Civil Defence Region 5 - London Area Titles

Area titles are some of the most interesting pieces of insignia issued to Civil Defence workers during the second world war. Within CD Region 5 - London - there were dozens of local authorities that issued area titles. Most of the Metropolitan Boroughs and Boroughs issued titles with their name - e.g. Lewisham or Wembley, some Urban Districts added UD after the name. Understanding the various naming of local authorities is complicated (this author is still currently unsure what the difference between a 'borough' and "metropolitan borough" is...)

London was designated as Civil Defence Region No. 5 (of 12 across England, Scotland and Wales). It was split into nine groups –

• Groups 1 to 5 contained the County of London
• Groups 6 to 9 remainder of the London region
• Group 6 contained 4 sub-groups
• Group 9 contained 1 sub-group

 
Key
MB – Metropolitan Borough (28 administrative subdivisions of the County of London plus City of London)
UD – Urban District (local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected urban district council (UDC), which shared local government responsibilities with a county council)
B – Borough
CB – County Borough (independent of county council)
RD – Rural District (authority over matters such as local planning, council housing, and playgrounds and cemeteries. Matters such as education and major roads were the responsibility of the county council)

Group 1
Chelsea MB, Fulham MB, Hammersmith MB, Kensington MB, City of Westminster
 
Group 2
Hampstead MB, Islington MB, Paddington MB, St. Marylebone MB, St. Pancras MB, Stoke Newington MB
 
Group 3
City of London, Bethnal Green MB, Finsbury MB, Hackney MB, Holborn MB, Poplar MB, Shoreditch MB, Stepney MB
 
Group 4
Bermondsey MB, Deptford MB, Greenwich MB, Lewisham MB, Woolwich MB
 
Group 5
Battersea MB, Camberwell MB, Lambeth MB, Southwark MB, Wandsworth MB

Group 6 - Sub-Group A
Edmonton B, Hornsey B, Southgate B, Tottenham B, Wood Green B, Cheshunt UD, East Barnet UD, Enfield UD
 
Group 6 - Sub-Group B
Finchley B, Hendon B, Barnet UD, Friern Barnet UD, Potters Bar UD, Elstree RD
 
Group 6 - Sub-Group C
Acton B, Ealing B, Southall B, Wembley B, Willesden B, Bushey UD, Harrow UD, Ruislip-Northwood UD, Uxbridge UD
 
Group 6 - Sub-Group D
Brentford & Chiswick B, Heston & Isleworth B, Twickenham B, Feltham B, Hayes & Harlington UD, Staines UD, Sunbury-on-Thames UD, Yiewsley & West Drayton UD
 
Group 7 (Essex)
East Ham CB, West Ham CB, Barking B, Chingford B, Dagenham B, Ilford B, Leyton B, Walthamstow B, Wanstead & Woodford B, Chigwell UD, Waltham Holy Cross UD
 
Group 8 (Kent)
Beckenham B, Bexley B, Bromley B, Erith B, Chislehurst & Sidcup UD, Crayford UD, Orpington UD, Penge UD
 
Group 9 (Surrey)
Barnes B, Epsom & Ewell B, Kingston-upon-Thames B, Malden & Coombe B, Richmond B, Surbiton B, Wimbledon B, Esher UD, Merton & Morden UD
 
Group 9 sub-group
Croydon CB, Beddington & Wallingford B, Mitcham B, Sutton & Cheam B, Banstead UD, Carshalton UD, Coulsdon & Purley UD

Map of Civil Defence Region 5 - London (IWM)

1942 overview of the London Regional Organisation for Civil Defence