WW2 CIVIL DEFENCE UNIFORMS, INSIGNIA & EQUIPMENT
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Civil Defence Clothing & Insignia ARP Pattern Numbers


The vast majority of Civil Defence clothing and insignia was ascribed its own 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.

​WW2 War Department Broad Arrow (Crow’s Foot) Date Codes

Along with the manufacturer's label, a date stamp letter is also often present.
R
Q
P
O
N
M​
Z
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
ARP Pattern Number
Item
​ARP 39
ARP 40
ARP 41 
ARP 42
ARP 43
ARP 44
ARP 45
ARP 46
ARP 47
​ARP 51

ARP 54
​ARP 55

ARP 57
ARP 57A
ARP 58
ARP 58A
ARP 58B

ARP 59
ARP 59A
ARP 60
​ARO 60B

ARP 61
ARP 66
ARP 68
ARP 68A
ARP 69 
ARP 69A
ARP 70
ARP 71
ARP 72
ARP 73
ARP 75
ARP 80
ARP 81
ARP 82
​ARP 83

ARP 98
ARP 100

ARP 101
ARP 102
ARP 103
ARP 104
ARP 105

ARP 109
ARP 110
ARP 111
ARP 112

​ARP 113
ARP 114
ARP 120
ARP 121
ARP 122
ARP 123
ARP 124
ARP 125
ARP 126
ARP 127
ARP 128
ARP 129
ARP 130
ARP 131
​ARP 132
ARP 133
ARP 134
​ARP 135
​ARP 139
ARP 143

ARP 144
​ARP 145
ARP 159
ARP 161
ARP 162
ARP 163
ARP 164
ARP 165
​ARP 166
​ARP 167

ARP 168
ARP 172
ARP 169
ARP 173
ARP 170
ARP 174
ARP 171
ARP 175

​ARP 176
ARP 177
ARP 178
ARP 182
ARP 183
​ARP 186
​ARP 194

​Fire Guard Armband †​
Motorcycle Goggles
Bluette Overalls (Combination Suit)
Women’s Wardens Coat
Women’s Drivers Coat
Women’s Felt Hat
Women’s Driver Peaked Cap
Nursing Overall
Overall / Women’s Wrapover
Badge, Collar ARP (for Ambulance Driver's Coat)
Civil Defence Armband
ARPAX Axe

Battledress Blouse (General)
Battledress Blouse (General Austerity)
Battledress Trousers (General)
Battledress Trousers (General Austerity)
​Battledress Trousers

Battledress Blouse (Rescue)
Battledress Blouse (Rescue Austerity)
Battledress Trousers (Rescue)
Battledress Trousers (Rescue)
Waterproof (Mackintosh) Cape
CD Breast Badge
Beret
Beret (Austerity)
Overcoat
Men’s Greatcoat
Women’s Greatcoat
Woman’s Serge Jacket
Women’s Serge Skirt
Women’s Serge Slacks
CD Badge (Breast)
CD Badge Embroidered on Nurse Cloth (for ARP 46)
Gabardine Coat
Gaberdine Coat Lining
CET Casualty Evacuation Train Breast Badge
Beret Badge

1 Broad Under 2 Narrow Rank Badge
1 Broad Under 1 Narrow Rank Badge
I Broad Bar

3 Narrow Bars
2 Narrow Bars
1 Narrow Bar
Star (for use with ARP 111 to form ARP 110)

3 Chevrons and Star
3 Chevrons
2 Chevrons
​M.T. Shoulder Title
1 Chevron

Warden Shoulder Title
Ambulance Shoulder Title
First Aid Post  Shoulder Title
​​Rescue Shoulder Title
Decontamination Shoulder Title

Report & Control Shoulder Title
Messenger Shoulder Title
G.I.O. Shoulder Title
Control Shoulder Title
M.O.H. Shoulder Title
Depot Shoulder Title
Medical Officer Shoulder Title
First Aid Party Shoulder Title

Heavy Rescue Shoulder Title
Light Rescue Shoulder Title
​F.G Shoulder Title
​
Civil Defence Reserve Regional Column Badge
Hatband Ribbon

Bomb Reconnaissance Armband
Civil Defence Mobile Reserve Badge
CD Armlet for wear on HG (khaki) uniform

Fire Guard Officer Shoulder Title
Deputy Fire Guard Officer Shoulder Title
Assistant Fire Guard Shoulder Title
Fire Guard Area Officer Shoulder Title
Fire Guard Area Captain Shoulder Title
Fire Guard Sector Caption Shoulder Title
Fire Guard Reserve Centre Superintendent Shoulder Title

1 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
1 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
2 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)
2 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
3 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
3 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)

4 War Service Chevron (on blue-grey)
4 War Service Chevron (on navy blue)

Wound Stripe (Gold)
Wound Stripe (Red)
Gas Identification Officer (GIO) Armband
Incident Officer (IO) Badge
Bomb Reconnaissance Badge
Badge, Breast, Merchant Navy*
Armband, Industrial Civil Defence - Light blue printed on dark blue
​
† 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 Merchant Seaman who had lost their kit. They were not on an Civil Defence duties.

Original Labels from ARP and Civil Defence Uniforms

Overcoat Pattern No. A.R.P. 69 label.
Overcoat Pattern No. A.R.P. 69 label.
Greatcoat Mens C.D. Pattern A.R.P. 69a.
Greatcoat Mens C.D. Pattern A.R.P. 69a.
Stamped ARP Pattern 43 Ladies Drivers Coat.
Stamped ARP Pattern 43 Ladies Drivers Coat.
Jacket Pattern No. A.R.P. 71 label.
Jacket Pattern No. A.R.P. 71 label.
Battledress Blouse Pattern No. A.R.P. 58 label.
Battledress Blouse Pattern No. A.R.P. 58 label.
Battledress Blouse Pattern No. A.R.P. 57a label.
Battledress Blouse Pattern No. A.R.P. 57a label.
Overall Pattern 47 (Women;s Wrapover) Label.
Overall Pattern 47 (Women;s Wrapover) Label.
Bluette Overalls Pattern 41 Label.
Bluette Overalls Pattern 41 Label.
ARP 57a Austerity CD General & NFS Battledress Blouse 1942
ARP 57a Austerity CD General & NFS Battledress Blouse 1942
Greatcoat, Women's CD (ARP 70)
Greatcoat, Women's CD (ARP 70)
Jacket Women's CD ARP 71
Jacket Women's CD ARP 71

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

Private purchase items

Fire Guard beret badge - white FG - similar to CD beret badge
Despatch Rider sleeve badge


☜ ARP MEMO 17
UNIFORM SIZES ☞
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  • Uniforms
    • Bluette Overalls
    • ARP Wrapover Overalls
    • Tunic, Slacks & Skirt
    • ARP Wardens' Coat
    • Battledress & Trousers
    • Greatcoats
    • Ambulance Uniforms
    • Nursing Uniforms
    • Women’s Voluntary Services Uniforms
    • Hats, Berets & Caps
    • Footwear & Gaiters
    • ARP & CD Buttons
  • Insignia
    • Rank Badges
    • Breast Badges
    • Beret / Cap Badges
    • Area Markings
    • Shoulder Titles / Flashes
    • War Service Chevrons
    • Armbands
    • ARP Instructors' Badges
    • Incident Officer
    • Bomb Reconnaissance
    • Wound Stripes
    • ARP Whistle & Lanyards
    • Lapel Badges
    • Medals & Ribbons
    • Civil Defence Reserve
    • Miscellaneous ARP
  • Equipment
    • Documentation
    • First Aid
    • Gas Air Raid Warning
    • Hand-Cranked Air Raid Sirens
    • Fire Tackling
    • Anti-Gas Equipment
    • Rescue Equipment
    • Goggles
    • Lamps & Torches
    • Respirators (Gas masks)
    • ARP Penknife
    • ARP Water Bottle
  • Helmets
    • Helmets of the Home Front
  • Fire Guard
    • Fire Guard History
  • Resources
    • Books
    • Re-enacting
    • Buyers' Guide
    • ARP Memo 17
    • Civil Defence ARP Pattern Numbers
    • Uniform Sizes
    • Original WW2 Photographs
    • Re-enacting Photos
    • Fake & Reproduction ARP Badges
    • Civil Defence Corps Insignia
    • Links
    • About
  • Contact
    • Support
  • Blog