Civil Defence Uniform Dates / Clothing & Insignia ARP Pattern Numbers
The vast majority of Civil Defence clothing and insignia was ascribed its own ARP Pattern Number.
A list of uniform sizes is also available. An excellent reference for Civil Defence uniforms is Air Raid Precautions Memorandum No. 17 1944.
A list of uniform sizes is also available. An excellent reference for Civil Defence uniforms is Air Raid Precautions Memorandum No. 17 1944.
WW2 War Department Broad Arrow (Crow’s Foot) Date Codes
Along with the manufacturer's label, a separate date stamp letter is also often present.
R — 1939
Q — 1940
P — 1941
O — 1942
N — 1943
M — 1944
Z — 1945
Q — 1940
P — 1941
O — 1942
N — 1943
M — 1944
Z — 1945
ARP Pattern Numbers
ARP 38 — Fire Observer Armband (Red screen printed on white)
ARP 39 — Fire Guard Armband †
ARP 40 — Motorcycle Goggles (Tinted glass)
ARP 41 — Bluette Overalls (Combination Suit)
ARP 42 — Women’s Wardens Coat
ARP 43 — Women’s Drivers Coat
ARP 44 — Women’s Felt Hat
ARP 45 — Women’s Driver Peaked Cap
ARP 46 — Nursing Overall
ARP 47 — Overall / Women’s Wrapover
ARP 50 — ARP Breast Badge (Red embroidered on bluette)
ARP 51 — Badge, Collar ARP (for Ambulance Driver's Coat)
ARP 52 — ARP Badge for Nursing Overall (Red embroidered on nurse cloth)
ARP 54 — Civil Defence Armband (Gold screen printed on bluette)
ARP 55 — ARPAX Axe (With insulated handle)
ARP 56 — Pouch for ARP Axe
ARP 57 — Battledress Blouse (General)
ARP 57A — Battledress Blouse (General Austerity)
ARP 58 — Battledress Trousers (General)
ARP 58A — Battledress Trousers (General Austerity)
ARP 58B — Battledress Trousers
ARP 59 — Battledress Blouse (Rescue)
ARP 59A — Battledress Blouse (Rescue Austerity)
ARP 60 — Battledress Trousers (Rescue)
ARO 60B — Battledress Trousers (Rescue)
ARP 61 — Waterproof (Mackintosh) Cape
ARP 64 — ARP Breast Badge (Screen printed red on blue)
ARP 65 — White, short Duffle Coat (Regional Columns)
ARP 66 — CD Breast Badge
ARP 66A — ARP Badge for Battledress Blouses & Women's Jackets (Embroidered in red on cloth)
ARP 68 — Beret
ARP 68A — Beret (Austerity)
ARP 69 — Greatcoat/Overcoat
ARP 69A — Men’s Greatcoat
ARP 70 — Women’s Greatcoat
ARP 71 — Woman’s Serge Jacket
ARP 72 — Women’s Serge Skirt
ARP 73 — Women’s Serge Slacks
ARP 75 — CD Badge with Crown (Breast)
ARP 80 — CD Badge Embroidered on Nurse Cloth (for ARP 46)
ARP 81 — Gabardine Coat
ARP 82 — Gabardine Coat Lining
ARP 83 — CET Casualty Evacuation Train Breast Badge
ARP 84 — Badge CD Device (Gold embroidered on blue cloth)
ARP 85 — Waterproof jacket for Women Motorcyclists (Twill khaki)
ARP 86 — Waterproof leggings for Women Motorcyclists (Twill khaki)
ARP 87 — Yellow collar braid for Gabardine Coat
ARP 88 — Fire Guard Patch (White calico printed on dark blue)
ARP 89 — Breast badge C.D. and Crown (Gold printed on blue-grey gabardine)
ARP 98 — Beret Badge
ARP 100 — 1 Broad Under 2 Narrow Rank Badge
ARP 101 — 1 Broad Under 1 Narrow Rank Badge
ARP 102 — I Broad Bar
ARP 103 — 3 Narrow Bars
ARP 104 — 2 Narrow Bars
ARP 105 — 1 Narrow Bar
ARP 109 — Star Officer Overseas Column (for use with ARP 111 to form ARP 110)
ARP 110 — 3 Chevrons and Star
ARP 111 — 3 Chevrons
ARP 112 — 2 Chevrons
ARP 113 — M.T. Shoulder Title
ARP 114 — 1 Chevron
ARP 120 — Warden Shoulder Title
ARP 121 — Ambulance Shoulder Title
ARP 122 — First Aid Post Shoulder Title
ARP 123 — Rescue Shoulder Title
ARP 124 — Decontamination Shoulder Title
ARP 125 — Report & Control Shoulder Title
ARP 126 — Messenger Shoulder Title
ARP 127 — G.I.O. Shoulder Title
ARP 128 — Control Shoulder Title
ARP 129 — M.O.H. Shoulder Title
ARP 130 — Depot Shoulder Title
ARP 131 — Medical Officer Shoulder Title
ARP 132 — First Aid Party Shoulder Title
ARP 133 — Heavy Rescue Shoulder Title
ARP 134 — Light Rescue Shoulder Title
ARP 135 — F.G Shoulder Title
ARP 139 — Civil Defence Reserve Regional Column Badge
ARP 143 — Ribbon Petersham (Blue & Gold hatband ribbon for ARP 44 Felt Hat)
ARP 144 — Bomb Reconnaissance Armband
ARP 145 — Civil Defence Mobile Reserve Badge
ARP 158 — Flag Civil Defence Services
ARP 159 — CD Armlet for wear on HG (khaki) uniform
ARP 160 — Beret Badge Overseas Column
ARP 161 — Fire Guard Officer Shoulder Title
ARP 162 — Deputy Fire Guard Officer Shoulder Title
ARP 163 — Assistant Fire Guard Shoulder Title
ARP 164 — Fire Guard Area Officer Shoulder Title
ARP 165 — Fire Guard Area Captain Shoulder Title
ARP 166 — Fire Guard Sector Caption Shoulder Title
ARP 167 — Fire Guard Reserve Centre Superintendent Shoulder Title
ARP 168 — 1 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
ARP 172 — 1 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
ARP 169 — 2 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
ARP 173 — 2 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
ARP 170 — 3 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
ARP 174 — 3 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
ARP 171 — 4 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
ARP 175 — 4 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
ARP 176 — Wound Stripe (Gold)
ARP 177 — Wound Stripe (Red)
ARP 178 — Gas Identification Officer (GIO) Armband
ARP 182 — Incident Officer (IO) Badge
ARP 183 — Bomb Reconnaissance Badge
ARP 186 — Badge, Breast, Merchant Navy*
ARP 193 — Industrial Fire Brigade Armband (Red printed on dark blue)
ARP 194 — Armband, Industrial Civil Defence - Light blue printed on dark blue
ARP 208 — Overseas Column Shoulder Title
ARP 39 — Fire Guard Armband †
ARP 40 — Motorcycle Goggles (Tinted glass)
ARP 41 — Bluette Overalls (Combination Suit)
ARP 42 — Women’s Wardens Coat
ARP 43 — Women’s Drivers Coat
ARP 44 — Women’s Felt Hat
ARP 45 — Women’s Driver Peaked Cap
ARP 46 — Nursing Overall
ARP 47 — Overall / Women’s Wrapover
ARP 50 — ARP Breast Badge (Red embroidered on bluette)
ARP 51 — Badge, Collar ARP (for Ambulance Driver's Coat)
ARP 52 — ARP Badge for Nursing Overall (Red embroidered on nurse cloth)
ARP 54 — Civil Defence Armband (Gold screen printed on bluette)
ARP 55 — ARPAX Axe (With insulated handle)
ARP 56 — Pouch for ARP Axe
ARP 57 — Battledress Blouse (General)
ARP 57A — Battledress Blouse (General Austerity)
ARP 58 — Battledress Trousers (General)
ARP 58A — Battledress Trousers (General Austerity)
ARP 58B — Battledress Trousers
ARP 59 — Battledress Blouse (Rescue)
ARP 59A — Battledress Blouse (Rescue Austerity)
ARP 60 — Battledress Trousers (Rescue)
ARO 60B — Battledress Trousers (Rescue)
ARP 61 — Waterproof (Mackintosh) Cape
ARP 64 — ARP Breast Badge (Screen printed red on blue)
ARP 65 — White, short Duffle Coat (Regional Columns)
ARP 66 — CD Breast Badge
ARP 66A — ARP Badge for Battledress Blouses & Women's Jackets (Embroidered in red on cloth)
ARP 68 — Beret
ARP 68A — Beret (Austerity)
ARP 69 — Greatcoat/Overcoat
ARP 69A — Men’s Greatcoat
ARP 70 — Women’s Greatcoat
ARP 71 — Woman’s Serge Jacket
ARP 72 — Women’s Serge Skirt
ARP 73 — Women’s Serge Slacks
ARP 75 — CD Badge with Crown (Breast)
ARP 80 — CD Badge Embroidered on Nurse Cloth (for ARP 46)
ARP 81 — Gabardine Coat
ARP 82 — Gabardine Coat Lining
ARP 83 — CET Casualty Evacuation Train Breast Badge
ARP 84 — Badge CD Device (Gold embroidered on blue cloth)
ARP 85 — Waterproof jacket for Women Motorcyclists (Twill khaki)
ARP 86 — Waterproof leggings for Women Motorcyclists (Twill khaki)
ARP 87 — Yellow collar braid for Gabardine Coat
ARP 88 — Fire Guard Patch (White calico printed on dark blue)
ARP 89 — Breast badge C.D. and Crown (Gold printed on blue-grey gabardine)
ARP 98 — Beret Badge
ARP 100 — 1 Broad Under 2 Narrow Rank Badge
ARP 101 — 1 Broad Under 1 Narrow Rank Badge
ARP 102 — I Broad Bar
ARP 103 — 3 Narrow Bars
ARP 104 — 2 Narrow Bars
ARP 105 — 1 Narrow Bar
ARP 109 — Star Officer Overseas Column (for use with ARP 111 to form ARP 110)
ARP 110 — 3 Chevrons and Star
ARP 111 — 3 Chevrons
ARP 112 — 2 Chevrons
ARP 113 — M.T. Shoulder Title
ARP 114 — 1 Chevron
ARP 120 — Warden Shoulder Title
ARP 121 — Ambulance Shoulder Title
ARP 122 — First Aid Post Shoulder Title
ARP 123 — Rescue Shoulder Title
ARP 124 — Decontamination Shoulder Title
ARP 125 — Report & Control Shoulder Title
ARP 126 — Messenger Shoulder Title
ARP 127 — G.I.O. Shoulder Title
ARP 128 — Control Shoulder Title
ARP 129 — M.O.H. Shoulder Title
ARP 130 — Depot Shoulder Title
ARP 131 — Medical Officer Shoulder Title
ARP 132 — First Aid Party Shoulder Title
ARP 133 — Heavy Rescue Shoulder Title
ARP 134 — Light Rescue Shoulder Title
ARP 135 — F.G Shoulder Title
ARP 139 — Civil Defence Reserve Regional Column Badge
ARP 143 — Ribbon Petersham (Blue & Gold hatband ribbon for ARP 44 Felt Hat)
ARP 144 — Bomb Reconnaissance Armband
ARP 145 — Civil Defence Mobile Reserve Badge
ARP 158 — Flag Civil Defence Services
ARP 159 — CD Armlet for wear on HG (khaki) uniform
ARP 160 — Beret Badge Overseas Column
ARP 161 — Fire Guard Officer Shoulder Title
ARP 162 — Deputy Fire Guard Officer Shoulder Title
ARP 163 — Assistant Fire Guard Shoulder Title
ARP 164 — Fire Guard Area Officer Shoulder Title
ARP 165 — Fire Guard Area Captain Shoulder Title
ARP 166 — Fire Guard Sector Caption Shoulder Title
ARP 167 — Fire Guard Reserve Centre Superintendent Shoulder Title
ARP 168 — 1 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
ARP 172 — 1 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
ARP 169 — 2 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
ARP 173 — 2 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
ARP 170 — 3 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
ARP 174 — 3 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
ARP 171 — 4 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
ARP 175 — 4 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
ARP 176 — Wound Stripe (Gold)
ARP 177 — Wound Stripe (Red)
ARP 178 — Gas Identification Officer (GIO) Armband
ARP 182 — Incident Officer (IO) Badge
ARP 183 — Bomb Reconnaissance Badge
ARP 186 — Badge, Breast, Merchant Navy*
ARP 193 — Industrial Fire Brigade Armband (Red printed on dark blue)
ARP 194 — Armband, Industrial Civil Defence - Light blue printed on dark blue
ARP 208 — Overseas Column Shoulder Title
† How the Fire Guard armband got this low pattern number is unknown. The Fire Guard was formed in August 1941.
* This printed breast badge was sewn onto Rescue Battledress and issued to rescued Merchant Seaman who had lost their kit. They were not undertaking any Civil Defence duties but the badge was issued an ARP Pattern number.
* This printed breast badge was sewn onto Rescue Battledress and issued to rescued Merchant Seaman who had lost their kit. They were not undertaking any Civil Defence duties but the badge was issued an ARP Pattern number.
Manufacturers of WW2 Civil Defence clothing
A. & J. Mandel, Ltd., Glasgow
Akett Limited
B. Goldwater & Co.
Barrymores
Bignell, Phillips & Greene
Charles Williams & Co. Ltd.
Claude Alexander
Clydesdale Weatherproofing Co.
Colchester Manuf. Co. Ltd.
Corby, Palmer & Stewart
CWS Ltd
Dunlop Rubber Co. Ltd.
E. Raffles & Co. Ltd.
H. Marks Ltd
Hart & Levy Ltd.
J. Collett Ltd.
J. Compton, Sons & Webb, Ltd.
J. D. Fieldman & Co., Ltd.
John Barran & Sons Ltd.
John Hammond & Co (1922) Ltd
Johnson & Co. Ltd.
L. Harris Ltd.
Leonard Klein Ltd.
Louis Michaels (Clothing Contractors) Ltd.
M. Greitzer & Son
M. & N. Horne Ltd
Manclark & Son
Montague Burton Ltd. Leeds
Prices Tailors Ltd. - Proprietors of the Fifty Shilling Tailors
The Rego Clothiers Ltd.
S. Simpson Ltd.
Semple & Peck Ltd. Scotland
Steinberg & Sons Ltd.
Sunderland & Sons
(The) West Auckland Clothing Co. Ltd.
Akett Limited
B. Goldwater & Co.
Barrymores
Bignell, Phillips & Greene
Charles Williams & Co. Ltd.
Claude Alexander
Clydesdale Weatherproofing Co.
Colchester Manuf. Co. Ltd.
Corby, Palmer & Stewart
CWS Ltd
Dunlop Rubber Co. Ltd.
E. Raffles & Co. Ltd.
H. Marks Ltd
Hart & Levy Ltd.
J. Collett Ltd.
J. Compton, Sons & Webb, Ltd.
J. D. Fieldman & Co., Ltd.
John Barran & Sons Ltd.
John Hammond & Co (1922) Ltd
Johnson & Co. Ltd.
L. Harris Ltd.
Leonard Klein Ltd.
Louis Michaels (Clothing Contractors) Ltd.
M. Greitzer & Son
M. & N. Horne Ltd
Manclark & Son
Montague Burton Ltd. Leeds
Prices Tailors Ltd. - Proprietors of the Fifty Shilling Tailors
The Rego Clothiers Ltd.
S. Simpson Ltd.
Semple & Peck Ltd. Scotland
Steinberg & Sons Ltd.
Sunderland & Sons
(The) West Auckland Clothing Co. Ltd.
Original Labels from ARP and Civil Defence Uniforms
Charles Williams ARP 57 Battledress
Clydesdale Weatherproofing Co. ARP 72 Skirt
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Jacket, Women C.D. (ARP 71) Tunic
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ARP Pattern 43 Ambulance Drivers & Attendants Coat
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Missing Pattern Numbers
From time to time, actual sealed pattern items turn up that fill in the gaps above. Sealed patterns were distributed to manufacturers to ensure that they all produced items the same.
There are a number of known items that currently have not been identified in the above list. If you have categorical evidence of the pattern number please let me know.
Items awaiting a number:
Printed CD Beret Badge
CD Reserve Embroidered Breast Badge
CD Reserve Printed Beret Badge
There are a number of known items that currently have not been identified in the above list. If you have categorical evidence of the pattern number please let me know.
Items awaiting a number:
Printed CD Beret Badge
CD Reserve Embroidered Breast Badge
CD Reserve Printed Beret Badge
