A diagram of the helmets and insignia worn by Civil Defence personnel in London early in the war. I'm unsure of the source of this and the helmets, esp. the white ones, don't follow the listed ranks for some posts = esp. the thin and wide bars for Post Warden and Deputy Post Warden. Also, I've not come across the sleeve insignia of a Deputy Post Warden designated by the absence of a diamond.
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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. A similar design of helmet carrier has previously appeared on this blog but this one is in much better condition. This has additional loops for a shoulder strap to the rear but also maintains the leather cross strap for attaching the carrier to a respirator haversack. A Zuckerman helmet appears to fit in the carrier exactly.
An interesting photo from Coltishall in north-east Norfolk. Possibly a stand-down photo (going by the five war service chevrons in evidence), the chap in the centre appears to have "D.A.O" on his white helmet with single black bar. He also has the three chevrons and a star which would denote a Depot Superintendent. He's with several ambulance personnel so perhaps DAO is Deputy Ambulance Officer or Depot Ambulance Officer; quite a rare helmet designation.
He and a few of the Rescue men also have a single six-pointed star on the left sleeve. I'm unaware of the meaning of this. The stars look the same size as those that would appear above rank chevrons. A local-specific award by the look. Image courtesy of John Parnell. A good chance to compare two District / Divisional Wardens' helmets on eBay; an original helmet (priced at £65 buy it now) v a fake helmet (from the Stansted Shyster at £175. Always good to know who the utter tosspots on eBay are, and to avoid them like the plague they are.
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