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I have seen a number of these ARP badges plus R & T letters over the years but never knew the company. Thanks to Austin Ruddy for supplying the details that they were issued by Richard Thomas Steel Works, in Ebbw Vale.  ARP Badge Plus Letter R & T (Richard Thomas Steel Works, Ebbw Vale)
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Published in March 1941, John Strachy's book entitled "Post D - Some experiences of an Air-Raid Warden" details his time as a warden in London. It's well worth reading Strachy's bio on Wikipedia - an MP in 1929, he sided breifly with Oswald Mosely, dabbled with communism, was in the RAF in WW2 and post war became Minister of Food in Atlee's Labour government. It's quite a rare tome and prices are usually up over £40 and first impressions are much more. This copy is on a German website for just €9 put postage is another €18 on top. However, it looks to be a pretty sound copy for just £23 delivered.  Post D - Some Experiences of an Air-Raid Warden by John Strachy, 1941 The "Send For Churchill" enamel lapel badge is not from the second world war. It was created for the general elections in 1950 and 1951. There are a few badges with a similar design and different words - "Set The People Free" and "Churchill" - that are nearly always credited with being second world war-vintage but are actually general election badges. Following the Labour victory in the General Election in July 1945, Churchill was removed from power and Clement Atlee became Prime Minister. Labour remained in office for a full five-year term and the next General Election was set for February 1950. Labour won that election with a much reduced majority and 20 months later called another election (October 1951) which it lost and which saw the return of Churchill as PM. As part of the Tory election campaigns, emphasis was made on Churchill's war-time record and his name and image appeared on numerous election badges. The badges featured the patriotic white, red and blue, and used the victory V motif as well as Churchill's trademark V sign. The "Send For Churchill" badge was one of these along with the Tory slogan "Set The People Free".  "Send For Churchill" election badge Probably the majority of SFP-marked Zuckerman helmets I come across have the letters added individually. This example has a water slide transfer decal added. N.B. "S.F.P." is usually ascribed to the Street Fire Parties (introduced as part of the Fire Guard Organisation in August 1941) but there were Supplementary Fire Parties as well (that were created in 1937 and ran through until August 1941). See a Short history of Fire Watchers and the Fire Guard Organisation during WW2 for more information.  SFP - Street Fire Party - Water Slide Transfer / Decal On Zuckerman Nice portrait of six members of the ARP in bluette overalls. Appears a couple (middle sat down down and top right) have the more substantial ARP General Service Respirator (GSR) in the army-type carrier and the others with Civilian Duty Respirator in the draw-string carrier. There is an area title below the ARP breast badge but I cannot make it out.  Early-War Civil Defence / ARP Bluette Overalls |
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