Ladies' ARP / Civil Defence Tunic, Slacks and Skirt
WW2 Civil Defence ARP Pattern Number 71 Serge Tunic Jacket
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A single-breasted serge tunic / jacket in a similar dark blue wool material as the men's battledress was manufactured for female members of the Civil Defence services. The front was fastened with either white metal CD and King's crown buttons or ARP buttons as found on bluette overalls (metal buttons were replaced by black plastic buttons with CD and crown from 1943). A belt and buckle fastened around the waist; early war tunics have a simple slide through buckle and later war tunics featured a chrome buckle with two prongs similar to the RAF tunic buckle.
The tunic was designated as 'Jacket Women's C.D. (A.R.P. 71)' on some labels or as 'Tunic A.R.P Pattern No. 71' on others. ARP Pattern 73 Slacks and ARP Pattern 72 Skirt (see below) were also produced in the same material to be worn with the tunic. |
Warden wearing the standard issue tunic and slacks with felt hat |
Internal Bandage Storage Pocket
On the inside of the ARP Pattern 71 tunic was a small pocket into which a first field dressing could be inserted. This pocket was often stitched closed when issued.
Internal bandage storage pocket on ARP Pattern 71 tunic