WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
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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
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WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles

1/14/2021

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Splinter goggles were made to protect the eyes from flying debris during an air raid. The below are in excellent condition and show clearly the way the surface was painted and how the foam padding was used. An elastic head band held the goggles in place. The goggles pivoted in the centre to allow a level of adjustment for different head sizes.

The below pair of splinter goggles are currently available at Click Antiques & Vintage.
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Lenses Closed
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Lenses Closed
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Lenses Open
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Lenses Open
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Side
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Side
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Headband
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Headband
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Folded
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Folded
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Padding
WW2 ARP / Civil Defence Splinter Goggles Padding
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WW2 Incendiary Bomb Snuffer For Public Use

1/13/2021

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The description of this photo is:

"Another way of dealing with fire bombs. At the base of this London lamp post an asbestos snuffer together with a face guard and gloves of the same material take the place of the more usual sandbags. The snuffer is dropped over the bomb; the face guard and gloves protect the Fire Watcher."

​The date is probably after the Fire Watchers Order came into effect in September 1940.


WW2 Incendiary Bomb Snuffer For Public Use
WW2 Incendiary Bomb Snuffer For Public Use
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WW2 ARP, CD, HG & AFS Celluloid Matchbox Covers, ARP Ashtray & Compact

10/28/2020

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Marlows Military Auctioneers have an upcoming sale on 5 November, 2020 that includes a number of lots with ARP and Civil Defence interest. One lot contains a variety of celluloid matchbox covers - for the ARP, Auxiliary Fire Service, Home Guard & Civil Defence, a collectable ARP ashtray and ladies' compact.
WW2 ARP, CD, HG & AFS Celluloid Matchbox Covers, ARP Ashtray & Compact
WW2 ARP, CD, HG & AFS Celluloid Matchbox Covers, ARP Ashtray & Compact
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WW2 Marking Lamp / Lantern

9/1/2020

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The below lamp is a traffic obstruction lamps and although not specifically an ARP item, evidence exists showing one being used to mark an incendiary bomb. They are marked "Ministry of Supply Pat No. 1420/41" (production starting in 1941) and feature a paraffin burner that illuminated red hooded slits on the side. It appears one additional side had a sliding circle that would allow for more light to be shown when revolved.

They appear to have been painted an army green at the factory. A similar shaped lamp with white X s on four sides also exists. Some collectors have been informed that they may have been used to mark the entrance to ARP shelters. 

The lamp below is available from stuart-bray-motorcycles.co.uk.
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Fake WW2 German Incendiary Bomb Fin Blitz Souvenirs

6/13/2020

2 Comments

 
Regularly appearing on eBay are mementos featuring German incendiary bomb fins. These "souvenirs" of various city blitzes usually all have a find plonked onto a block of wood and a made up label added for that extra level of "authenticity". From Coventry Cathedral to Liverpool Docks, the London Blitz to Southampton fire-bombing, fraudsters have been faking these items for years. The sad fact is that collectors new to the hobby fall victim to the fakes. It may well be a real incendiary fin (but again these are now reproduced - I've seen them for sale at £30 a pop at militaria fairs) but the provenance is completely made up. The one below isn't even German and claimed to be a captured French example dropped in Reigate... They often come from the very same sellers who always seem to have them available. The below sold on eBay in June 2020, fools and their money... 
Fake WW2 German Incendiary Bomb Fin Souvenirs
Fake WW2 German Incendiary Bomb Fin Souvenirs
2 Comments

Fake Reproduction WW2 ARP Splinter Googles

5/3/2020

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It seems I am spending an inordinate amount of time at the moment detailing fake WW2 ARP items on this blog. We have had a whole slew of fake ARP badges and faked helmets recently appearing on eBay. The seller of both the fake badges and helmets also has fake splinter googles for sale every six weeks or so.

The fake splinter googles are always the same and never have the original padding around the nose and forehead found on originals or the original adjustable head strap. There appears to be a few original styles with some articulated at the centre. Clearly the faker cannot manage to copy that but is listing these regularly. He's also using his acid bath to age the goggles. Sadly, they are always selling for over £40.

​I should add that these googles are often marketed as being for RAF use. It appears a single reference in a book has led to this being taken as gospel. The truth is that they were not ever used by the RAF in WW2.
Fake Reproduction ARP Splinter Googles
Fake Reproduction ARP Splinter Googles
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WW2 Incendiary Bomb Snuffer By Belling

4/18/2020

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Stephen Crookes was kind enough to share photos of his Belling Bomb Snuffer. I'd not seen an actual example before. Using a long pole the device was to be placed over a burning incendiary bomb. Appears from the advert that the bomb snuffer also contained dry sand that smothers the incendiary device (the top of the container had flammable divider that once burned through would allow the sand to fall). I'm guessing it would prevent showers of burning metal but if the device was on a wooden floor I would assume it would continue to burn through that though.

​In passing, I'm also slightly concerned with another Belling 'war-time necessity' mentioned on the advert - a "Baby Cooker"...
Incendiary Bomb Snuffer By Belling
Belling Bomb Snuffer
Advert for the Belling Bomb Snuffer
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WW2 Tangent Air Raid Siren

4/6/2020

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A pair of second world war Tangent air raid sirens are up on eBay priced at £350. A large number of sirens (or syrens) on eBay are claimed to be WW2 vintage but are actually from the Cold War period. Gent & Co. Ltd of Leicester were the manufacturer of Tangent sirens and they made both hand-cranked and mains-powered models.
WW2 Tangent Air Raid Siren
WW2 Tangent Air Raid Siren
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WW2 Telephone Exchange Operator Gas Mask, Headset & Microphone

12/6/2019

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To ensure that communications could still be maintained during a gas attack, telephone operators were issued with specially adapted gas masks. A microphone was fixed close to the filter and an integral headset was included that would be plugged into the normal telephone exchange board.
WW2 Telephone Exchange Operator Gas Mask, Headset & Microphone
WW2 Telephone Exchange Operator Gas Mask with Microphone
WW2 Telephone Exchange Operator Gas Mask Microphone Close Up
WW2 Telephone Exchange Operator Gas Mask and Headphones
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Pair of "Joseph Lucas Ltd" "No. 68 A.R.P." Bicycle Lamps

11/16/2019

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A lovely original mint condition pair of Joseph Lucas Ltd No. 68 A.R.P. Bicycle Lamps. Hooded at the front to reduce light exposure. Almost impossible to get batteries to fit these particular model but modern 3D printed inserts can be bought on eBay. These slide into the body and take AA batteries. More lamps and torches
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WW2 ARP Gas Mask Container

11/10/2019

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For keeping a gas mask safe at home a number of manufacturers made tins for the general public. The blow is a fine example of such a tin.
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WW2 Civil Defence Celluloid And Metal Matchbox Cover

11/8/2019

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Matchbox covers for various home front services were made during the war. This one is for the Civil Defence services but HG (Home Guard), AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service) as well as previous blogged ARP were sold. I do not know anything about the companies responsible for making these, but if you do, please share more.
WW2 Civil Defence Matchbox Cover (Front)
WW2 Civil Defence Matchbox Cover (Front)
WW2 Civil Defence Matchbox Cover (Spine)
WW2 Civil Defence Matchbox Cover (Spine)
WW2 Civil Defence Matchbox Cover (Rear)
WW2 Civil Defence Matchbox Cover (Rear)
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WW2 Tinted ARP Fire Fighter's Googles

10/28/2019

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ARP fire fighter's goggles which have blue tinted lenses and are GR and crown marked.
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles Open
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles Open
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles With Tin
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles With Tin
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles With GR and Crown Mark
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles With GR and Crown Mark
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles Packed in Tin
WW2 Tinted Fire Fighters Googles Packed in Tin
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WW2 ARP-Stamped Helmet Carrier

8/13/2019

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A number of different style of helmet carrier were manufactured during the war. The below example has been stamped as 'ARP Helmet Container".
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WW2 Doulton Stoneware ARP Food Container

7/20/2019

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This 12.5" off-white stoneware ARP food container, made by Doulton, cropped up on an auction site. There was also a jug with 'ARP Drinking Water' written on it . Usually a marketing ploy during the war, this would have been a standard jars and jugs but with the addition of the lettering. 
WW2 Doulton Stoneware ARP Food Container
WW2 Doulton Stoneware ARP Food Container
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WW2 Baby & Infant Gas Mask

6/18/2019

1 Comment

 
The gas mask made especially for babies and infants up to the age of two  was developed in 1938. It covered the majority of the child and required someone to use the manual pump on the side to activate the filter. Sometimes called a 'baby helmet', the lower canvas section that tied around the child was rubberised to prevent poison gas seeping into the interior. Various bodies demonstrated the use of this gas mask to ensure parents knew exactly how to use the gas mask in an emergency. Also manufactured was a gas-proof pram.

British Path
é also made a short film about the gas masks.
WW2 Baby & Infant Gas Mask
WW2 Baby & Infant Gas Mask
Nurses in gas-masks carry children inside the baby/toddler gas-mask
Nurses in gas-masks carry children inside the baby/toddler gas-mask
1 Comment

Novelty ARP-Branded Scissors

5/22/2019

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Following on from the small leather matchbook cover with ARP logo, Steve Crookes was kind enough to share this image on the Facebook page for this site. Now I'm wondering how many other 'novelty' items were made...
Novelty ARP-Branded Scissors
Novelty ARP-Branded Scissors
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WW2 Float-A-Lite Air Raid Night Light

5/18/2019

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With the likelihood of an air raid cutting off the electric and gas supplies there was a need for other forms of light. This Float-A-Lite was a small wick and floating cap that would provide a little light (a imagine very little). The instructions are interesting - it could be placed in an egg cup, a port glass or tumbler...
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WW2 Brown Leather ARP Match Book Cover

5/10/2019

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This ARP-branded item recently appeared on eBay. I'd not seen this particular piece before but it ties into a few other ARP-related items I've seen such as an ashtray featuring the ARP logo.
WW2 Brown Leather ARP Match Book Cover
Interior of WW2 Brown Leather ARP Match Book Cover
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WW2 ARP/Civil Defence Helmet Mounted Rescue Torch/Lamp

4/29/2019

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These lamps/torches could be fitted to the brim of a helmet to give the wearer hands-free light when working. The battery pack could be clipped onto the wearer's belt and the wire usually run up the back and over the shoulder to the lamp head. They appear in many ARP equipment catalogues but few photographs exist showing them being worn. This example was posted on eBay for £70.
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Adie Brothers Ltd - ARP Whistle 1941

4/19/2019

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The most common air raid whistle found is the J. Hudson whistle that has "A.R.P." engraved on it. Also manufactured during the war was the Adie Bros. (Brothers) version that appeared in 1941, identical in design to the Hudson one. This company, also based in Birmingham, had previous government contracts for whistles and many appeared with the Ministry of Defence broad arrow - crows foot mark /|\ - and some with a year date. 

In 1941 Adie Bros. received a contract for 40,000 ARP whistles (previously it appears that just Hudson has been manufacturing ARP whistles). Hudson's received a contract at the same time for 60,000. The reason for so many was that a change in how the alarm for the fall of incendiary bombs was to be made.  Short blasts would indicate incendiaries. At this time whistles were now issued to all reserve wardens and fire guards/ fire watchers. Oddly, Supplementary Fire Parties did not get them. The Adie ARP whistle features the maker's name (ADIE BROS), city (BIRMINGHAM), royal cipher (GR VI) and year (1941). The 1941 ARP whistle omitted the MoD broad arrow as the contract came through the Ministry of Works & Buildings.

Read more about the history of ARP whistles

1941 dated Adie Bros. ARP Whistle.
1941 dated Adie Bros. ARP Whistle.
Home Office contract for Adie Bros. ARP Whistle.
Home Office contract for Adie Bros. ARP Whistle.
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The Amazing Ever Increasing Cost Of ARP Splinter Googles...

3/26/2019

0 Comments

 
I've seen quite a few pairs of splinter googles appear on eBay this year and I've been amazed at the prices they are getting. They are often misidentified as being used on bomber aircraft - perhaps in a way to drive up interest and value. They are selling in excess of a £100. You just have to think how many pairs were thrown out at the end of the war...
The Amazing Ever Increasing Cost Of ARP Splinter Googles...
The Amazing Ever Increasing Cost Of ARP Splinter Googles...
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ARP Head Warden Presentation Tankard

3/21/2019

0 Comments

 
An interesting piece of ARP history is this tankard that was presented to a Head Warden in the Farington area in 1941. Was sold on eBay for £80.
ARP Head Warden Presentation Tankard
ARP Head Warden Presentation Tankard
0 Comments

WW2 London Auxiliary Ambulance Service (LAAS) First Aid Satchel

1/27/2019

0 Comments

 
A very rare London Auxiliary Ambulance Service (LAAS) First Aid satchel and contents. I've not seen another of these but there must have been quite a few used by the service.
0 Comments

WW2 Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Celluloid & Metal Matchbox Holder

1/18/2019

0 Comments

 
A whole host of items bearing both ARP and CD logos were made during the war. There is an identical celluloid matchbox holder with Civil Defence on it. I've come across ARP ashtrays as well.
WW2 Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Celluloid & Metal Matchbox Holder
WW2 Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Celluloid & Metal Matchbox Holder
WW2 Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Celluloid & Metal Matchbox Holder
WW2 Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Celluloid & Metal Matchbox Holder
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