WW2 Civil Defence Breast Badges
Red Oval ARP Breast (Chest) Badges
Most bluette overalls had an oval red-lettered ARP badge attached above the left chest pocket. There were three main variations in manufacture: embroidered, woven and printed. With the introduction of the new battledress blouse from mid-1941, some CD personnel preferred to wear their original red-lettered badge over the new old-gold coloured CD and crown breast badge. However, several local authorities decided to issue remaining stocks of red ARP badges, so it does not always follow that a person wearing the red lettering badges was an "old salt" and long-standing member of the ARP services. Some members of the Civil Defence certainly did prefer to wear their old ARP badge over the new old gold-coloured CD badge, though.
Embroidered red ARP letters on cotton twill breast badge
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Woven red ARP letters on grosgrain breast badge
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Printed red-lettered ARP breast badge
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"Old Gold" Yellow Civil Defence CD Breast Chest Badge - ARP Pattern 75
The new embroidered 'old gold' CD (Civil Defence) with crown badge was introduced in the autumn of 1941 (to coincide with the release of the new uniforms - some rescue parties are known to have received the battledress as early as February 1941). All new serge battledress and women's serge tunics had the badge pre-sewn to the left breast pocket prior to the garment being issued (some former members of the Wardens' Service preferred to re-use their red lettered ARP badge in favour of the CD badge).
By the summer of 1943 a printed version of the CD badge was issued and the badge was no longer sewn onto the uniforms. It was envisaged that badges would be reused (so if a battledress was worn out, the badge would be removed). A high number of period photographs show the red ARP oval badge being worn on battledress blouses - this was officially sanctioned.
The badge was embroidered and measured 2.75" in diameter, in 'old gold' lettering surmounted with a King's crown on a dark blue backing. It was worn on the left breast pocket of the battledress blouse and women's tunic. It was not to be worn on greatcoats. There are a few slight variations in existence due to the contractor used to manufacture them.
Manufacturers were supplied with a sample copy of the CD breast badge but each firm would produce a badge that was slightly different to the pattern. Consequently there are a number of original badges that have noticeable differences, especially with regards to how the King's crown was embroidered.
By the summer of 1943 a printed version of the CD badge was issued and the badge was no longer sewn onto the uniforms. It was envisaged that badges would be reused (so if a battledress was worn out, the badge would be removed). A high number of period photographs show the red ARP oval badge being worn on battledress blouses - this was officially sanctioned.
The badge was embroidered and measured 2.75" in diameter, in 'old gold' lettering surmounted with a King's crown on a dark blue backing. It was worn on the left breast pocket of the battledress blouse and women's tunic. It was not to be worn on greatcoats. There are a few slight variations in existence due to the contractor used to manufacture them.
Manufacturers were supplied with a sample copy of the CD breast badge but each firm would produce a badge that was slightly different to the pattern. Consequently there are a number of original badges that have noticeable differences, especially with regards to how the King's crown was embroidered.
Standard pattern WW2 Civil Defence 'CD' Breast Badge
Factory applied CD breast badge sewn to the left pocket of a battledress blouse
WW2 Printed Civil Defence Breast Badges
For economy reasons printed Civil Defence badges were manufactured from 1942. Examples are relatively scarce compared to embroidered examples. A smaller version of this badge was printed for use on berets.
WW2 Printed Civil Defence Breast Badge
Printed Civil Defence breast badge for uniforms
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Printed Civil Defence breast badge for gabardine raincoats
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WW2 Civil Defence Rescue "R London" Badge
Rescue Parties operating from depots of London boroughs had a specific badge that was initially worn on bluette overalls (photographic evidence shows it being worn on the upper sleeves of both arms). With the introduction of the battledress uniform, members of rescue squads applied the rescue badge to the left pocket instead of the more customary CD breast badge.
Civil Defence rescue squad "R London" badge
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Rescue R London badge on sleeve of bluette overalls |
Civil Defence Rescue 'R' Badge Made From An ARP Breast Badge
When badges were not available some people refashioned existing badges to suit their needs. This Rescue badge has been made by unpicking the 'A' and 'P' from a standard ARP breast badge.
Rescue Squad 'R' beret badge made from an ARP breast badge
Gabardine Coat Civil Defence Breast Badge - ARP Pattern 81
A breast badge was produced for the ARP Pattern 81 gabardine overcoat. This badge was only to be used on this coat. Why exactly this coat had to have a specific type of badge has not yet come to light.
ARP Pattern 81 gabardine raincoat Civil Defence breast badge
Fire Guard Breast Badge
Within the Fire Guard Organisation, those with uniformed positions sometimes used FG and crown badges on their battledress and also as a beret badge.
Fire Guard Breast Badge
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Fire Guard Breast Badge (rear)
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C.E.T. Casualty Evacuation Train Breast Badge
For members of the Civil Defence engaged in providing first aid support on Casualty Evacuation Trains a special C.E.T. breast badge was created.
C.E.T. Casualty Evacuation Train breast badge
WW2 Civil Defence First Aid & Life Saving Badges
Civil Defence personnel that had undertaken training and qualified on a recognised first aid or life saving course could add an attainment badge to their right breast pocket. The more commonly seen badges on period photos are for the St. John Ambulance Association (note, not Brigade - the Ambulance Association was used to train people who were not part of the St John Ambulance Brigade) and the Royal Life Saving Society. In most cases these badges were sewn on to or above the right pocket but in rare instances on some period photos it has been sewn onto the sleeve.
St. John Ambulance Association Civil Defence breast badge
WW2 Royal Life Saving Society Respiration Service Breast Badge
The Royal Life Saving Society offered training to civilians in first aid and artificial respiration. Members of various Civil Defence services could undertake training and after successful completion wear the society's woven 2" x 2" red on dark navy blue badge on their right breast pocket of battledress or tunic.
The society also presented an oxidised metal badge that could be worn on civilian clothing (though at least one photo shows a full colour enamel badge being worn on bluette overalls early in the war). See this blog post for images of the badge.
The society also presented an oxidised metal badge that could be worn on civilian clothing (though at least one photo shows a full colour enamel badge being worn on bluette overalls early in the war). See this blog post for images of the badge.
WW2 Royal Life Saving Society Respiration Service Breast Badge
When a breast badge becomes a sleeve badge...
This photo is from a series taken for LIFE magazine of members of the ARP Wardens' Service in Paddington, London. This one shows the St. John badge being worn on the sleeve rather than the pocket. Although the Civil Defence services were issued with regulations about where badges were to be sewn, it is not uncommon to see badges sewn on sleeves like this.
ARP Warden with St John Ambulance Association badge on sleeve
