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 the victims of bombing incidents. 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 (in London) and First Aid Parties (outside London) to First Aid Posts or Mobile Units and then transferred to a local hospital by the Ambulance Service.
All Wardens' Posts were also issued with first aid boxes and kits and the trouser pockets on battledress were designed to hold a single "First Field Dressing". |
Various styles of WW2 First Aid Boxes |
First Aid Kits And Boxes At Wardens' Posts
Wardens' Posts would be issued with a large first aid box and several first aid kits. The below information details the use and replenishment of the boxes and kits
Contents of First Aid Boxes and Kits found at Wardens' Posts
Wardens' Post First Aid Box Contents List
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 (Wardens) First Aid Case
A first case case specifically aimed at Wardens' Posts. This case was marketed by the Boots Pure Drug Co. Ltd of Nottingham and held a large number of bandages and other items that a warden could use at an incident before the first aid party arrived. If items from the case had been used, it could be replenished from the larger First Aid Boxes.
ARP (Wardens) First Aid Case
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ARP (Wardens) First Aid Case (side)
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ARP (Wardens) First Aid Case (pull handle)
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
First Aid ARP Surgical Pouch
A medium-sized haversack with "First Aid ARP Surgical Pouch" written on the top flap. The manufactuer of this item is Paragon.
First Aid ARP Surgical Pouch
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First Aid ARP Surgical Pouch top
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First Aid ARP Surgical Pouch 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 (as recommended by the Home Office). Pre-war the case was metal but was later replaced with a carboard box
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
Boots ARP Home First Aid Case
Boots the Chemist also manufactured a larger first aid case (called "Home) that was supplied in metal tin (probably sold pre-war).
Boots ARP Home First Aid Case
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Boots ARP Home First Aid Case contents
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Boots ARP Home First Aid Case contents unpacked
Paragon Brand ARP First Aid Outfits
The Paragon brand produced several ARP outfits of which No. 4 (in a cardboard box) and No. 5 (in a wooden box) are the most often encountered.
Paragon ARP First Aid Outfit Number 4
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
