The embroidered Messenger badge was recently sold on eBay. The general shape and style is similar to the area markings/titles used by various Civil Defence regions. Not something I had seen before and there were a few comments regarding the authenticity of the badge on forums. My $0.02 was I thought it was original and more than likely issued for use by someone working with the fire services during the war. It was sold along with a red thread oval ARP breast badge but it's uncertain if the badges were originally together.
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The common Civil Defence rainbow armband introduced in the summer of 1940 appears with a number of additions - for example, Rest Centre, Controller, Surveyor etc. The below example is for the leader of a rescue, shoring and demolition squad.
Image courtesy of Steve Taylor To encourage women to become involved in ARP, the Women’s Voluntary Services for Air Raid Precautions was set up in 1938. The short-lived “ARP Women’s Voluntary Services” was issued up to February 1939. It was a chromium plated on brass badge with inlaid enamel and it appears all examples were manufactured by H. B. SALE of Birmingham. It appears the badges were issued in plain, unmarked cream or white coloured card boxes. The role of WVS expanded greatly beyond just ARP matters prior to the war. A change in the name of the organisation occurred in February 1939 when it became the Women’s Voluntary Services for Civil Defence.
Probably as ubiquitous as the silver and base metal ARP badges, the “WVS Civil Defence” badge is often encountered at militaria sales, car boot sales and elsewhere. Due to its availability, it’s often overlooked. It appears the badge was produced throughout the war, and several manufacturers are known. It is assumed that the examples inlaid with red paint replaced the enamel varieties as a war economy measure. Inlaid enamel versions can be found made by: - H. B. SALE B’HAM (Henry Bailey Sale opened his works in the city of Birmingham in 1862) - BUTLER 48 VITTORIA ST. B’HAM (T. A. Butler & Co. were medallists that occupied numbers 48, 50 and 52 Vittoria Street) - BUTLER BIRMINGHAM - MARPLES & BEASLEY BIRMINGHAM (the founders sold their company in 1936 but the trade continued) Painted examples bear two marks: - L. SIMPSON & CO LONDON - Unmarked plain rear An interesting badge made by Thomas Fattorini for the County Borough of Preston's ARP Rescue & Demolition personnel. The use of 'demolition' on wartime badges is quite rare. Probably an early war example before the introduction of Light Rescue and Heavy Rescue Squads (the former rescued casualties while the latter ensured buildings were safe to enter (using shoring etc.)or were pulled down if unsafe).
Coming up at auction at South Dorset Auctions is a fabulous group of medals and ephemera belonging to Dr Horatio Sparling MBE. Dr Horatio Sparling was the local Divisional Surgeon for the St. John Ambulance before volunteering as a Medical Officer (MO) with the Civil Defence organisation at the beginning of the second world war. Based in East Croydon, the decorated veteran of the first world war received an MBE for his work saving casualties following a V1 rocket attack. His MBE was gazetted in December 1944. Amongst the lots are several photos showing Sparling in his CD uniform. His two-diamond, white helmet with M.O. and A.R.P. is most unusual. Also present is a photo of him wearing a peaked cap, but the cap badge is hard to discern.
Dr Sparling died in 1965 at the age of 77. |
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