I've been receiving a number of emails requesting how someone may go about researching a member of their family who was an air raid warden or in other ARP and Civil Defence services. The key starting point is their local archive usually at the library (or sometimes called a local history centre, local studies centre or archives centre). The online starting point would be the 'Search local archives' website.
However, I have searched through a number of these in the London area and details about an individual who may have served are generally absent. Unless they were a senior member (along the lines of an Incident Officer) then it's unfortunately highly unlikely the archive will have much more detail than their name appearing on a list of wardens (but even that is difficult to come across). Finding details about an individual at these archives is therefore generally not going to happen. The archives do hold minutes of council meetings and some have letters from individuals but overall finding out about one person will not be possible. A few archives may have lists of wardens and the post they occupied but I have only seen one such list so far and it was for just a period in the summer of 1941. Some areas do have active local history groups that can assist research but again the likelihood of finding any detailed information on one person is unlikely. There is also the National Archives but their search engine often directs a user to the local archive. They hold numerous ARP and Civil Defence records but these are generally related to governmental business.
6 Comments
Alan Bright
9/10/2020 17:31:59
Hi,
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Website owner
9/10/2020 17:47:06
First port of call is the local archives for Ruislip at https://archive.hillingdon.gov.uk/history you will need to visit them and look at all their ARP & CD records. I'm afraid getting information on individuals will prove next to impossible though but you may strike lucky. Next try the local history groups (search on Google for these). They may be able to assist. If you get a name you can look at the 1939 Register which will give the address and occupation of individuals. After that you can cross reference family trees on some of the genealogy websites. I doubt you're going to get the photo you seek.
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Norman King
2/23/2021 19:46:29
I don't think your comments help very much, but at my age(81) having never seen my father, only on a photograph
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Website owner
2/23/2021 20:33:10
You'll need some more detailed information if you want any chance of finding information. Without knowing the exact area your father worked it's going to prove immensely difficult to find any information.
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JO-AN PRICE-DODDS
1/23/2024 14:39:57
my grandfather was made a special constable in birtley co. durham in WW2 and I have found his badge plus a 78 record which says ARP BLACKOUT MORNING and on other side ARP BLACKOUT EVENING. would these be of interest to anyone
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Website owner
1/23/2024 14:44:39
The 78 record sounds interesting. I have a blog about a similar disc. Could you send some photos via the Contact page? Depending on the badge, some are sought after.
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