP whistles here.

Hudson and Adie Bros. ARP whistles

Hudson and Adie Bros. ARP whistles rear

Adie Bros. ARP whistle markings

Thicker lanyard loop on Adie Bros. ARP whistle

]]><![CDATA[Two Silver ARP Badges For Just £313...]]>Sat, 02 May 2026 19:07:50 GMThttps://www.ww2civildefence.co.uk/blog/two-silver-arp-badges-for-just-gbp313You'd think that with all the information online about these silver ARP badges and also the previously sold prices on eBay, sellers would have enough details to price ARP badges correctly. Well, here for your viewing pleasure, are two silver ARP badges with a combined asking price of £313... And, they also added "The maker's mark is RJ, which is J.R. Gaunt & Son, London.", you really cannot make this shit up!

Idiot pricing on eBay

]]><![CDATA[Fake Underground 'This Way To The Air Raid Shelter' Enamel Sign]]>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:09:32 GMThttps://www.ww2civildefence.co.uk/blog/fake-underground-this-way-to-the-air-raid-shelter-enamel-signAs many visitors to this blog will know, original wartime enamel signage relating to ARP and Civil Defence are avidly collected and becoming very valuable. As prices rise, the opportunity to fleece punters with reproductions becomes more problematic.

The below enamel sign recently sold on the tat bazaar for almost £125 (incl. shipping). Most serious London Underground collectors know their history and will point out that the style of Underground roundel didn't appear until 30 years after the war ended. Also, not a single period photograph shows any enamel signage like this. The font isn't quite correct and the arrow isn't the right style used.

This particular example has also had some spurious additional crap added to the rear. We now have a label from the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) with 'Harringay' added. Obviously, the LNER has nothing to do with London Underground (Harringay doesn't have an Underground station).

The modern reproductions are getting scarily close to originals, though. If they put in the research, they'd be almost impossible to tell apart...

Fake Underground 'This Way To The Air Raid Shelter' Enamel Sign

Fake LNER label on fake Underground enamel sign

]]><![CDATA[Paragon ARP First Aid Tin]]>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:03:52 GMThttps://www.ww2civildefence.co.uk/blog/paragon-arp-first-aid-tinNot often seen is this Paragon ARP First Aid tin. It measures 17" x 7.5" and 5.5" high.

Paragon ARP First Aid Tin

Paragon ARP First Aid Tin carry handle

]]><![CDATA[WW2 ARP Gas Rattle or Bird Scarer?]]>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:41:51 GMThttps://www.ww2civildefence.co.uk/blog/ww2-arp-gas-rattle-or-bird-scarerAs every Wardens' Post was issued with a wooden gas rattle, vast numbers were manufactured prior to and during the war. Some are easily identifiable as they are clearly marked for ARP use.

Quite a number of rattles appear online and at fairs, often marked as "Air Raid Precautions Gas Rattle", but they can be easily confused with wooden bird scarers. It's hard to be be definitive about a few designs as they closely resemble WW2-manufactured rattles. The below appeared on eBay as a WW2 rattle. It has no markings. I guess a bird scarer could be reused for a gas rattle at a push.

Also, rattles with a metal soundbox were issued by the army.

Gas Rattle or Bird Scarer 1?

Gas Rattle or Bird Scarer 2?

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