Civil Defence Service
Encyclopedia
The Civil Defence Service was a civilian volunteer organisation established in Great Britain
by the Home Office
in 1935. In 1941, during World War II
, the use of Civil Defence replaced the pre-existing Air Raid Precautions
(ARP). The Civil Defence Service included the pre-existing ARP as well as wardens, firemen (initially the Auxiliary Fire Service
(AFS) and latterly the National Fire Service
(NFS)), fire watchers, rescue, first aid post, stretcher party and industry. Over 1.9 million people served within the CD and nearly 2,400 lost their lives to enemy action.
The Women’s Volunteer Service (WVS
) aided in ARP and observer duties as well as running and operating the mobile canteens and rest centres.
and beret
s. Those not issued with a uniform would be issued with a blue armband with yellow Civil Defence written on it.
Insignia included a circular breast badge worn on the left pocket incorporating the letters CD topped by a king’s crown (in yellow on dark blue or black backing). A similar smaller badge with yellow circle around the CD and crown was used for the beret.
The type of service a member belonged to would be called out on shoulder flashes. Additionally there were instructor badges and first aid badges that could be worn on the lower sleeves as well as red chevrons – each depicting a year of service.
Rank was indicated by yellow bars (2½ inches x ¼ or ¾ inches) or chevrons:
Members of the various services were issued with service gas masks and helmets - often marked with an abbreviation of their specific role - see Zuckerman helmet
. For example, W for Warden, FAP for First Aid Post, SP for Stretcher Party or FG for Fire Guard.
, London. Many of the duties of the service were later revived as part of the Civil Defence Corps
in 1949.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
in 1935. In 1941, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the use of Civil Defence replaced the pre-existing Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions was an organisation in the United Kingdom set up as an aid in the prelude to the Second World War dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. It was created in 1924 as a response to the fears about the growing threat from the development of bomber...
(ARP). The Civil Defence Service included the pre-existing ARP as well as wardens, firemen (initially the Auxiliary Fire Service
Auxiliary Fire Service
The Auxiliary Fire Service was first formed in 1938 in Great Britain as part of Civil Defence Air raid precautions. Its role was to supplement the work of brigades at local level. In this job it was hampered severely by the incompatibility of equipment used by these different brigades - most...
(AFS) and latterly the National Fire Service
National Fire Service
The National Fire Service was the single fire service created in Great Britain in 1941 during the Second World War; a separate National Fire Service was created in 1942....
(NFS)), fire watchers, rescue, first aid post, stretcher party and industry. Over 1.9 million people served within the CD and nearly 2,400 lost their lives to enemy action.
Organisation
The organisation of civil defence was the responsibility of the local authority. Volunteers were ascribed to different units depending on experience or training. Each local civil defence service were divided into several sections.- Wardens were responsible for local reconnaissance and reporting, and leadership, organisation, guidance and control of the general public. Wardens would also advise survivors of the locations of rest and food centres, and other welfare facilities.
- Rescue Parties were required to assess and then access bombed out buildings and retrieve injured or dead people. In addition they would turn off gas, electricity and water supplies, and repair or pull down unsteady buildings,
- Medical services included First Aid Parties who provided on the spot medical assistance. More serious injuries were passed to First Aid Posts by Stretcher Parties and to local hospitals by Ambulance personnel. If required bodies could be removed to emergency mortuaries.
- Gas Decontamination Teams were kitted out with gas-tight and waterproof protective clothing and were to deal with any gas attacks. They were trained to decontaminate buildings, roads, rail and other material that had been contaminated by liquid or jelly gases.
- Report and Control dealt with the stream of information that would be generated during an attack. A local headquarters would have an ARP controller that would direct rescue, first aid and decontamination teams to the scenes of reported bombing. If local services were deemed insufficient to deal with the incident then the controller could request assistance from surrounding boroughs.
- Fire Guards (initially called the Fire Watchers Order in September 1940, then the Fire Watcher Service in January 1941 and then reformed as the Fire Guard in August 1941) were responsible for a designated area/building and required to monitor the fall of incendiary bombs and pass on news of any fires that had broken out to the NFS. They could deal with an individual magnesium electron incendiary bomb by dousing them in buckets of sand, water or by smothering.
- Welfare would support the injured and people bombed out of their homes. This would involve finding suitable accommodation, issuing new documentation (ration books, identity cards) and money to buy food.
- Messengers would convey information from the site of bombing incidents back to the ARP headquarters. Many messengers were teenagers equipped with nothing more than a bicycle.
The Women’s Volunteer Service (WVS
WRVS
The WRVS is a voluntary organisation concerned with helping people in need throughout England, Scotland and Wales....
) aided in ARP and observer duties as well as running and operating the mobile canteens and rest centres.
Uniforms and insignia
Initially, in the early part of the war the service had no recognizable uniform. Members would generally wear civilian clothes, for example, boiler suits etc. As uniforms became more available from February 1941, the service was issued with dark blue battledressBattle Dress
Battle Dress was the specific title of a military uniform adopted by the British Army in the late 1930s and worn until the 1960s. Several other nations also introduced variants of Battle Dress during the Second World War, including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the...
and beret
Beret
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, designated a "cap", usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, or wool felt, or acrylic fiber....
s. Those not issued with a uniform would be issued with a blue armband with yellow Civil Defence written on it.
Insignia included a circular breast badge worn on the left pocket incorporating the letters CD topped by a king’s crown (in yellow on dark blue or black backing). A similar smaller badge with yellow circle around the CD and crown was used for the beret.
The type of service a member belonged to would be called out on shoulder flashes. Additionally there were instructor badges and first aid badges that could be worn on the lower sleeves as well as red chevrons – each depicting a year of service.
Rank was indicated by yellow bars (2½ inches x ¼ or ¾ inches) or chevrons:
- Controller - 2 narrow over 1 broad
- Chief Warden - 1 narrow over 1 broad
- Deputy Chief Warden - 1 broad
- Divisional Warden - 3 narrow
- Head or Post Warden - 3 chevrons (sometimes beneath a star)
- Senior Warden - 1 or 2 chevrons
Members of the various services were issued with service gas masks and helmets - often marked with an abbreviation of their specific role - see Zuckerman helmet
Zuckerman helmet
The Zuckerman helmet was a British helmet designed for use by civil defence organisations and the general public during World War II...
. For example, W for Warden, FAP for First Aid Post, SP for Stretcher Party or FG for Fire Guard.
Disbanded
The Civil Defence Service was disbanded on 2 May 1945. On June 10, 1945, before His Majesty King George VI, a farewell parade with representatives of all the Civil Defence Services from across Great Britain took place in Hyde ParkHyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, London. Many of the duties of the service were later revived as part of the Civil Defence Corps
Civil Defence Corps
The Civil Defence Corps was a civilian volunteer organisation established in Great Britain in 1949 to take control in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. It was stood down in Great Britain in 1968...
in 1949.