Auxiliary Bomb Disposal Unit

[Blue Puttees]

Did the Auxiliary Bomb Disposal Unit also wear a cloth patch? If yes, was it the same as that worn by the British Army Bomb Disposal Units?

Is there any way to identify were the following unit was assigned?

http://www.mindenmilitaria.com/viewphoto.php?x=0

[ARPCDHG]

Here's a (repro, but accurate) ABDS printed badge. They normally were printed, but I have been told they were also embroidered (though have seen none myself):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Home-Guard...QAAOSw~XpZOWNj

There was an official list of ABDS units, which I'm sure one of the members on here has.

[Postwarden]

Original printed and embroidered versions of the badge and a page from the notebook of an HG Aux BD volunteer.

The text below, taken from my long out of print HG insignia book In the Space of a Single Day gives the history of the HG's ABDS and its badge. The numbers in brackets refer to the badge illustrations in the book.

Jon

At the height of the Battle of Britain in August 1940, the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP) wrote to the War Office to enquire what measures would be taken if an unexploded bomb (UXB) was found in one of its factories. They were informed that under the existing arrangements they would be visited by an Army Bomb Disposal Section (BDS) who would advise on the likelihood of damage if the bomb exploded and detonate it in situ if required.

Dissatisfied with the War Office reply with its implication of damage to essential facilities, the Factory Defence Section of the MAP asked permission to raise volunteer squads competent to prepare for the arrival of the BDS by clearing and excavating the site of a UXB, making it easier for the BDS to reach the bomb and defuse it rather than detonate it. October 1940 saw the official announcement of the creation of these Auxiliary Bomb Disposal Squads (ABDS) in factories run by the MAP, with War Office training for squad leaders. The duties of an ABDS were defined as the location and identification of bombs, the reporting of them as UXBs, the setting up of safety zones around bombs and preliminary clearance of the site. It was specified that each squad should consist of a trained leader and five assistants and should form part of the factory’s Home Guard. In December the scheme was extended to all factories undertaking government work and employing over 1,000 staff. Some 1,200 factories were included.

War Office involvement with these factory squads caused constant confusion. At the end of December 1940 the Directorate ruled categorically that ABDS should be part of Civil Defence and that the Home Guard would not be involved. Four months later a letter from GHQ Home Forces was issued as a reminder that whilst there was no objection to members of the Home Guard joining an ABDS, their primary role was as Home Guardsmen and that bomb disposal was not a function of the Home Guard. All this was soon to change. Following a Home Forces conference in May, a War Office letter of 23rd June 1941 stated clearly that “Bomb Disposal Squads may be formed in Home Guard factory units, whenever the C-in-C Home Forces considers it necessary...” and were to form an integral part of the factory unit. Despite an assurance in the letter that “Members of the Home Guard will be allowed to wear the Bomb Disposal badge, when qualified” the Director of Bomb Disposal made it clear that he did not wish HG to wear the normal Bomb Disposal (BD) badge. During discussion of this topic, it was suggested that MAP had already issued its own BD badge which some men were wearing on uniform. We believe this to have been an enamel lapel badge of the type shown (202).

Throughout 1942 factory units were under pressure to integrate more closely with GS battalions and in September it was decided that all remaining civilian ABDS should become sub-units of local HG battalions. Existing unit members were offered two weeks to decide if they wanted to enrol as Home Guardsmen. Perhaps to soften the blow, it was announced in early October that a special badge was under consideration, although this did not materialise until August 1943 when a distinctive HG bomb disposal badge was announced, with an initial issue of 10,000. The badge is a red circle superimposed upon which are two yellow crossed bombs, nose downwards (203). The official issue was printed and was to be worn at the bottom of the left sleeve of the BD blouse, five inches from the lower edge. Issue of the badge was not authorised until members had performed 24 hours BD training.

Full instructions for Home Guard Auxiliary Bomb Disposal Sub-Units were issued in May 1943. These laid down that a unit’s duties were confined to the area of the factory or establishment in which they worked, although highly-trained units might be asked to volunteer for duties outside. They were categorically stated to be members of the local General Service battalion with a secondary role as infantry once their primary task was no longer required.

Three classes of unit existed. Category A units were authorised to work on bombs, including the discharging and removal of certain types of fuses without RE supervision. Category B units needed RE supervision to perform these tasks, whilst Category C units were still under training. A 1943 list shows Category A units in companies as diverse as the jam-makers Chivers in Cambridge, the London Brick Company in Peterborough and Hawker Aircraft in Kingston-upon-Thames.

[ARPCDHG]

Top stuff, Jon - is that second badge, technically, over-embroidered, rather than fully embroidered?

[Postwarden]

Good spot. It certainly seems to have been over-embroidered. The example attached does seem to be a fully embroidered example.

Jon

[blackpowder44]

Here are my two bomb disposal badges, the arm band I bought many years ago from a house clearance bloke. The bomb reporting instructions are pasted inside the note book of a special constable from south east Devon. John.

[Blue Puttees]

Thank you ARPCDHG, Postwarden and blackpowder44.