WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
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    • Hats, Berets & Caps
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    • ARP & CD Buttons
  • Insignia
    • Rank Badges
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    • Shoulder Titles / Flashes
    • War Service Chevrons
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  • Uniforms
    • Bluette Overalls
    • Ladies' Wrapover Overalls
    • Lady Wardens' Coat
    • Serge Uniforms
    • 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
    • Air Raid Warning
    • 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
    • Links
  • Contact
    • About
  • Blog
  • Donate

WW2 Oldham's Type ARP 3-Cell Torch

9/30/2018

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A interesting hooded torch built especially for ARP personnel.
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ARP Pattern 71 Serge Jacket & ARP Pattern 72 Skirt

9/29/2018

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A nice portrait of a member of the Civil Defence in her standard issue uniform of felt hat worn with ARP Pattern 71 Jacket and ARP Patter 72 Skirt.
WW2 Civil Defence ARP Pattern 71 Serge Jacket & Pattern 72 Skirt
WW2 Civil Defence ARP Pattern 71 Serge Jacket & Pattern 72 Skirt
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WW2 Civil Defence Leaflet "Make Your Home Safe Now" October 1939

9/28/2018

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An interesting leaflet issued to most homes in October 1939 advising the home owner how to ensure that if a bomb landed nearby how they could avoid injury.
WW2 Civil Defence Pamphlet "Make Your Home Safe Now" October 1939 (Front)
WW2 Civil Defence Pamphlet "Make Your Home Safe Now" October 1939 (Rear)
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Northern Ireland ARP E District’s Mobile Canteen c.1942

9/27/2018

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A fabulous photo of an ARP mobile canteen belonging to E District in Northern Ireland.

Photograph © PRONI Reference: CAB/3/G/15/14
Picture
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ARP Offices in North Walsham, Norfolk

9/26/2018

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An exceedingly well sandbagged WW2 Air Raid Precautions (ARP) office on Yarmouth Road in North Walsham, Norfolk. 

Photograph from North Walsham & District Community Archive.
ARP Offices in North Walsham, Norfolk
ARP Offices in North Walsham, Norfolk
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Survivors Of A Bombing Raid Escorted By An ARP Warden

9/25/2018

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This photo clearly shows the awful reality of the impact of a bombing incident. Survivors make their way through the rubble of their homes as an ARP warden guides them. 

Alas, there was little information about this actual incident. Given the day time setting I would imagine it is either from a V1 or V2 incident later in the war.

Survivors of a bombing raid are escorted by an ARP warden to safety.
Survivors of a bombing raid are escorted by an ARP warden to safety.
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WW2 ARP & Animals

9/24/2018

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As the dark clouds of war drew closer towards the end of 1939, the HMSO produced the pamphlet "AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS FOR ANIMALS". It was a guide to looking after pets during raids. On the back of the pamphlet was an advert for the CASH Captive Bolt gun. Used by vets to kill animals. Prior to and in the beginning months of the war it is estimated over 7500,00 were killed by pet owners.
1939 Pamphlet - Air Raid Precautions For Animals
1939 Pamphlet - Air Raid Precautions For Animals
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WW2 Air Raid Warden and Home Guard Soldier

9/23/2018

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A nice photograph of a member of the Home Guard with a local Air Raid Warden. Probably early in the war given the unofficial overalls on the warden.
Picture
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WW2 Civil Defence Beckenham Warden's Post Sign & ARP Badge

9/22/2018

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A couple of nice items from Beckenham in south east London. An enamel wardens' post sign and an original local area marking for the bluette overalls.
WW2 Beckenham Civil Defence Enamel Wardens' Post Sign
WW2 Beckenham Civil Defence Enamel Wardens' Post Sign
WW2 Beckenham Civil Defence Local Area Marking Badge
WW2 Beckenham Civil Defence Local Area Marking Badge
Another sign cropped up on eBay in October 2019.
Borough of Beckenham ARP Wardens' Post Number 35 Enamel Sign
Borough of Beckenham ARP Wardens' Post Number 35 Enamel Sign
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WW2 Civil Defence Ambulance Driver Recruitment Poster

9/21/2018

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With many men in reserved occupations or in the forces it fell on women to fill positions in some services. Ambulance drivers was one such role and was extremely dangerous. Travelling during the blackout and during raids the drivers ferried casualties from incidents to first aid posts and hospitals.
WW2 Ambulance Driver Recruitment Poster
WW2 Ambulance Driver Recruitment Poster
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WW2 ARP Course Certificate - Southend-on-Sea

9/20/2018

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With the outbreak of war in September '39, a large number of men and women volunteered to join the ARP and CD services. To become a warden, a person would have to attend classes and those successfully completing the course would be given a certificate like the one below.
WW2 ARP Course Certificate - Southend-on-Sea
WW2 ARP Course Certificate - Southend-on-Sea
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Large WW2 "ARP Warden" Sign

9/19/2018

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An erly war photograph showing Doris Waddington wearing a warden's helmet outside a wardens' post. The interesting aspect is the large "ARP WARDEN" sign affixed to the wall. 
Large WW2
Large WW2 "ARP Warden" Sign
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WW2 Birmingham Socialist ARP Canteen Fund Tin Lapel Badge

9/18/2018

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An interesting small badge for the Birmingham Socialist ARP Canteen Fund. Alas, it's proved extremely difficult to find more information about this group.
WW2 Birmingham Socialist ARP Canteen Fund Tin Lapel Badge
WW2 Birmingham Socialist ARP Canteen Fund Tin Lapel Badge
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WW2 ARP Warden Issuing A Gas Mask

9/17/2018

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One of the duties of an air raid warden was to ensure everyone in his area od responsibility both had and knew how to use their gas mask.
WW2 ARP Warden Issuing A Gas Mask
WW2 ARP Warden Issuing A Gas Mask
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Caught In The Bath During A Raid? You Need This Bath...

9/16/2018

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A bath designed to protect the user when the siren goes...
Heath Robinson ARP Bath
Heath Robinson ARP Bath
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WW2 Civil Defence Despatch Riders

9/15/2018

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An interesting photograph showing a large number of despatch riders. Their helmets feature the "DR" for their role within the CD services.
WW2 Civil Defence Despatch Riders
WW2 Civil Defence Despatch Riders
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WW2 ARP Chaplain's Helmet

9/14/2018

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This wonderful photograph of nurses also shows a scarce ARP chaplain's helmet. A similar armband was also issued.
WW2 ARP Chaplain's Helmet
WW2 ARP Chaplain's Helmet
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New Tube Shelters - A Most Curious WW2 Civil Defence Breast Badge

9/13/2018

 
This photo shows a member of the Civil Defence Service taking a call at an underground facility somewhere in London. The most curious aspect of the photo is the special breast badge that has the CD emblem combined with "NEW TUBE SHELTERS". This is something I have not come across before, If you have any further information please leave a reply.
New Tube Shelters - A Most Curious WW2 Civil Defence Breast Badge
New Tube Shelters - A Most Curious WW2 Civil Defence Breast Badge

Unusual Peaked Caps for Civil Defence Officers

9/12/2018

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It's rare to see Civil Defence officers wearing peaked caps. This photo showing a CD group from Nuneaton has two officers wearing them. What service they originally came from is hard to determine. The man to the left has affixed his ARP badge to the cap. No piping can be seen so possibly the caps were police issue.
Unusual Peaked Caps for Civil Defence Officers
Unusual Peaked Caps for Civil Defence Officers
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WW2 ARP Chief Warden's Helmet - 1939 Dated

9/11/2018

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A very nice condition 1939-dated WW2 ARP Chief Warden's helmet. This particular item was sold on eBay for £165 (September 2018). 
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WW2 Butterfly Bomb Sign

9/10/2018

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The German SD2 (Sprengbombe Dickwandig 2Kg) butterfly bomb was a small 2 kg anti-personnel device capable of killing or causing serious injury. The early cluster bomb was used extensively on the Eastern Front but only a relatively small number were dropped on British towns and cities in East Anglia and the North East. They were first dropped on Ipswich in 1940, and later  dropped on Kingston upon Hull, Grimsby and Cleethorpes in June 1943, amongst various other targets in the United Kingdom. One of the hardest hit towns was Grimsby and the local area where approximately 3,000 were dropped and about 100 people were killed.

More information about butterfly bombs
Butterfly Bomb Sign
Butterfly Bomb Sign
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Photo Guide For Dealing With An Incendiary Using Redhill Scoop & Container

9/9/2018

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Six photographs showing how to deal with an incendiary device using a Redhill scoop and a container,
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ARP Pattern 71 Serge Uniform Portraits

9/8/2018

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A couple of staged photos showing the new ARP Pattern 71 serge jacket that was being issued in the Summer/Autumn of 1941. One photo shows the slacks (ARP Pattern 73) and the other the skirt (ARP Pattern 72)
ARP Pattern 71 Serge Uniform Portraits
ARP Pattern 71 Serge Uniform Portraits
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