Post by Bonkers on Oct 24, 2004 14:14:28 GMT -5
Home Front / Civil Defence
The first discusions of the idea, of Air Raid Precautions (A.R.P), was by the Commitee for Imperial Defence, back in 1924. And in 1933, it was decided that any civil defence would be placed under local authorities, but, not much attention was paid.
Cinema newsreels of the Spanish Civil War, during 1936, showed graphic images of Guernica. When the Basque town was hit by German bombers form Franco's Fascists. British people were horrified to see, streets in devastation and the sufferings of people just like themselves.
A radio appeal was first broadcast across Britain, in January 1937, for A.R.P Volunteers, with little response. And in 1938, the A.R.P act was put into action, forcing local authorities to plan schemes for a civil defence. Organising services such as wardens, ambulance and first aid, also expanding the fire services. A.R.P would provide wardens, anti-gas and decontamination/ identification also messenger services. They would also run casualty services, first-aid parties and first-aid posts, stretcher parties and emergency ambulances. Women took the lead, in volunteering, and were assinged to the ambulance services, as drivers and assisstants. Infact, many ambulance teams were entirely female.
At this early stage, an armband, a tin hat, and a whistle were the nearest they had to a uniform. In 1939, Mackintosh type overcoats were issued to A.R.P members, and the demand for stronger and harder wearing clothes got bigger. So, in 1941, a battledress pattern uniform was issued, consisting of, blouse, trousers, greatcoat and beret , with optional alternatives for women, such as skirt and skicap.
It Begins
The war started in September 1939, and the first bomb was dropped at Hoy, in the Orkneys on 17th Oct 1939. With the first civilian being killed at the Bridge of Waith, Orkney on 16th March 1940. The first bomb to fall on the British mainland was on the night of 10th April 1940, near Wick. And the 24th May, saw the first industrial town to be attcked, was Middlesborough. The London area of Addington was hit on the 18th June 1940.
The first discusions of the idea, of Air Raid Precautions (A.R.P), was by the Commitee for Imperial Defence, back in 1924. And in 1933, it was decided that any civil defence would be placed under local authorities, but, not much attention was paid.
Cinema newsreels of the Spanish Civil War, during 1936, showed graphic images of Guernica. When the Basque town was hit by German bombers form Franco's Fascists. British people were horrified to see, streets in devastation and the sufferings of people just like themselves.
A radio appeal was first broadcast across Britain, in January 1937, for A.R.P Volunteers, with little response. And in 1938, the A.R.P act was put into action, forcing local authorities to plan schemes for a civil defence. Organising services such as wardens, ambulance and first aid, also expanding the fire services. A.R.P would provide wardens, anti-gas and decontamination/ identification also messenger services. They would also run casualty services, first-aid parties and first-aid posts, stretcher parties and emergency ambulances. Women took the lead, in volunteering, and were assinged to the ambulance services, as drivers and assisstants. Infact, many ambulance teams were entirely female.
At this early stage, an armband, a tin hat, and a whistle were the nearest they had to a uniform. In 1939, Mackintosh type overcoats were issued to A.R.P members, and the demand for stronger and harder wearing clothes got bigger. So, in 1941, a battledress pattern uniform was issued, consisting of, blouse, trousers, greatcoat and beret , with optional alternatives for women, such as skirt and skicap.
It Begins
The war started in September 1939, and the first bomb was dropped at Hoy, in the Orkneys on 17th Oct 1939. With the first civilian being killed at the Bridge of Waith, Orkney on 16th March 1940. The first bomb to fall on the British mainland was on the night of 10th April 1940, near Wick. And the 24th May, saw the first industrial town to be attcked, was Middlesborough. The London area of Addington was hit on the 18th June 1940.
