History
Civil Defence in World War Two
During the conflict, civilians volunteered or were conscripted into jobs to help the war effort. Whether it was joining new organisations such as the Home Guard or existing ones including the Emergency Services, the public 'did their bit'.
Photo: Air raid wardens race to the rescue in Farringdon, London, after a V2 rocket explosion in March 1945. (Getty Images)
Introduction
Civil Defence in World War Two
Highlights from ´óÏó´«Ã½ programmes Video (3)
Firemen who fought the Second Great Fire of London recall fighting the fires until New Year 1941, in a film by J.B. Priestley.
Firemen who fought the Second Great Fire of London recall the extent of the devastation and fighting the fires until New Year 1941, in a film by J.B. Priestley. ´óÏó´«Ã½ war reporter Robin Duff also contributes.
Londoners remember the first days of the Blitz
Rose Patience, a waitress during the war, remembers sheltering from the bombs under an arch in Abbey Street. Ted Wilson, a volunteer firefighter, describes the chaos of London's burning docks.
Andrew Marr explains how the Home Guard was created during World War Two to help fight off a possible invasion.
Andrew Marr describes the the creation of the Home Guard and the huge numbers of men who signed up to defend the Home Front from a German invasion.
More information about: Civil Defence in World War Two
Put that light out!
During the inter-war period, fear of airborne conflicts grew and grew. The December 1937 Air Raid Precaution Act made preparations compulsory for all local authorities. Local government became responsible for building air raid shelters, providing gas masks and recruiting volunteers for civil defence and the emergency services.
ARP wardens built Anderson and Morrison shelters, enforced blackout regulations and distributed 38 million gas masks to the public. They also kept order in public air raid shelters, administered first aid and watched for fires.
Wardens were initially the butt of jokes in the first weeks of the war when the German planes failed to materialise. When the bombing began, however, they were often first on the scene and went beyond the call of duty to rescue others.
Royal Observer Corp
The Royal Observer Corps was created to detect, track, identify and report aircraft over Britain. It was awarded the 'Royal' title by King George VI in 1941, in recognition of its valiant work during the Battle of Britain during which the volunteers provided RAF Fighter Command with the numbers, type and height of incoming enemy aircraft.
The Home Guard
On 14 May 1940, Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for War, encouraged men aged 17-65 and unable to serve in the forces to join the Local Defence Volunteers. Within 24 hours, 250,000 men had registered and, by the end of June 1940, nearly 1.5million had volunteered. Weapons were slow to materialise, due in part to the equipment losses at Dunkirk, so many initially improvised with brooms, umbrellas and golf clubs. In July 1940 Winston Churchill changed the name to 'Home Guard'.
The Emergency Services
As war broke out, the Emergency Services began to appeal for volunteers, their usual numbers depleted by military service. The Auxiliary Ambulance Service began recruiting, and Ennis Smith became the youngest ambulance driver aged 16.
The Auxiliary Fire Service (later the National Fire Service) was also created. Its members were usually too old or young for military service and most were unpaid part-timers. Initially perceived as 'service-dodgers', they became public heroes when the Blitz began.
Many police officers also were young men or reservists, so the government and the police authorities had to recruit volunteers to keep up the numbers. Reserve policemen, special constables and women officers were signed up. As well as normal law-keeping duties, they became responsible for checking on enemy aliens, pursuing Army deserters and assisting the rescue services during bombing raids.
A woman's place?
As World War Two loomed, campaigns for female volunteers to fill men's roles commenced. Although thousands volunteered, conscription became unavoidable and, in December 1941, the National Service Act (no 2) made conscription legal for women.
By September 1943, more than one million women had joined the Women's Voluntary Service. They staffed field kitchens; ran nurseries and hostels; cared for evacuees; drove ambulances; organised canteens for those bombed out of their homes; and worked the land in the Women's Land Army.
Women also joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (the WRNS), the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Amongst other things these organisations manned searchlights, launched barrage balloons and maintained Royal Navy ships.
As the war ended, however, it was taken for granted that women would return to the home and there were mixed feelings as they were dismissed from their roles.
Evacuation
Germany bombs British towns and cities
Germany bombs London
VE Day
RAF Fighter Command 
Christmas 1940