But the age of conventional
German air power over Britain
had passed and a new era of jet-
powered bombardment had begun,
firstly, by the V1 flying bomb, from
June 13, 1944 to March 29, 1945,
and latterly, from September 8,
1944 to March 27, 1945, with the
V2 rocket.
No borough escaped bombing and 29,890
Londoners were killed, with 139,349
wounded by enemy action.DOING THEIR BEST
Horrific as the statistics are, they could
have been far higher had it not been
for the altruistic and brave deeds of the
capital’s ARP/Civil Defence and London
fire services. (See Britain Beneath theBlitz in the July issue.) London was designated Civil Defence
Region 5 and its 43 outer and 29 inner boroughs were divided
into council ARP scheme-making authorities along these
borough lines. Perhaps one of the most poignant collectables
representative of this organisation is the
chest title insignia from the various areas.
From 1939-1941, they took the form
of red embroidered titles worn on
ARP overalls and after that date,
old gold, worn on Civil Defence
uniforms. As they cover the
Blitz period, the former titles
are more collectable and can
realise more than £30, the latter
from £20.
During 1940-1941, London’s ARP
Rescue services wore a distinctive
red embroidered ‘R – London’ chest
insignia on their overalls. Rare, these
sell for up to £75. Similarly, the largely
female London Auxiliary Ambulance
Service (LAAS) wore an embroidered
‘London’ chest title. Seldom seen these
days, you might have to pay £50 for one. LAAS personnel
also sported an unofficial enamel pinback badge, of two68 http://www.britainatwar.com
TOPRubble from the House of Commons Chamber and Members’ Lobby, destroyed
on May 11, 1941, was re-sculpted by London Stonecraft into souvenir objects to
raise funds for the Joint Red Cross and St John Fund. This paperweight made from
material from ‘The House’ retains the black marks from the associated fire.ABOVEThe Auxiliary Fire Service wore a distinctive red breast badge (upper). From
August 1941, the AFS were absorbed into the NFS and wore this circular chest
insignia (lower).RIGHTSeveral song sheets, such as this 1941 example, London I Cannot Leave You
by Kieran Tunney and Lord Foley, speak in sentimental form of devotion to
the capital.“NO BOROUGH ESCAPED BOMBING AND IN TOTAL, 29,890 LONDONERS
WERE KILLED, WITH 139,349 WOUNDED BY ENEMY ACTION”But the age of conventionalBlitzBlitzBlitz in the July issue.) London was designated Civil Defence in the July issue.) London was designated Civil Defence
Region 5 and its 43 outer and 29 inner boroughs were divided
into council ARP scheme-making authorities along these
borough lines. Perhaps one of the most poignant collectables
representative of this organisation is the
chest title insignia from the various areas.
From 1939-1941, they took the form
of red embroidered titles worn on
ARP overalls and after that date,realise more than £30, the latter
from £20.
During 1940-1941, London’s ARP
Rescue services wore a distinctive
red embroidered ‘R – London’ chest
insignia on their overalls. Rare, these
sell for up to £75. Similarly, the largely
female London Auxiliary Ambulance
Service (LAAS) wore an embroidered
‘London’ chest title. Seldom seen these
days, you might have to pay £50 for one. LAAS personnel
also sported an unofficial enamel pinback badge, of twoV2 rocket.
No borough escaped bombing and 29,890
Londoners were killed, with 139,349
wounded by enemy action.DOING THEIR BEST
Horrific as the statistics are, they could
have been far higher had it not been
for the altruistic and brave deeds of the
capital’s ARP/Civil Defence and London
fire services. (See