As a birthday gift, my son found me a 1943 A.R.P. Blouse (Battledress)in very fine shape. It's a medium blue, with no apparent patching or badge up. See below:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300390209723&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I have tried a bit of research, but I come up short each time. I will be taking this along as part of my "Touch the History, from The Few through The Blitz".....I regularly travel once to twice a month to a High School here and keep the History kids captive with my Flight Helmet/oxy collection, much wit, wisdom, more kit, sweetheart jewelry and basic chivalrous tales from the Battle of Britain. (Very rewarding!)

Inside tag: Blouses A.R.P. 59a
Size No. 2
Ht 5'4" and under
Breast 35" - 37"
Waist 33" - 35"
Denham (1933) 1943

Does anyone know what this BD needs to have it "show" for the class? In other words, which ARP helmet, armband and/or proper markings would this BD have had?.....

If anyone can help, It would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks to all!
Glenn T.

Glenn, I'm no expert on this but it seems that usually there are shoulder titles with either trade or area, ie AMBULANCE, SIGNALS, HEADQUARTERS or area CROYDON, WANDSWORTH etc are just some that I've seen. I don't actualy know if the ARP fell within the Civil Defence but the CD badge, worn on the left pocket breast, is circular with Civil Defence Corps, enclosing a lion with a King's Crown atop.
To finish it off, a white Tommy helmet with a black W (for Warden) at the front and a good old fashioned wooden football rattle to make a racket with. If you go to ebay UK and type in 'civil defence' I'm sure what you are looking for will come up.

Hi

The breast badge with Kings Crown over a lion was introduced after 1945 until it was replaced in 1952 with The Queens Crown (Coronation)

Original wartime badge was cloth with a black background with a red line around with a red CD in the centre.

Replaced in 1941 with a round black cloth breast badge with a Kings Crown above the letters CD (both in yellow?)

Shoulder Titles - In total 32 from WARDEN to CONTROL SURREY last 5 unofficial.

Helmet markings of CD - 45 different types, some white with black letters, some black with white letters.

See 'A PEOPLE'S ARMY - the insignia and uniforms of the Civil Defence General Services 1939 -1945 by Jon Mills.

Hope this helps.

Tony

......Can you tell me if yours is tagged as a 57 or 57a? Mine is of the dark ink blue rough serge, dated '43 and is a 59a pattern, which I could not really find a reference for. I do believe tagging would be the same though....It's a sz 2, quite small, and may have even been worn by a woman in the force, although BD were not really form fitting.....

Thanks much!
Glenn