Civil Defence Service
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 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 was divided into several sections.
The Women's Voluntary Service (WVS) aided in ARP and observer duties as well as running and operating the mobile canteens and rest centres.
The organisation and task evolved through the conflict.
Initially, in the early part of the war the service had no recognisable uniform. Members would generally wear civilian clothes, (i.e. boiler suits). As uniforms became more available from February 1941, the service was issued with dark blue battledress and berets. 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 (2 1⁄2 inches x 1⁄4 or 3⁄4 inches) or chevrons:
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