Established in 1935 as the Air-Raid Precautions Service, (ARP) 

the name was changed in the early years of World War Two (1941) 

to The Civil Defence (CD) whereupon it then incorporated the 

Auxiliary Fire Service, (later the NFS), Fire Guards, Wardens, Decontamination Teams, 

Welfare, Rescue, Messengers,  First Aid & Stretcher Party organisations etc

.

Initially no uniforms were authorised, 

with the civilians recruited being issued only with steel helmets,

 (initially WW-I ex-Army Mk-I Brodies as here) andgas-masks & identifying armbands; 

however in 1941, with the name change to 

Civil Defence, 

dark-blue/black uniforms were issued in the shape of army-style 

heavy serge battle-blouses & trousers 

and army-shaped great-coats..

At the same time, all ARP insignia worn to that date was as 

replaced by Kings Crown CD badges, insignia & logos, 

though steel helmet service markings often stayed the same..

 

Finally disbanded at war’s end on May 2^nd 1945, 

after losing some  2,400 members in action to German air-raids on the UK from a 

total war-time recruitment of some 1.9 million men & women, 

the ARP/Civil Defence services were honoured by 

King George VI at a Farewell ceremony held in London’s Hyde Park.