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Here's a nice shot of a group of wardens with a white helmet Post Warden displaying the three yellow chevrons and star above. Cannot quite make out what it says on the area marking, alas. I would assume that the badge on his right breast pocket is the St John Ambulance Association badge.  WW2 Post Warden Photograph.
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The small pamphlet was produced by Boots the Chemist in circa 1939. With the ever-growing threat of war again on the horizon a number of businesses started to prepare the population for the potential dropping of bombs - especially poison gas bombs. The photograph below shows Admiral Evans inspecting a Light Rescue squad in Lewisham. Between the Admiral and the squad leader is a high ranking regional Civil Defence officer - most likely the Regional Commissioner. He is wearing a tailored battledress with red gorgets to the collars as well as the special breast badge worn by regional staff. The rescue squad leader and several of his fellow men are wearing the austerity pattern battledress with exposed buttons (known as bachelor buttons these are revolving shank buttons held on by small circular clips). The area badge for Lewisham does not have a border and all of the men are wearing side caps. Civil Defence "Standing Down Order" 17 April 1945 and Farewell Parade and Speech - 10 June 19454/23/2018 With the Allies advancing further into Germany in the Spring of 1945 the war in Europe was rapidly coming to an end. The government now no longer saw any need for the Civil Defence General Services and on 17 April 1945 a memorandum by Herbert Morrison, Home Secretary and Minister for Home Security, was circulated that started the standing down of all CD services across the country. All part-time members were to be released immediately from service and full-time members were given two months notice. The Ministry of Labour and National Service would then assist in finding these people employment. On 2 May 1945 the powers of the Regional Commissioners were revoked. Throughout the country towns and cities held farewell parades for Civil Defence personnel. The final farewell parade, before His Majesty the King, took place at Hyde Park on 10 June 1945. Below is the speech he gave. This is an absolutely amazing piece of film. The utter devastation and carnage of, I think, a V1 attack on Fitzrovia in London (you can see Colville Place sign at one point) in 1944. All sorts of rescue workers and Civil Defence involved and even American MPs at one point. |
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