WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia, Helmets and Equipment
  • Uniforms
    • Bluette Overalls
    • ARP Wrapover Overalls
    • Tunic, Slacks & Skirt
    • ARP Wardens' Coat
    • Battledress & Trousers
    • Greatcoats
    • Gabardine Coat
    • Waterproof Cape
    • 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 / Armlets
    • ARP Instructors' Badges
    • Incident Officer
    • Bomb Reconnaissance
    • Wound Stripes
    • ARP Whistle & Lanyards
    • Lapel Badges
    • Medals & Ribbons
    • Civil Defence Reserve
    • Miscellaneous ARP
  • Helmets
    • Helmets of the Home Front
  • Equipment
    • Documentation
    • First Aid
    • Gas Air Raid Warning
    • Hand-Cranked Air Raid Sirens
    • Fire Tackling
    • Anti-Gas Equipment
    • Anti-Gas Training Posters
    • Rescue Equipment
    • Goggles
    • Lamps & Torches
    • Respirators (Gas masks)
    • ARP Penknife
    • ARP Water Bottle
  • 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
    • Air Raid Histories
    • Links
  • Contact
    • About
  • Blog
    • Donate

Civil Defence Reserve (Mobile Reserve & Regional Columns) during WW2


The requirement for a Regional Mobile Reserve force had initially been proposed before the outbreak of war by the Regional Commissioner for Tunbridge Wells (later to be designated Civil Defence Region South Eastern). This region consisted of East and West Sussex and Kent. In 1940 the Ministry of Home Security approved the need for a mobile reserve and Kent County Council devised a scheme of three companies of full-time personnel. Companies contained approximately 200 personnel (drawn from Ambulance, Decontamination, First Aid and Rescue squads) and vehicles that could quickly assist areas overwhelmed by an air raid.

​As more regions followed suit, the Civil Defence Reserve Columns were formalised in July 1941 under the control of the Regional Commissioners and known as Regional Columns. A corps of senior staff were full-time but a large number of personnel were seconded to the CDR for a period of a month and rotated out.
Helmet issued by a REGIONAL COLUMN
Helmet issued by a REGIONAL COLUMN
By 1943 there were 14 such units spread across the UK. These were the 12 Civil Defence regions plus Kent and West Sussex Mobile Reserve.
Regional Column I (1) – Northern
Regional Column II (2) – North Eastern
Regional Column III (3) – North Midland
Regional Column IV (4) - Eastern
Regional Column V (5) - London
Regional Column VI (6) - Southern
Regional Column VII (7) – South Western
Regional Column IIX (8) - Wales
Regional Column IX (9) - Midland
Regional Column X (10) – North Western
Regional Column XI (11) - Scotland
Regional Column XII (12) – South Eastern
West Sussex Mobile Reserve
Kent Mobile Reserve
Map of the Civil Defence Regions from 1941
Map of the Civil Defence Regions from 1941
Do you have any Civil Defence Reserve badges that can be shown here? If so, please contact me.

Civil Defence Reserve Senior Ranks Shoulder Straps

With the Civil Defence Reserve (CDR), from late 1944, officers wore special markings on their shoulder straps to denote seniority:

Commandant - Single Crown
Deputy Commandant - Three Stars
Adjutant/Quartermaster - Three Stars
Senior Group Officer - Two Stars
Group Officer - One Star
Civil Defence Reserve Senior Ranks Shoulder Straps
Civil Defence Reserve Senior Ranks Shoulder Straps

​Civil Defence Reserve Breast Badge

A private purchase or homemade "CDR" (Civil Defence Reserve) breast badge for the battledress jacket.
​Civil Defence Reserve Breast Badge
​Civil Defence Reserve Breast Badge

Kent County Civil Defence Reserve Breast Badge

This would appear to be an unofficial breast badge manufactured for the First Company of Kent CC Mobile Reserve.
WW2 Kent County Civil Defence Mobile Reserve First Company breast badge.
WW2 Kent County Civil Defence Mobile Reserve First Company breast badge.

​Civil Defence Reserve Shoulder Titles

A number of shoulder titles were manufactured for mobile reserve and regional columns. There is photographic evidence of these badges also being worn on the right breast pocket.
Civil Defence Reserve Region I (One 1) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region I (One 1) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region VI (Six 6) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region VI (Six 6) Regional Column
Picture
Civil Defence Reserve Region IX (Nine 9) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region XII (Twelve 12) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region XXI (Twelve 12) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region III (Three 3) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region III (Three 3) Regional Column
Picture
Civil Defence Reserve Region VII (Seven 7) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region X (Ten 10) Regional Column
Civil Defence Reserve Region X (Ten 10) Regional Column
West Sussex Civil Defence Mobile Reserve shoulder title
West Sussex Civil Defence Mobile Reserve shoulder title
Kent County Civil Defence Mobile Reserve shoulder title
Kent County Civil Defence Mobile Reserve shoulder title

Civil Defence Reserve Arabic Numeral Tab Badges

Each region's Civil Defence Reserve column (except for regions 4, 11 and 12 that only had one unit) was split into several different units (located at different locations within the region). Each unit was issued a number (often called a tab) and these were worn below the CDR Regional Column shoulder title. These tabs were introduced midway through 1943. West Sussex only had a single unit so no tabs were issued to them. Kent had three units (or companies) and did issue the tabs to the units.

For example Region X (10) North West England had seven units as follows:


Unit 1 - Abbot Hall (Kendal)
Unit 2 - White Hall 
Unit 3 - Sherdley Hall (St. Helens)
Unit 4 - Crompton Fold (Oldham)
Unit 5 - Northenden (Manchester)
Unit 6 - Kirkby (Knowsley)
Unit 7 - Accrington 

The below First Aid Party member was in "Unit 4, North Western Regional Column, Civil Defence reserve". 

Civil Defence Reserve Regional Column X Unit 4 Insignia
Civil Defence Reserve Regional Column X Unit 4 Insignia

Civil Defence Reserve Beret Badge

Civil Defence Reserve Beret Badge
Civil Defence Reserve Beret Badge

Civil Defence Reserve Coloured Lanyards

Within the Southern Region's Unit 1 (at Steventon Manor) the use of coloured lanyards to differentiate different units was adopted. These were not officially sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Security. Some other areas also adopted the lanyards but they were never an official part of the Civil Defence Reserve uniform.

Civil Defence Reserve Overseas Column

In December 1944 a request was made to the Civil Defence Services for a volunteer column to assist with V1 and V2 incidents in Antwerp, Belgium. Although the city had been liberated in the autumn of 1944, is was a regular target for German V-weapons. The newly created Civil Defence Reserve Overseas Column arrived in Belgium in early January and then began to assist the local Belgian forces. During their time there they sadly lost one member of their corps whilst trying to rescue civilians in a bombed building. Uniquely amongst Civil Defence personnel, members of the Overseas Column were also allowed to where the flash of the 21st Army Group - a red shield with blue cross. The Overseas Column returned to the UK in May 1945.
Civil Defence Reserve Overseas Column shoulder title
Civil Defence Reserve Overseas Column shoulder title
Embed from Getty Images
​​
Specially trained Civil Defence workers form a convoy of vehicles including utility vans, ambulances and cleansing vehicles which rush to the scene of a blitz attack to provide aid. The workers remain on this special force for no more than four weeks after which they return to their normal depot.

☜ MEDALS & RIBBONS
MISCELLANEOUS ARP ☞
Home
Uniforms
​Insignia
Helmets
Equipment
Fire Guard
​Resources
​Buyers' Guide​
About
Blog
Pound sterling logo
Support website
E-Mail contact icon
Contact

Copyright © 2018–2025
  • Uniforms
    • Bluette Overalls
    • ARP Wrapover Overalls
    • Tunic, Slacks & Skirt
    • ARP Wardens' Coat
    • Battledress & Trousers
    • Greatcoats
    • Gabardine Coat
    • Waterproof Cape
    • 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 / Armlets
    • ARP Instructors' Badges
    • Incident Officer
    • Bomb Reconnaissance
    • Wound Stripes
    • ARP Whistle & Lanyards
    • Lapel Badges
    • Medals & Ribbons
    • Civil Defence Reserve
    • Miscellaneous ARP
  • Helmets
    • Helmets of the Home Front
  • Equipment
    • Documentation
    • First Aid
    • Gas Air Raid Warning
    • Hand-Cranked Air Raid Sirens
    • Fire Tackling
    • Anti-Gas Equipment
    • Anti-Gas Training Posters
    • Rescue Equipment
    • Goggles
    • Lamps & Torches
    • Respirators (Gas masks)
    • ARP Penknife
    • ARP Water Bottle
  • 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
    • Air Raid Histories
    • Links
  • Contact
    • About
  • Blog
    • Donate