This SFP Torquay armband recently sold on eBay for £117. When I posted it on Facebook a few people challenged the authenticity of the item, mainly because they hadn't seen the armband before and lived in the area. However, it's the genuine article, an identical armband having been seen on the Military Heraldry Society previously.
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There are quite a few examples of helmet carriers (but limited photographic evidence of them in use). This interesting design appears to be one piece and without a string to tie it closed. I assume some elastic-type cord/string is within the seams.
The helmet and carrier appeared on eBay with a £395 price tag (plus £7 shipping). Though the far more ubiquitous single 'W' is more often found, some areas utilised the full word for WARDEN on their helmets. Here are three ARP Wardens during a scrap collection in the Hull area. Two are wearing bluette overalls and one in civvies so probably an early war photograph.
A minor conundrum has cropped up regarding the silver VA A.R.P. badge. There are two companies that use the VA monogram - Vickers-Armstrong (aircraft manufacture) and Vickers-Armstrongs (ship-building). There's a distinct difference between the two as shown from the BAE/Vickers (Aviation Department) Limited website:
Vickers-Armstrong Limited during 1928, Vickers (Aviation Department) Ltd was formed into an official aircraft company under the name Vickers Aviation Limited. This was only temporary however, as months later they became involved in a merger with the heavy engineering (i.e. non-aviation) interests of the Armstrong Whitworth Development Company. A new company emerged as Vickers-Armstrong Ltd, the 's' being removed from the name to differentiate it from Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, the group's ship building activities in the North of England. Over the years, I've seen a few of these armbands featuring white "CD" letters on a black or very dark blue background. It appears these were issued in the Netherlands around the time of the country's liberation from German occupation. Some sources state they were issued by British forces but I cannot currently find a definitive source to corroborate this.
UPDATE: see the follow-up blog on an identical armband. |
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