WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
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  • Uniforms
    • Bluette Overalls
    • ARP Wrapover Overalls
    • Tunic, Slacks & Skirt
    • ARP Wardens' Coat
    • Battledress & Trousers
    • Greatcoats
    • Ambulance Uniforms
    • Nursing Uniforms
    • Women’s Voluntary Services Uniforms
    • Hats, Berets & Caps
    • Footwear & Gaiters
    • ARP & CD Buttons
  • Insignia
    • Rank Badges
    • Breast Badges
    • Beret / Cap Badges
    • Area Markings
    • Shoulder Titles / Flashes
    • War Service Chevrons
    • Armbands
    • ARP Instructors' Badges
    • Incident Officer
    • Bomb Reconnaissance
    • Wound Stripes
    • ARP Whistle & Lanyards
    • Lapel Badges
    • Medals & Ribbons
    • Civil Defence Reserve
    • Miscellaneous ARP
  • Equipment
    • Documentation
    • First Aid
    • Gas Air Raid Warning
    • Hand-Cranked Air Raid Sirens
    • Fire Tackling
    • Anti-Gas Equipment
    • Rescue Equipment
    • Goggles
    • Lamps & Torches
    • Respirators (Gas masks)
    • ARP Penknife
    • ARP Water Bottle
  • Helmets
    • Helmets of the Home Front
  • Fire Guard
    • Fire Guard History
  • Resources
    • Books
    • Re-enacting
    • Buyers' Guide
    • ARP Memo 17
    • Civil Defence Pattern Nos
    • Uniform Sizes
    • Original WW2 Photographs
    • Re-enacting Photos
    • Fake & Reproduction ARP Badges
    • Civil Defence Corps Insignia
    • Links
  • Contact
    • About
  • Blog
  • Don't Click

WW2 Civil Defence Beret / Cap Badges


The majority of ARP and Civil Defence personnel were issued with a dark blue wool beret. Many affixed their silver or base metal ARP lapel badge to these berets and this was officially sanctioned by the Department of Home Security in 1942. The men's button-hole fitting was to be used with a piece of cardboard behind but the brooch pin style was sought after and initially even ordered by local authorities. However, the Department of Home Security declined to issue extra badges to CD members just for the beret.

Private companies had been manufacturing small circular embroidered CD badges manufactured for the beret for private purchase during 1942 and into 1943. They featured a King's crown with CD letters within an old gold circle and were a copy of the breast badge. With the issue of metal ARP badge being stopped in early 1943, a beret badge was then needed for those without a badge. The Department of Home Security reviewed the embroidered badge and ordered 200,000 calico-printed versions in the summer of 1943. All embroidered versions are therefore private purchases.
Embroidered Civil Defence CD beret badge
Embroidered Civil Defence CD beret badge
Printed Civil Defence CD beret badge.
Printed Civil Defence CD beret badge.
Embroidered Civil Defence CD beret badge
Embroidered Civil Defence CD beret badge
Fire Guard embroidered beret badge.
Fire Guard embroidered beret badge.
Silver ARP lapel badge often worn on Civil Defence berets
Silver ARP lapel badge often worn on Civil Defence berets
There are period photographs showing side caps worn. These were private purchases and if a local authority wanted to issue them they would have to pay for this themselves. Again, most wearers added their metal ARP lapel badge to their side cap.

​Some areas in London, such as in Lewisham, seem to have had an ample supply of side caps. Many senior members within the Civil Defence wore side caps with yellow piping but, going by photographic evidence, they were available to all ranks.

There is photographic evidence of the CD breast badge being trimmed and used on berets as well.
​

Civil Defence side cap with ARP badge and buttons
Civil Defence side cap with ARP badge and buttons

County Specific Cap Badges

A number of local authrorites sought permission to create county badges featuring the emblem of that county. Usually permission would be given if the costs were met by the local authority. 
Cornwall County ARP Cap Badge
Cornwall County ARP Cap Badge

Rescue Parties Beret Badge

Some Rescue Parties used an existing red on black ARP badge as a beret badge. The letters A and P were unpicked and the badge was sewn onto the beret.
Rescue Party
Rescue Party "R" beret badge.

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