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
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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).
Vital to the war effort was the manufacture and use of various rubber products. Dunlop Rubber, one of Britain's largest multinational companies by 1939, was at the forefront of this effort. Fort Dunlop, in the Erdington district of Birmingham, was the location of the original tyre factory and the company's main office. Thousands of employees worked at the site.
Accordingly, the business organised a large-scale internal ARP system and a large number of ARP badges can be found featuring Dunlop. Various colours are found, which possibly relate to different functions within the ARP services: wardens, rescue, control, fire and first aid. To date, no definitive record has been located that answers which colour badge was attributed to which ARP service. The badges are quite small (smaller than a £1 coin) and are made in sterling silver. An identical design of the badge features "INDIA", a Scottish rubber company that Dunlop acquired in 1940. Thanks to Adam for the image. Curiously, another of the FG badges has recently appeared. This was acquired in the Maidstone area by a collector. Again, these badges are assumed to be for the Fire Guard Organisation and this one has "Maidstone Service" with the additional "SC" letters (which may correspond with either Street Captain or Sector Captain).
I've not previously seen this design of badge before and it would be interesting to know if others have previously come across examples. They do appear to be quite roughly made and the rear does have an odd fixing for the time period. If you have any thoughts please leave a comment or fire off an email. A curious-looking badge appeared on eBay that had "FG" letters plus "Party Leader" written on it. It's assumed that the badge is related to the Fire Guard Organisation. A Party Leader was in charge of roughly 150 yards of street or 30 houses and between 10 and 30 individual Fire Guards (organised into Stirrup Pump Teams of three people). The Party Leader was not a member of any team.
A peculiar fixing to the rear; it was suggested online that perhaps this could be slipped onto the lace of a Zuckerman helmet liner (the lacing passes through the helmet via holes), but it is rather small. Alternatively, it could pass through the buttonhole on the lapel of a suit jacket. |
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