Group Officer No. 1 Overseas Column C.D.R.

Photograph of a Group Officer of No. 1 Overseas Column of the Civil Defence Reserve (CDR). He is being presented to the King following the stand-down of the Civil Defence General Services in 1945. A previous blog post provided details of the operation of this unit in Antwerp in 1945.

It would appear that Newman is wearing a bespoke uniform. The battledress blouse, similar to an austerity pattern, is tailored and has black plastic CD buttons to the front closure, breast pockets and epaulettes. His trousers are tailored and omit the front map pocket, as seen on the gentleman to his right (our left). He is also wearing a British Army Pattern 37 belt.

His insignia is very interesting:

1. CDR beret badge
2. Group Officer six-pointed star within a circle on his epaulette - see this page for ranks
3. C.D.R. Overseas Column shoulder title
4. Numeral 1 for No. 1 unit CDR
5. Screen-printed 21st Army Group group flash shield - see this blog post
6. Ribbon bar (I assume from World War One)
7. Standard embroidered CD breast badge

The gentleman next to him is wearing the NORTHERN IRELAND area marking.

Civil Defence Reserve Oversea Column Group Officer

CDR (Civil Defence Reserve) beret badge

CDR (Civil Defence Reserve) Group Officer insignia

CDR (Civil Defence Reserve) No. 1 unit numeral

CDR (Civil Defence Reserve) Overseas Column shoulder title

21st Army Group shield patch