WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
WW2 Civil Defence Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment
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  • Uniforms
    • Bluette Overalls
    • Ladies' Wrapover Overalls
    • Lady Wardens' Coat
    • Serge Uniforms
    • 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
    • Air Raid Warning
    • 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 Pattern Nos
    • Uniform Sizes
    • Original WW2 Photographs
    • Re-enacting Photos
    • Fake & Reproduction ARP Badges
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Fake & Reproduction ARP, Home Front & Air Raid-Related Enamel Lapel Badges


During the second world war millions of ARP, home front and air raid-related enamel lapel badges were manufactured by the likes of Frattorini, Collins and H.W. Miller. Jon Mills' book "Doing Their Bit" is an invaluable resource for collectors and those interested in home front badges of the period.

Over the past several years the price of these badges has been steadily increasing. ARP badges especially have seen remarkable increases with some badges making prices over £200. Alas, with this increase has come the market for fakes, forgeries and reproductions. Military medal and uniform badge collectors have known for many years about restrikes and forgeries of badges. It is now certain that enamel home front and ARP badges are being faked.

The only good news currently is that spotting the fakes is relatively straight forward.
Fake ARP Badge
Fake ARP Badge

How To Spot Fake & Reproduction WW2 ARP Home Front Air Raid Enamel Badges

Use the 6 Cs to spot the fake ARP badges:

Condition - the vast majority of the current badges feature what looks like verdigris. This is staining from acid dipping and used to age the badges.

Clasp - always with a pin fitting never the horseshoe lapel fitting. The badges all feature the same identical pin and clasp.

Creator - no maker's mark. The fake ARP badges do not have a maker's mark. Although a small number of original badges do not feature a maker's mark, some fakes are of badges that always have a maker mark (the Women's Home Defence badge below always have the maker Collins or Fattorini) on originals.

Colour - solid enamel colours. The modern process of faking cannot reproduce the enamelling undertaken during the war. Comparing originals with fakes clearly show this.

Cut - machine cut modern font letters. Modern style fonts are used across multiple badges and the letters are not cut by hand as per the originals. Letters are exactly the same - compare with originals to see the difference.

Crook - sellers constantly offering badges that fit the above descriptions. A small number of sellers on eBay are constantly selling these badges and also adding new ones.​

Examples of fake / reproduction ARP badges

Fake WW2 AVRO ARP enamel badge
Fake WW2 AVRO ARP enamel badge
Fake WW2 London Housewives Service enamel badge
Fake WW2 London Housewives Service enamel badge
Fake WW2 Straits Settlements enamel badge
Fake WW2 Straits Settlements enamel badge
Fake WW2 Queens Canteen & BBC London ARP enamel badge
Fake WW2 Queens Canteen & BBC London ARP enamel badge
Fake WW2 Women's Home Defence enamel badge
Fake WW2 Women's Home Defence enamel badge
Fake WW2 Austin Motor Works Controller enamel badge
Fake WW2 Austin Motor Works ARP Controller enamel badge
Fake WW2 Rolls Royce ARP badge
Fake WW2 Rolls Royce ARP badge
Fake WW2 Handley Page ARP enamel badge
Fake WW2 Handley Page ARP enamel badge
Fake WW2 Hong Kong ARP badge
Fake WW2 Hong Kong ARP badge
Fake WW2 Coventry First Aid ARP enamel badge
Fake WW2 Coventry First Aid ARP enamel badge
Fake AVRO ARP triangular enamel badge
Fake AVRO ARP triangular enamel badge
Unstained fake WW2 Handley Page ARP enamel badge
Unstained fake WW2 Handley Page ARP enamel badge
Fake Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd ARP Enamel Badge
Fake Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd ARP Enamel Badge
Fake Anti-Gas ARP badge
Fake Anti-Gas ARP badge
Fake ARP Warden Westminster badge
Fake ARP Warden Westminster badge
Fake Castle Bromwich Assembly Factory CBAF ARP Badge
Fake Castle Bromwich Assembly Factory CBAF ARP Badge
Fake ARP Queens Canteen ARP Badge (all metal)
Fake ARP Queens Canteen ARP Badge (all metal)
Fake Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd ARP Badge (variation)
Fake Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd ARP Badge (variation)
Fake BSA ARP Badge
Fake BSA ARP Badge
List of known fake ARP badges:

AVRO ARP - two versions one triangular, one with wings
London Housewives Service ARP
Straits Settlements ARP
Queens Canteen ARP - some coloured in blue and red, some left as metal only
BBC London ARP
Women's Home Defence
Austin Motors ARP Controller
Rolls Royce ARP
Handley Page ARP
Hong Kong ARP - both plain and infilled with red and blue enamel

Free Czechoslovak Field Ambulance England
Coventry First Aid ARP 
​ARP Warden Westminster - some variations in colour on the scroll known to exist

Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd ARP - two variations, one with coloured centre
​
ARP Anti-Gas - one plain metal, one with blue enamel infill
​Castle Bromwich Assembly Factory CBAF ARP

BSA ARP

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