Quote:
Originally Posted by Postwarden
My thanks to all for the comments.
A little digging in National Archives file AST9/32 which covers the setting up of the Board's Mobile Units reveals that the staff originally wore Civil Defence pattern blue uniform which they received in July 1941, the armbands shown being introduced to distinguish the Board's staff from the CD services
By September the Ministry of Home Security had objected to the use of blue uniforms as the Board were not part of the CD organisation and they opted instead for a green uniform of RAF style worn with a collar and tie. A second file I have still to look at may reveal the style and introduction date for the arm title.
The file also reveals that the Mobile Unit's vehicles were painted khaki with their title and a crown in yellow paint to show it was an official vehicle, the crown originally objected to by the Lord Chamberlain. The board also adopted a flag - an oblong divided diagonally, one half dark brown with an amber circle and a crown, the other amber with the words "Assistance Board" in brown, a design that a heraldry enthusiast on the Board's staff objected to as brown did not exist as a colour in heraldry.
Amazing what they got up to considering there was a war on!
Jon
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Hilarious! Unbelievable petty bureaucracy - how did we win the war etc...