WW2 Civil Defence & ARP First Aid Boxes & Canvas Holdalls / Bags
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A core aspect of the Civil Defence Service was to provide immediate medical assistance to victims of bombing. The main deliverers of onsite medical care were the First Aid Parties who carried medical supplies in haversacks. Casualties were then transported by Stretcher Parties to First Aid Posts or Mobile Units and then transferred to hospital by the Ambulance Service.
All Wardens' Posts were also issued with first aid tins and the trouser pockets on battledress were designed to hold a single "First Field Dressing". |
Various styles of WW2 First Aid Boxes |
First Aid Boxes
All Wardens' Posts would be allocated a first aid box that contained the necessary supplies to deal with wounds until an ambulance was available. There are some boxes marked with "Light Rescue".
A large variety of first aid kits were sold to the general public. These came in varying sizes in both metal and cardboard containers. A lot were produced by Boots the Chemist. Minimax and Paragon manufactured kits for both the general public and the Civil Defence services,
ARP Light Rescue Party First Aid Box and Contents
For Light Rescue Parties a specific first aid box was created. It contained larger size bandages and wound dressings. The Light Rescue Parties would often be the first team to reach casualties in a bombed building and as such required the necessary dressings to deal with quite severe injuries.
ARP Light Rescue Party First Aid Box and Contents
ARP Blanket Bag
A large khaki coloured shoulder haversack was produced that carried two blankets in separate compartments. The shoulder strap is usually of a thick brown-coloured herringbone cotton. A large number of examples are know to have "S.R. 1939" stamped on the inside base. This is not for Southern Railways but an as yet unidentified maker.
A large ARP-marked blanket bag for two blankets with shoulder strap
Canvas haversacks
A number of canvas haversacks were issued to First Aid Parties and First Aid Posts. Some were quite small (often labelled as 'Pouches' and limited to the bare essentials. Others were much larger and could carry sufficient articles to deal with most eventualities.
Boots The Householders' First Aid Case for ARP
Boots the Chemist offered a private purchase case of first aid equipment early in the war.
Boots The Householders' First Aid Case for ARP
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Boots The Householders' First Aid Case for ARP contents list
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Boots The Householders' First Aid Case for ARP contents
ARP First Aid Pouch
The ARP First Aid Pouch was manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and contained three large dressings (usually two wound dressings and a single burn dressing) plus a glass ampule of iodine (the top was snapped off and the iodine was applied directly to the wound).
ARP First Aid Pouch
