A.R.P

wini · Post by **wini** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:35 am

Did the A.R.P. wear a uniform?
My recollection is that they didn't. I have located a photograph with the name of an uncle on the back. I know he wasn't in the army or the police.
The only thing I know he did was the A.R.P.
I was born in 1939 so was very young during WW2. I will post the photograph at a later date. I am too busy at present to locate it.

wini

Bervonian · Post by **Bervonian** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:11 pm

Hi Wini,

I found this in en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Raid_Precautions. It has some more information:

There were around 1.4 million ARP wardens in Britain during the war, almost all unpaid part-time volunteers who also held day-time jobs. They had a basic uniform consisting of a cheap set of overalls and an armlet, along with a steel helmet. The helmet had ARP in bold white writing across it.

Bervonian · Post by **Bervonian** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:35 pm

Hi again Wini,

For a much fuller description of an Air Raid Warden's uniform etc., go to:

www.nbcd.org.uk/arp/equipment/uniforms.asp

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 2:57 am

Hello Wini,

In this picture the fellow at the centre of attention is an A.R.P. Warden from Walmington-on-Sea. I’m not sure how typical his particular uniform is but if you want an A.R.P. Warden in your living room pick up a Dad’s Army DVD.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/dadsarmy/

Alan

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:36 am

Back again Wini,

Here’s some peopleswar stories from the Glasgow area that mention the ARP.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stor ... 3834.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stor ... 5032.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stor ... 7560.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stor ... 2446.shtml

Heaps more Glasgow stories at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/categories/c1112/

Alan

wini · Post by **wini** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:36 am

Thanks Bervonian and Alan
You make me ashamed of myself for not doing more searching myself, but I am extremely grateful to you for the trouble you took.

wini

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:33 am

No trouble at all Wini.

It was all very interesting, especially the site Bervonian found.

Alan

Bervonian · Post by **Bervonian** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:36 pm

Hi Wini,

I'm glad to have been of help. It's what RootsChat is all about.

Regards,
Bervonian.

Bervonian · Post by **Bervonian** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:39 pm

RootsChat ??? What's wrong with me this morning !! I meant Talking Scot of course.

Lorna Allison · Post by **Lorna Allison** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 1:24 am

I'm a bit late on this one as I have been "off line" for a while but would like to point out - as if you didn't already know - that "Dad's Army" doesn't quite fit the picture of my Dad's ARP days.

I too was small then, however while certainly wearing the heavy serge uniform, armlet, helmet et al when going out to watch for fire bombs and lights etc in Glasgow, he also dug over the local playpark with his ARP pals and they grew vegetables there. I never heard of anyone stealing them either!

He was in a reserved occupation and perhaps felt guilty at being at home. Anyway he dug and planted the gardens of the women in our street whose menfolk were away fighting and he put his beloved golfclubs away for the duration of the war.

Thanks for bringing those memories back to mind.

Lorna