WW2 ARP & Civil Defence Uniforms, Headwear & Footwear
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With the introduction of Air Raid Precautions (ARP) training in February 1937, no uniforms were issued to newly-trained air raid wardens; they wore their civilian clothes. Instead they received a silver ARP lapel badge and whilst on duty they also wore a helmet (usually, but not always, a black helmet with a white 'W') and armband (armband design was unregulated at this time and local authorities created whatever designs they wanted, often with the local authority name printed on them). The common Civil Defence, crown and 'rainbow' armband was introduced in July 1940.
As the threat of war developed, the ARP Wardens' Service were issued with a more robustly constructed gas mask. It was not until the start of the WW2 that uniforms slowly filtered through to wardens and associated services - the first being the all-in-one combination suit/overalls made of bluette. These overalls featured red diamond and bar rank insignia on the lower sleeve (issued up to mid-1941 in the London region) for the Wardens' Service and red chevrons for the Rescue, Decontamination and Stretcher Parties. As the Civil Defence General Services (the ARP was rolled into the CD shortly after war commenced in September 1939) became more organised, dark blue battledress (BD) uniform replaced the overalls in 1941 and were issued until the end of WW2 (though the bluette overalls continued to be worn). A new system of old gold yellow rank insignia was also introduced. |
Air raid wardens early in the second world war with unmarked helmets, ARP lapel badge and Civil Defence armband (introduced July 1940). |
For women there were three main uniforms, the wrapover apron/overall, the warden's coat and the serge tunic with slacks or skirt.
The new battledress insignia featured yellow bars and rank chevrons to denote a person's seniority within the various CD services. Certain ranks were also reflected by helmet colour and use of black bars. Additional insignia was introduced throughout the second world war for specific roles and attainments (e.g. Incident and Bomb Reconnaissance Officers). A plethora of armbands were also issued.
It should be noted that even when regulations (such as ARP Memo 17) dictated how and where a certain badge should be worn not every person or local group adhered strictly to that dictate. Original WW2 photographs show a great variance in where insignia was worn.
The new battledress insignia featured yellow bars and rank chevrons to denote a person's seniority within the various CD services. Certain ranks were also reflected by helmet colour and use of black bars. Additional insignia was introduced throughout the second world war for specific roles and attainments (e.g. Incident and Bomb Reconnaissance Officers). A plethora of armbands were also issued.
It should be noted that even when regulations (such as ARP Memo 17) dictated how and where a certain badge should be worn not every person or local group adhered strictly to that dictate. Original WW2 photographs show a great variance in where insignia was worn.
WW2 ARP & Civil Defence Uniforms
The Civil Defence Services During WW2
The primary objective of the Civil Defence Services was to provide a comprehensive service for the protection of the public, the saving of life and the mitigation of damage to property. The organisation was based on a system of communication beginning at Wardens' Posts (and Police Boxes) to the ARP Report & Control Centres, then onto one of twelve Regional Headquarters and finally the Ministry of Home Security War Room based in London.
All services were under the control of a local authority (e.g. Councils of Counties, County Boroughs, Metropolitan and Municipal Boroughs and County Districts). An ARP Controller ran the ARP services for a given local authority and each service within it will had its own chief officer.
All services were under the control of a local authority (e.g. Councils of Counties, County Boroughs, Metropolitan and Municipal Boroughs and County Districts). An ARP Controller ran the ARP services for a given local authority and each service within it will had its own chief officer.
