Civil Defence Corps Badges

The badges described here are those used by the UK Civil Defence Corps during the Cold War. One frequently sees badges miss-described on auction sites,  this page is an attempt to be definitive. Badges which show "Civil Defence Corps" cannot be WWII, as the Corps was not formed until 1949! You will also find printed cloth badges these will be fakes or WWII as all cloth badges from the Cold War period were embroidered. There are also a number of other badges that were issued during the early life of the Corps, for sections that either only existed for a short time, or that were re-named. I don't have any of these.

Corps badge

The Civil Defence Corps Corps badge was worn on the beret and the left breast pocket of the battledress blouse. The beret was worn so that the badge was centred over the left eye.

County badges

Beneath the breast pocket Corps badge was worn the county or divisional badge, a selection of which is shown below. According to uniform instructions the badge was to be sewn so that it touched the bottom edge of the breast pocket badge.

Corps section badges

Section badges were worn one finger width below the seam on both shoulders, with sub-section badges, where appropriate immediately below.

Instructor badges

Instructors were trained either locally, or at Civil Defence training schools. In the case of locally trained instructor's the badge was blue, and for those trained at the Home Office schools it was in silver thread, for advanced trained instructors gold. The badge was worn on both sleeves of the battledress blouse, midway between the cuff and elbow, unless first aid badges were worn, in which case they were worn with the badges equidistant, half an inch apart, with the instructor badge lower.

First Aid badges

Members of the Ambulance and First Aid section were trained by one of the major first aid organisations, St John Ambulance, British Red Cross or the St Andrews Ambulance. Training was to the advanced standard with both a practical and a theoretical examination, the latter being conducted by a doctor. Badges were worn as described above. Members of other sections also had the option to take first aid courses and wear the appropriate badge.

Proficiency badges

Proficiency badges were awarded upon completion of intermediate and advanced training. If one attended all training sessions and passed the written test for one's section, it was possible to get the intermediate badge in about 12 months.

Upon completion of intermediate training volunteers became eligible for an annual bounty payment, dependent on rank, this was £10, £12 or £15 a year during the last few years of the Corps. A further period, of perhaps 12-24 months would be required to achieve the advanced test. For promotion beyond basic grade, it was necessary to complete at least 50 hours training per year, and to pass the intermediate level test. The badges consisted of a five pointed star, the basic being silver, the intermediate being silver with a red surround, and the advanced, gold. Badges were worn two inches above the cuff on either sleeve.

Badges of Rank

	HEADQUARTERS SECTION			WARDEN SECTION	RESCUE SECTION	WELFARE SECTION	AMBULANCE & FIRST AID SECTION
	Intelligence & Operations sub-Section	Signal sub-Section	Scientific & Reconnaissance sub-Section
	Chief Officer	Chief Officer	Chief Officer	Chief Warden	Chief Rescue Officer	Chief Welfare Section Officer	Chief Ambulance Officer
	Senior Staff Officer	Senior Signal Officer	Senior Scientific Intelligence Officer	Deputy Chief Warden	Deputy Chief Rescue Officer	Deputy Chief Welfare Section Officer	Deputy Chief Ambulance Officer
					Column Rescue Officer		Column Ambulance Officer
				Assistant Chief Warden	Deputy Column Rescue Officer		Deputy Column Ambulance Officer
	Staff Officer (Operations) Staff Officer (Intelligence) Senior Staff Officer	Signal Officer	Scientific Intelligence Officer Reconnaissance Officer	Sector Warden	Company Rescue Officer	Assistant Chief Welfare Officer	Company Ambulance Officer Company First Aid Officer
				Deputy Sector Warden	Deputy Company Rescue Officer	Senior Welfare Section Officer	Deputy Company Ambulance Officer Deputy Company First Aid Officer
				Post Warden	Platoon Rescue Officer		Platoon Ambulance Officer Platoon First Aid Officer
		Signalmaster		Deputy Post warden	Deputy Platoon Rescue Officer	Welfare Section Officer	Deputy Platoon Ambulance Officer Deputy Platoon First Aid Officer
	Operations Clerk Intelligence Clerk	Signal Clerk Field Cable Party Leader	Reconnaissance Party Leader	Senior Warden	Rescue Party Leader	Welfare Section Detachment Leader	Ambulance Detachment Leader First Aid Party Leader
					Deputy Rescue Party Leader		Deputy Ambulance Detachment Leader Deputy First Aid Party Leader
	Not used during the Cold War

Chevrons were worn on the upper left arm, midway between the elbow and the shoulder seam, other badges were worn on both shoulders.

Lapel badges

Every member of the Corps was issued with a lapel badge on completion of basic training, they were available as either broach fitting or with a horseshoe back for a buttonhole and were for wear when in civvies, volunteers could choose which version they received. The badges show (You will frequently see them described as officers pips, collar badges or sweetheart badges, they are none of these things. On Civil Defence Corps uniforms only cloth badges were worn.

Brassards or Arm Bands

From the inception of the Corps it was realised that it would probably be short of trained personnel in the event of war. As part of planning it was envisioned that there would be a deterioration in the world situation prior to war being declared. During this period it was hoped to recruit volunteers who would receive a minimum of training. They would be equipped with a tin hat and an arm band or brassard. Training would not enable them to perform more than basic functions unless they had prior knowledge or experience. This would not have been of any value in the case of sudden attack or rapid deterioration in the world situation as happened in the case of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Brassards were not worn with Civil Defence uniform.

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