A.R.P Pocket Badge

[geezer#199]

I have seen a couple of these on threads of varying shapes and sizes and was wondering if anyone would have any idea of the origin of this badge. Also there is a number of the reverse of it and if the number has any significance.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Jack

[Bill A]

Hello Jack, the badge is for Air Raid Precautions. An image of the reverse?

[paj1]

hi jack i have quite a few arp badges lots of diffrent shapes and sizes.
but not seen one like that before. i think most of them date from
mid to late thirtys onwards
paj1

[geezer#199]

Bill

Here is a copy of the back, is there any significance to the number on the back?

Jack

[geezer#199]

Paj1

You say you have a number of these badges, are they from all over the world, this one was located in a town in the interior of British Columbia, Canada.

Jack

[paj1]

Hi jack all the arp badges that i have are uk issue badges of ww2 patterns
the number on the back of yours could be a issue number or a manufactuers
pattern number by issue number, every badge having its own seperate
number
paj1

[Bill A]

Hello Jack, The number on the back is, I believe, like a police badge number. It is unique to that badge, and the person holding the badge. The ARP had significant powers, which IIRC allowed them to charge people, enforce Air Raid precautions, etc.

[geezer#199]

I quickly googled ARP and could not find any indication that Canada had ARP Badges, just England. The ones form England are definately quite different then the one I have. The ones that showed up on goggle are like the ones that Longshanks has recently shown in the photo gallery.

Is there anyone out there that is an authority on these badges that I can be directed too and excuse my ignorance but what does IIRC stand for?

Jack

[Bill A]

Posting here should hopefully get an expert to chime in.
IIRC = if I remember correctly.

[geezer#199]

Bill

Thanks, I am not up on all the acronyms used in the Forum.

Jack

[John Cameron]

The style of shield is similar to patterns used by police in Canada from the early 1900s to the late 1940s, as is the pin back fastener. I have yet to encounter any reference to that pattern of ARP badge though. Interesting.
As Bill said, the number on the back is likely a registration number matching an identification or warrant card indicating special constable powers.

[geezer#199]

John

Thank you for that. You mention that you have not seen any reference to the type of badge that I have, what references are there out there for ARP Badges in Canada. As mentioned I looked quickly on google and only saw references to ARP in Britain.

I will try again.

Jack

[jonnynation]

this is a Canadian issue ARP badge, and was as i understand it, issued earlier in the war. later in the war, like in the UK, when things got a little more organised on the home front ARP was changed to CD (Civil Defence) which is a bit better representation of what they`d potentially get up too.

the number on the back is individual to each badge, this was so that they could keep track of who got issued a badge. i have seen quite a few of these on ebay over the years, so they are not particularly rare, but dont tend to come too cheap either. im waiting to find that bargain one to add to my collection. it appears from the lack of evidence that there were never uniforms or a particularly large amount of different types of insignia issued to canadian ARP / CD personel. you will see haversack type webbing pouches for use as first aid kits, and the odd bit of other kit with a stamp on it. for insignia, you wont see a lot more than a few enamel badges, a couple of different armbands, and a small variety of patches. having two languages that adds to the amount of material to collect, but there still isnt a lot. CD was very much a police area of responsibility during the cold war, and theres quite a few different police style patches floating around that are CD related. a batch of these were on ebay recently.

if anyones really interested, i just happen to have a CD insignia facebook group! http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=228989837708 (or you can search for civil defence). ive been uploading mostly british insignia, but there are some canadian too, plus other places. have lots more to go up when i get around to it from my image collection. please feel free to add images of ARP and CD insignia yourselves if you have some!

cheers, sean

[geezer#199]

Sean

Would this be an example of the Civil Defence badges that would have been issued after ARP

Jack

[jonnynation]

Yessir, looks like it to me!... although i would say this one is probably post war - from when CD started getting reorganised to deal with the cold war atomic threat. ive not seen of this type before, and its a beauty - congrats!