AN ARP WARDEN IN THE FAMILY

This photo of my Mother (top) at that time Joan Dyck. and Grandmother (Nance Dyck)was taken around 1945. Mum was serving as a part-time warden while working for the Post office, Gran was a full time warden having joined about 1942, Mum about 1943/4

They were both in Area 7 of Hendon ARP which is an area North West of London (and currently is home to the RAF Museum). The proximity of Hendon airfield brought more than a little attention to the area from the Luftwaffe during the earlier years of the war, Hendon being well plotted on German maps as it had existed in the balmy days of pre-war Britain, frequently being home to many airshows in the 20's and 30's.

Also in the area was the DeHavilland aircraft factory which was manufacturing aircraft for the RAF, again a well known location to the German Air Force.

My Mother remembered incidents from those days, she recalled being on her way home one night and the air raid sirens going, with sudden horror she suddenly realised that gran would be alone in their post in the park near Green lane, as she ran to find her mother the bombs were coming down around her, she doesn't remember being afraid, as she says, it was the stupidity of youth, I can't say that I agree with her definition.

On another occasion they were both walking home when a V1 Doodlebug appeared as the sirens went, the engine cut and there was the terrible silence that followed this event. Gran apparently thought that the bomb was going to land on them and mum had to pull her back as the V1 skimmed over head and crashed a few streets away, they ran to the scene, mother speaks of the devastation but will not be drawn any further. She also remembered a house where every pane of glass was broken, but being stunned to see a large mirror above the fireplace intact.

In our safe modern world we are at a loss to understand the courage, fortitude and stamina which kept the average citizen surviving for 5 years on a couple of hours sleep. Routines being broken by working, duty in a local ARP, Fireguard or NFS unit and then up at incredibly early hour to battle through the bomb damaged, bomb blasted streets to work. that is of course if Hitler had allowed any time for the emergency services to sleep.

Joan Lilian Durrant (nee' Dyck) born 30th April 1920, died 19th April 2000

UNIFORM DETAIL

With any photos I put in the magazine I will try to provide a breakdown of the uniform and equipment worn.

In this case I can describe the uniform pretty accurately as I still have Gran's tunic that she used throughout the war from about 1942!

Gran (Mrs Nance Dyck) is wearing the first pattern ARP 4 pocket tunics issued during the middle part of 1941 in place of the impractical Bluette overalls used by both men and women during 1939/40.My Mother(then Miss Joan Dyck) is wearing the second pattern issued around 1943, this still has the nickel CD (Civil Defence) buttons, later tunics had black plastic, a very few had chrome.

The tunic has a belt which is sewn into the back and badges for CD (Civil Defence), 3 years war service, St Johns 1st aid badge, title for HENDON for the area and unofficial patches to the upper arm for 'B7' this being the area designation, I think the B was the post letter. On the upper arm are the offical 'Warden' titles. Most WW2 badges can be distinguished by the gold colouring of the letter thread or print.

The hat is very interesting as according to mum it was issued to her when she joined in about 1943, but officially these hats were only worn with the early bluette overalls and in theory were replaced by navy berets for the Wardens service when the new uniforms were issued! Mind you Hendon was a posh area, so perhaps they had to be a little bit different.

There were no Home office regulations covering dress, only guidelines. This meant that as uniform and equipment was purchased by Local Authorities there was often a variance in pattern or design. This makes the job of establishing what is correct much more difficult for the homefront collector than the military, where at least there were offical clothing and dress regulations, even if they were not always adhered to.

I would appreciate your comments on this article and what sort of information you would welcome in the future.

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