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This Civil Defence Control manual issued by the County Borough of Brighton is a lovely survivor from WW2. It is full of detail about how to run a CD control room. It sold recently on eBay for £103 (including shipping) - a grand item for someone's CD library.  Brighton Civil Defence Control Manual
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I had not seen the circular 'Help The National Air Raid Distress Fund' poster before; both are rare survivors. This blog has more information about the fund.  National Air Raid Distress Fund Poster & Circular Display This is a fantastic booklet covering in great detail the uniform regulations for the CD personnel attached to the Midland Region in the Second World War. A veritable encyclopaedia of information. There cannot be too many of these still around.  Midland Region Dress Regulations for Civil Defence Personnel  Midland Region Dress Regulations for Civil Defence Personnel Index The use of "A.R.P." letters written on wartime helmets is quite rare. The attached photo and article are from the rear of issue 13 of The Midnight Watch, the "Broadsheet of Britain's Fire Guard and Civil Defence Workers". An "ARP Officer" (with this designation written on his helmet) is inspecting a German Type E (i) incendiary bomb container.  "ARP Officer" Helmet Marking From the Wardens' Post report book for the night of 24 June 1941 with Warden Barbara Nixon on duty for the night shift: 22.00 On Duty Barbara Nixon 01-8 ARW Purple 01.20 Message from Control With reference to your message regarding recovery of property from Holford Sq. site, the instructions in our message of 10.55 hours on 23/6/41 must still be observed. Any departure from such instructions should be reported to Control where the matter will be passed to the appropriate person or department concerned. Time 01.15 02.50 ARW White 08.00 Off Duty B. Nixon The Purple warning related to all external factory lights being turned off and the glare from furnaces being masked. The White warning was "All Clear" sent to wardens' posts with the public informed via the 'All Clear' siren. Holford Square (to the east of King's Cross in London) was severely damaged by bombing and was condemned in 1946. In 1948, Finsbury Borough Council compulsorily purchased the entire area, levelled it and built blocks of flats on the site known as Bevin Court. As an aside, Vladimir Lenin and his wife lived at 30 Holford Square in 1902-03. In 1942, a memorial featuring a bust of Lenin (donated by the Soviet Embassy) was installed opposite number 30. Read more about the bust. Barbara Nixon also wrote Raiders Overhead: The Record Of A London Warden - a must read for anyone with the slightest interest in civil defence during the Second World War. I would like to thank Jon Mills for the page from the wardens' post report book.  A Single Night's Duty For Warden Barbara Nixon  A rarely seen photo of Barbara Nixon |
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