WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
  • 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
    • Civil Defence Pattern Nos
    • Uniform Sizes
    • Original WW2 Photographs
    • Re-enacting Photos
    • Fake & Reproduction ARP Badges
    • Links
  • Contact
    • About
  • Blog
  • Donate
  • 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
    • Civil Defence Pattern Nos
    • Uniform Sizes
    • Original WW2 Photographs
    • Re-enacting Photos
    • Fake & Reproduction ARP Badges
    • Links
  • Contact
    • About
  • Blog
  • Donate

Solihull in Wartime - Original WW2 Colour Film Of Civil Defence, Fire Guard and Home Guard

5/1/2020

0 Comments

 
This remarkable 1943 colour film shows various Civil Defence Services undertaking training demostrations. First there's a First Aid Party retrieving a casualty from a bunker. This is followed by a demonstration of fire fighting in front of dignitaries included Home Secretary Herbert Morrison. The Wardens' Service, Fire Guard and fire services are involved. The final chapter covers Home Guard.

The film is free to watch via the BFI website
FAP demonstrate dealing with casualty
ARP Decontamination Party Leader
Incident Officers and First Aid Party demonstration
0 Comments

Interesting Early British Pathé Film Detailing ARP Recruitment Posters

1/1/2020

0 Comments

 
This "short but informative film" (a la Mr Cholmondley Warner...) from British Pathé showing a series of ARP recruitment posters. I was surprised to see one that was new to me (the hourglass one, shown below). Some posters were designed but not released nationally and I assume this was one of them. Although the film appears to be dated 1936 I believe it was in 1939 that these were released.

Watch the film here
​
ARP Recruitment Poster
ARP Recruitment Poster
0 Comments

"The Message Must Get Through" Original WW2 ARP Film

7/11/2019

0 Comments

 
This remarkable half-hour film was recently shared on the WW2 Civil Defence Re-enactors Facebook page. It's a fantastic film with emphasis on the Messenger Service but it's great for spotting all sorts of insignia and uniform items. Look out for the various ways the 'W' on helmets is painted, look out for Fire Guard armband and sleeve insignia, check out the helmet on the Home Guard, and look at the background posters. Well worth watching.

Watch "The Message Must Get through"
0 Comments

"Carry Your Gas Masks" WW2 Movietone Newsreel

4/20/2019

0 Comments

 
One of those interesting newsreel snippets used to educate the public about various wartime issues. This one is about the need to carry a gas mask at all times. Thankfully the need never arose to use them.
0 Comments

Wonderful WW2 Colour Film Of ARP Personnel In Salford

3/10/2019

0 Comments

 
Here's a remarkable piece of colour film footage called Home Defence “Go To It” from 1939. It has been shared by the North West Film Archive on Vimeo. Due to the site's domain restrictions I cannot embed the film but you can view it clicking the link above. It's great for looking at period bluette overalls uniform details and civilian clothing detail.
Sector wardens in Salford
Sector wardens in Salford
Wardens' Post Y8
Wardens' Post Y8
ARP Drill
ARP Drill
0 Comments

Air Raid Precautions in Yorkshire (1938)

3/9/2019

0 Comments

 
You can't help but think of Mr Cholmondley-Warner when you watch this newsreel...
0 Comments

1941 Civil Defence Parade Film - Interesting Uniforms

12/30/2018

0 Comments

 
An interesting film from 1941 showing Winston Churchill (wittering on with a piss-poor speech it has to be said) and members of various Civil Defence groups - LAAS, Wardens, Stretcher Parties, WVS and firemen. A good reference piece for uniforms and I've grabbed a few of the better close up shots.
0 Comments

Fantastic Colour Film of a 1942 Civil Defence Inspection

6/13/2018

0 Comments

 
This marvellous film from Scotland shows Sir Steven Bilsland inspecting Civil Defence and Home Guard personnel. There are some great shots of uniforms and insignia. Of interest is that both style of helmet markings for senior ranks can be seen - both the early diamonds and later black stripes. There are also good shots of Fire Guards demonstrating how to put out fires.

War Weapons Week 1942 - Wartime Civil Defence inspection

A screen capture of a Deputy Chief Warden (three diamonds) and Chief Warden (two black stripes).
A screen capture of a Deputy Chief Warden (three diamonds) and Chief Warden (two black stripes).
0 Comments

Interesting BFI Film About The Civil Defence Service in Leatherhead

5/7/2018

0 Comments

 
This 1945 film that is free to watch on the BFI site looks at the civil defence services in and around Leatherhead. Covers many of the CD personnel - wardens, rescue, nurses etc. Of interest is the footage inside a wardens' post. There is a Head Warden (white helmet with single black stripe who has Home Guard titles below his Warden shoulder title. Not often seen.

Watch Civilians in Uniform



0 Comments

British Pathé Film About the Dangers of Butterfly Bombs & Guardian Article

4/29/2018

0 Comments

 
Here is an interesting short film from British Pathé about identifying and staying away from German butterfly bombs. These antipersonnel bombs could have caused immense havoc but thankfully only a limited number were dropped. ​Ministry of Information public safety trailer about antipersonnel bombs (butterfly bombs)
This is an interesting article on The Gurdian recalling the impact of a raid on Grisby and Cleethorpes in 1943 when numerous butterfly bombs were dropped. ​Remembering the terror the Luftwaffe's butterfly bombs brought to the North


0 Comments

Interesting 1941 British Pathé Short Film Called "Voluntary Service Uniforms"

4/26/2018

0 Comments

 
A few ARP wardens and a Rescue Squad member (with unknown helmet marking of a diamond on the side) are shown early in this film.
0 Comments

British Pathe Fim - "Bomb Damage - London (1944)"

4/22/2018

0 Comments

 
This is an absolutely amazing piece of film. The utter devastation and carnage of, I think, a V1 attack on Fitzrovia in London (you can see Colville Place sign at one point) in 1944. All sorts of rescue workers and Civil Defence involved and even American MPs at one point.
0 Comments

Original 1941 Short Film on Refuge Rooms and Indoor Shelters

3/26/2018

0 Comments

 
The Ministry of Home Security made hundreds of short films to be shown in cinemas during the second world war. This is a short film about how to prepare a refuge room in a house. 
0 Comments

ARP Post 23 - WW2 Film on the New IWM Film Site

3/7/2018

0 Comments

 
The IWM recently released a new film site on which you can view hundreds of their archival films. This film about ARP Post 39 in Finchley, London is very interesting. Check out the curious helmet the Post Warden wears.

View Post 23
0 Comments

Air Raid Precaution (ARP) Training in Cambridge

2/13/2018

0 Comments

 
Very interesting colour film from the BFI showing ARP ambulance training taking place in Cambridge during the later years of WW2.

Watch the 2-minute film
0 Comments
    Send me items to blog about via my contact page

    Categories

    All
    Armband
    Badge
    Book
    Document
    Equipment
    Fake
    Film
    Game
    Helmet
    Insignia
    Medal
    Photograph
    Poster
    Sign
    Uniform
    Vehicle

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    RSS Feed

Home
Uniforms
Insignia
Equipment
Helmets
​Fire Guard
Blog
​About
Resources
​Buyers' Guide
Site Map
Contact
This website is advert free.
Please support its annual running costs by making ​a small donation. Many thanks 
Donate
Copyright Craig Smith  © 2018-2021