WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia, Helmets and Equipment
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WW2 Air Raid Warden, ARP & Civil Defence Rank Badges


Rank insignia for the various ARP services and from the autumn of 1941, the later Civil Defence General Services, developed in two distinct phases during the second world war. The early war Wardens' Service saw red braid bar and diamond insignia and red chevrons for Decontamination, Rescue and Stretcher Parties, worn on bluette overalls. The red braid insignia was replaced in the autumn of 1941 with 'old gold' badges of rank for both senior and junior supervisory roles. The new insignia was introduced along with the new serge battledress for men and tunics for women.

Chart of the main ARP & Civil Defence rank insignia used in the second world war

WW2  ARP & Civil Defence Warden Rank Insignia.
WW2 ARP & Civil Defence Warden Rank Insignia.
Note: the above helmet markings were not always followed to the letter. Period film and photographs show some wardens wearing various helmet markings, for example, a Divisional Warden in London with two black stripes or a white helmet with a single stripe plus 'SDW' (for Sub-Divisional Warden). Although the use of diamonds on helmets was phased out there is documentary film evidence of them still be used in 1942 and possibly later.

London areas had District Wardens whilst areas outside of the capital had Divisional Wardens.

​There is photographic evidence of a single narrow yellow bar being worn. This rank was issued at the discretion of a Regional Commissioner.

ARP Warden red bar & diamond rank badges/insignia - up to mid/late-1941

In a communique sent on 18 June, 1940 to the London Civil Defence Region specific regulations were sent regarding identifying insignia for Wardens. These were red braid bars 3" long by ½" inch wide and worn a ¼" apart with a single diamond (with sides of ½") placed a ¼" above the top bar. Insignia was worn on both sleeves with the lowest bar 4" from the cuff. Screen-printed (see below) as well as red braid versions are known to exist. ​
Chief Warden - sleeve rank badges - three red braid bars with single red diamond
Divisional/District Warden - sleeve rank badges - two red braid bars with single red diamond
Post Warden & Head Warden - sleeve rank badges - 
 one red braid bars with single red diamond
Screen-printed Head or Post Warden sleeve insignia
Screen-printed Head or Post Warden sleeve insignia
Original examples of the red bars & diamonds and sleeve chevrons are probably the hardest to find examples of the insignia issued to ARP personnel. 
A Finchley Head Warden with single red bar and diamond sleeve insignia
A Finchley Head Warden with single red bar and diamond sleeve insignia

Red braid chevrons for Party Leaders & Officers-In-Charge

The same document from June 1940 also listed two red braid chevrons for leaders of parties and three red braid chevrons for officers-in-charge of rescue, decontamination and stretcher parties. The chevrons were to be red braid 1/2" thick with each arm of the chevron 2" long. Chevrons were to be placed midway between shoulder and elbow on the bluette overalls with the chevron pointing down.
Rescue Party Officer-in-Charge with three red sleeve chevrons
Rescue Party Officer-in-Charge with three red sleeve chevrons

Location of insignia on bluette overalls (up to late 1941)

WW2 ARP Rank Insignia Applied To Bluette Overalls
WW2 ARP Rank Insignia Applied To Bluette Overalls

"Old Gold" yellow Civil Defence Service rank insignia ‒ 1941-45

Two distinct variations of insignia for senior and junior ranks were created with the formation of the Civil Defence Service in 1941 (the term civil defence had been used pre-war but the creation of a unified service brought all the various services under one roof). For senior ranks broad and narrow "old gold" yellow bars worn on the upper sleeve were introduced. 
District Warden from Westminster with three yellow bars
District Warden from Westminster with three yellow bars
For junior ranks, chevrons in "old gold" yellow were worn in the similar place to other ranking systems in the army - midway between shoulder and elbow. 

Both senior and junior ranks could become an Incident Officer. The incident officer wore a special IO badge on the lower left sleeve. They also wore a special blue covering on their helmet to make them stand out at air raid incidents. Incident Officers could be from any rank. For information on lanyards worn on the shoulder see this page.

There is photographic evidence of wardens wearing battledress with red braid bars and diamonds. This must have happened only for a short period in mid- to late-1941. It is assumed that although the battledress was available the badges of rank had yet to reach local authority stores.

Location of Civil Defence insignia on battledress (1941-1945)

Location of Civil Defence insignia on battledress (1941-1945)
Location of Civil Defence insignia on battledress (1941-1945)

WW2 ​ARP & Civil Defence Services senior rank badge sleeve insignia

Rank insignia was "old gold" yellow on dark blue measuring 2½ inches wide by ¼ inch for the narrow bars and ¾ inch for the broad bars. Senior rank badges were worn with the top bar 1 inch below the shoulder title and were either printed or embroidered.

​Controller - two narrow bars over single broad bar. Helmet - white with two black bars and word Controller.
Chief Warden - narrow bar over broad bar. Helmet - white with black W and two black stripes.
Medical Officer of Health - same insignia as Chief Warden but shoulder title was 'MOH' and helmet with MO (and MOH) and two black bars.
Deputy Chief Warden - a single broad bar. Helmet - white with black W and a double black stripe.
District / Divisional Warden - three narrow. Helmet - white with black W and one stripe (plus D.W. also used) . 
Officer - two narrow. Helmet - white with black W. ​
ARP Controller sleeve rank insignia
ARP Controller sleeve rank insignia
ARP Chief Warden sleeve rank insignia
ARP Chief Warden sleeve rank insignia
ARP Deputy Chief Warden sleeve rank insignia
ARP Deputy Chief Warden sleeve rank insignia
ARP District Warden sleeve rank insignia
ARP District / Divisional Warden sleeve rank insignia
ARP Officer sleeve rank insignia
ARP Officer sleeve rank insignia

WW2 ARP & ​Civil Defence Services junior rank badge insignia

Junior rank insignia within the CD services were yellow stripes of one, two and three chevrons. The chevrons were either printed or embroidered.
 
Head Warden or Post Warden in London - three chevrons  (sometimes with a six-pointed star above the chevrons). Helmet - white with black W (some with single black stripe), though P.W. was used also.
Senior Warden - one (rarely seen but used in some areas; some local authorities issued a single chevron to members who had performed two years' service) or two chevrons. Helmet - black with white W.
Chevron rank badges were worn as follows:
1 chevron - lower point 9 inches below shoulder seam (note not shoulder title)
2 chevrons - lower point 9
½ inches below shoulder seam
3 chevrons (with or without star) - lower point 10½ inches below shoulder seam
Embroidered Civil Defence Double Chevron Stripes
Embroidered Civil Defence Double Chevron Stripes
Printed Civil Defence Double Chevron Stripes (Blacked Out Britain)
Printed Civil Defence Double Chevron Stripes (Blacked Out Britain)
Post Warden  - three chevrons and six-pointed star above.
Post Warden - three chevrons and six-pointed star above.
First pattern embroidered post warden stripes with separate star.
First pattern embroidered post warden stripes with separate star.
Standard pattern Civil Defence triple chevrons rank badge
Standard pattern Civil Defence triple chevrons rank badge
Single printed chevron
Single printed chevron

Use of insignia across other Civil Defence Services from August 1942


The 'old gold' insignia was adopted across all Civil Defence Services from August 1942. The following table illustrates a general overview of how each rank was used. There were many local variations to this.
Civil Defence Service Ranks From August 1942
Civil Defence Service Ranks From August 1942
To submit original rank insignia please send me an email via the contact page.

Examples of Civil Defence Ranks within the Midland Region Late War

The rank structure could become quite complicated towards the end of the war (with difference between County and Borough). This is an example of the ranks used withing the Civil Defence Services in the Midland Region. Though decontamination is included there was no inclusion of Gas Identification Officers etc in this chart.
Rank Marking
Rank authorised for Counties and their Constituent Authorities
Rank authorised for County Boroughs and Scheme-Making Boroughs 
1 broad under 2 narrow bars
County Controller
Controller
1 broad under 1 narrow bar
Deputy County Controller
County Sub-Controller
County Chief Warden
County M.O.H.
County Head of Rescue Service
County Head of Decontamination Service
County Head of Messenger Service
​Count A.R.P. Officer
Deputy Controller
Sub-Controller
Chief Warden
M.O.H.
Head of Rescue Service
Head of Decontamination Service
​A.R.P. Officer 
1 broad bar
Deputy Chief Warden
Deputy County M.O.H.
Deputy Heads of County Services
A.R.P. Officer of local authority
Deputy Sub-Controller
M.O.H. of Constituent Authority
​Divisional Warden 
Deputy Chief Warden
Deputy M.O.H.
Deputy Heads of Services
Assistant A.R.P. Officer
Deputy Sub-Controller
3 narrow bars
Deputy Divisional Warden
Ambulance Officer
Staff Officer to Heads of Services of Scheme-Making Authorities
Assistant A.R.P. Officer
​Fire Guard Staff Officer to local authority
Divisional Warden
Staff Officer of Heads of Services
Ambulance Officer
Fire Guard Staff Officer
​Head of Messenger Service
2 narrow bars
Officer in Charge 200 or more Messengers
Assistant Staff Officer to Heads of Services of Scheme-Making Authority
Fire Guard Assistant Staff Officer to local authority
Divisional Wardens Staff Officer
​Assistant Ambulance Officer
Deputy Divisional Warden
Officer in Charge of 200 or more Messengers
Assistant Staff Officer to Heads of services
Assistant Fire Guard Staff Officer
Divisional Wardens Staff Officer
​Assistant Ambulance Officer
1 narrow bar
Depot Superintendent Class 1
Head Warden
​Head Fire Guard
Deputy Superintendent Class 1
Head Warden
​Head Fire Guard
3 chevron stripes surmounted by a star
Deputy Depot Superintendent Class 1
Depot Superintendent Class 2
Deputy Head Warden
Auxiliary Ambulance Station Officer
Lay Superintendent First Aid Posts
​Officer in Charge of 100 to 199 Messengers
Deputy Depot Superintendent Class 1
Depot Superintendent Class 2
Deputy Head Warden
Auxiliary Ambulance Staff Officer
Lay Superintendent Firs Aid Post
​​​Officer in Charge of 100 to 199 Messengers
3 chevron stripes
Post Warden
Deputy Depot Superintendent Class 2
Auxiliary Ambulance Depot Staff Officer
Officer in Charge of Ambulance as combines Depots
Section Leader in charge of ambulance and sitting case cars
Party Supervisor of First Aid Party / Rescue Party or Decontamination Squad
Officer in Charge 50 to 99 Messengers
Post Warden
Deputy Depot Superintendent Class 2
Auxiliary Ambulance Depot Staff Officer
Officer in Charge of Ambulance as combines Depots
Section Leader in charge of ambulance and sitting case cars
Party Supervisor of First Aid Party / Rescue Party or Decontamination Squad
Officer in Charge 50 to 99 Messengers
2 chevron stripes
Officer in Charge of Ambulances at combined Depots (shift duty)
Senior Warden
Senior Fire Guard
Leader of First Aid Party / Rescue Party or Decontamination Squad
​Officer in Charge of 15 to 49 Messengers
Officer in Charge of Ambulances at combined Depots (shift duty)
Senior Warden
Senior Fire Guard
Leader of First Aid Party / Rescue Party or Decontamination Squad
​Officer in Charge of 15 to 49 Messengers
1 chevron stripe
Deputy Leader of First Aid Party / Rescue Party or Decontamination Squad
Deputy Leader of First Aid Party / Rescue Party or Decontamination Squad

Overview of the Wardens' Service

Sector – several wardens led by a Senior Warden. Each sector (covering a few streets) is numbered and/or lettered (covering approx. 500 people).
Post Area – several sectors form a Post Area which is numbered and/or lettered. Incidents within a sector are reported to the Wardens’ Report Post.
Wardens’ Report Post – headed by a Post Warden (assisted by a deputy). The report post usually centrally located to all sectors so Wardens/Messengers can easily reach it.
Head Warden (and deputy) – would oversee a group of Post Areas (approx. six to ten thousand people).
Divisional / District Warden (and deputy) – would oversee a whole district.
Chief Warden (and deputy) – would oversee several districts within a Local Authority.
Incident Officer – major air raid incidents would be managed by an Incident Officer at the scene who would take over reporting events to the Report Centre.
Report Centre – incidents are reported to the Report Centre from the Wardens’ Report Post / Incident Officer. Large areas may have more than one Report Centre. Report Centres have an Officer-in-Charge, Panel Operator, Plotting Operator and Telephonists.
CD Services – the Report Centre dispatches the various Civil Defence Services (police, fire, first aid, gas decontamination, rescue etc) from depots/stations to deal with the incident. The Plotting Operator numbers each incident on a map of the area and updates the map to indicate the type of incident (fire, gas, mains burst etc). The Panel Operator manages the services from depots to incidents.
Control Centre – the Report Centre updates the Control Centre which has a duplicate set of maps showing incidents across a Local Authority. The Controller (usually head of ARP for the Local Authority) follows each incident and can take charge in the event of a major incident unfolding. If this were to occur, Post Wardens/Incident Officers would be instructed to send reports direct to the Control Centre bypassing the Report Centre.
Group Control – a number of Local Authorities send information from Control Centres to the Group Control. In the event of one area being overwhelmed by an air raid the Local Authority can appeal for assistance utilising Group Reserves (later CD Reserve and Mobile Columns).
Civil Defence Region – all groups report into one of 12 Civil Defence Regional HQs. If a widespread heavy raid takes place, one Region can appeal to others for assistance.
Ministry of Home Security War Room – all Regional HQs reported to the Ministry of Home Security (based in London). The ministry would have an overview of the entire nation’s civil defence situation and could send assistance from one CD region to another.

Post-war insignia and badges of the Civil Defence Corps


The Civil Defence Corps was created in 1949 and although they adopted similar ranks as the wartime Civil Defence Service, there are subtle differences in the shape, size and material used for both senior and junior ranks. Badges are on thinner material, shoulder titles have squared ends and stars were five-pointed. The colour of embroidery thread also changed from the "old gold" to a more distinct brighter yellow.

See this page that details Civil Defence Corps badges and insignia.

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