I recently posted an identification card for an Invasion Defence Organisation member in London. I was recently sent this Stationery Office booklet "Consolidated Instructions to Invasion Committees, 1942".
It would appear that terminology varied between areas - some use Invasion Committee and others Defence Committee - but it appears they provided a similar response to an area being invaded. Primarily to maintain a semblance of order in the area, ensure the roads were kept clear of refugees, assist the military where necessary and ensure the local populace were informed about water, food and cooking facilities in the event the electricity and gas were cut off. All the Civil Defence Services were brought together along with police, Home Guard, local councillors and volunteer groups such as the WVS. All of these would have responsibility in ensuring the public were informed about what they should do. Courtesy of George Pagliero.
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A pair of these ARP Fire Fighter Goggles sold on eBay (June 2021) for £95 plus £4 shipping). They are quite scarce and prices for CD, ARP and Home Front items continue to climb to new heights.
There were many thousands of different lapel badges produced throughout the war - ARP factory badges, volunteer badges, charity badges, civil defence service badges and various mufti badges for those showing they were Doing their Bit. However, one particular badge I see a lot on the tat bazaar (that's eBay) that is nearly always called a second world war badge is the below - the white metal HG badge with HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE written around the edge. IT'S NOT WW2!!!
It dates from the period the Home Guard was reintroduced in the 1950s. The Imperial War Museum (how long before the woke brigade clock the name of this museum and decide it needs cancelling...) have a sealed pattern of the badge dated to 1956. This has jack-all to do with WW2 or Civil Defence but I was getting fed up seeing it misidentified and people possibly buying it thinking it was WW2 period. I promise that's the last time I dirty these pages with Home Guard badges. Rant over... A fantastic colour film entitled "War Weapons Week 1942". Includes shots of various Civil Defence services (wardens, FAP, ambulance), WVS volunteers, Home Guard, ARP nurses, Fire Services and other groups in Bearsden, northwest of Glasgow. Some excellent shots of Fire Guard members all kitted out in Zuckerman helmets.
A dignitary called Sir Steven Bilsland is seen in a couple of clips inspecting the services. He has a white helmet with red lettering, but it's not clear what it says. He also appears to have a gold coloured armband with silver Civil Defence rainbow. Also of note is the OPX (an observation post) - at the 6.30 mark - being manned by a couple of chief wardens (three diamonds on white helmets). A great piece of film that's worth watching in its entirety. I have a keen interest in the way fonts and lettering are generated and these pages from a British Standards book in 1940 detail the exact methodology used to generate the 1940s font used on ARP / Civil Defence / Fire signage. Also included is the exact size of the various signs. I was somewhat confused why 7/8" was used instead of 1" on the Shelter 'S' signage but someone mentioned saving material (which makes sense) but it doesn't seem to follow through on vertical signs. I'm including the files as downloads as well. Courtesy of Roger Miles.
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