Measurements: 10.5cm x 8.5cm (4.25in x 3.25in)
Made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd., 112 Regent Street, London. Hallmarked London 1939
In 1936 response to cataclysmic predictions of a million casualties and the capital in ruins in the first month of war, based on the diktat ‘the bomber always gets through', prime minister Stanley Baldwin authorised the Home Office publication Air Raid Precautions and invited big business local government to make preparations to protect the people. Official Air Raid Precautions (ARP) badges in hallmarked silver were issued to all recruits who successfully completed their training from April 1937 until 1940 when the exigencies of war demanded an 'economy issue'. Large commercial and industrial companies, such as The London Times also had their own ARP and Firewatcher units who privately issued badges to in house personnel.
Not only did these badges identify ARP members when off duty but they also signified to others they were 'doing their bit' for the war effort. The roles and functions of ARP personnel were considerable and varied and their specialist local knowledge was used to effect in assisting with rescue operations. ARP wardens also helped distribute gas masks and provided instruction in their use, enforced blackouts, maintained fire watches, and were trained in first aid.
On the night of 24-25 September 1940 The Times’ ARP personnel were put under particular pressure when the newspaper group’s Blackfriars offices came under sustained aerial attack as 300 staff laboured to rush 80,000 copies of The Times out to the distribution network.