WW2 ARP (Air Raid Precautions) & CD (Civil Defence) Buttons
Metal ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Buttons
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The first type of 'uniform' issued to Air Raid Wardens and other Civil Defence Service personnel were the simple bluette overalls. These overalls featured four large 25mm ARP-marked metal buttons to the front closure and four smaller 18mm ARP-marked metal buttons to the chest pockets and epaulettes. The Firmin-made buttons used on the front closure had a concave rear.
The non-concave buttons were used on tunics, wardens' coats, ambulance uniforms and greatcoats. Several manufacturers produced ARP (Air Raid Precautions) buttons, such as the Birmingham-based companies of:
and the London-based manufacturers of:
Firmin's buttons (with the concave rear) were made of higher-quality materials and maintain a much higher sheen than the other manufacturers. Quite a number of ARP buttons do not have any maker's marks. |
WW2 ARP buttons |
Metal and Black Plastic CD (Civil Defence) Buttons
On the women's Pattern 71 serge tunic the front closure was fitted with 25mm metal CD and King's crown buttons. The pockets and epaulettes were fitted with smaller 18mm metal buttons of the same design. Later in the war the metal buttons were replaced with black plastic, again featuring the CD letters and King's crown. The exact date when the plastic buttons were introduced is currently unknown (the earliest dated tunic with black buttons is currently 1944).
Metal ARP and CD buttons were also used on the greatcoats issued to men and women. It would appear that the clothing manufacturers added either ARP or CD buttons depending on what was in their stockroom or were available to purchase (hence uniforms having variations in the buttons). There is evidence that some greatcoats also had black plastic CD and crown buttons applied.
Black plastic buttons were issued on uniforms of the post-war Civil Defence Corps. I am currently unsure if there is a method of discerning any difference between the two periods (I doubt there would be). Some design changes to the way the crown is represented may point to a way of telling the difference, but I have seen hundreds of black plastic CD-marked buttons and they all appear identical.
Metal ARP and CD buttons were also used on the greatcoats issued to men and women. It would appear that the clothing manufacturers added either ARP or CD buttons depending on what was in their stockroom or were available to purchase (hence uniforms having variations in the buttons). There is evidence that some greatcoats also had black plastic CD and crown buttons applied.
Black plastic buttons were issued on uniforms of the post-war Civil Defence Corps. I am currently unsure if there is a method of discerning any difference between the two periods (I doubt there would be). Some design changes to the way the crown is represented may point to a way of telling the difference, but I have seen hundreds of black plastic CD-marked buttons and they all appear identical.
