Genealogy Chat

H Cheryl , but although the work was used specifically for the war and their output would have been increased. they weren't a service set up for the War Effort like civil defense etc.
On my birth cert pre 1939 (not going to give my age away lol ,Dad is down a Shell Turner and there was no inkling then that another War was on the cards.

Thanks for that shirley. You'd think they would get some sort of recognition, afterall they were making ammunitions for the war effort.

My dad worked at the Woolwich Arsenal all his working life from aged 14 in 1921. They were governed by Civil Service contracts. Cant recall he got any war medal but Mum did because she did First Aid and Civil defence Our house was an ARP post. mum used to do fire and bomb watching shifts and go to where bombs dropped to do first aid etc.

my pleasure - we had an evacuee during the war - I'm in Cardiff - she was from Birmingham - never thought about the census aspect!!!

Wow Anne,

Thanks for all that. I will print it off as it's easier to refer to when searching. I have just heard that he also worked for the volunteer aux fire service in London too. I suppose he would have got something for that.

I have spent lots of time researching family history and never got around to asking about the most recent. The family was split into 4, with 2 children going to kent, 2 to cornwall, 2 and their mother to here in Peterborough and the father stayed in London working in the woolwich arsenal, helping the war effort. It's a good job there was no census in 1941. Could you imagine sorting that lot out. lol
Thanks again
Cheryl

Frequently asked questions about Medals - The Royal British ...
Home Guard and civilian claims for the Defence Medal require the County and area in which the ..... WWII medals illustrated · Post WWII medals illustrated ...

www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/medals/medal-faqs - 39k - Similar pages

33. Civil Defence Services set up by Railway Dock authority and Canal Undertakings

34. American Ambulance. Great Britain

35. Civil Air Transport, Air crew only

36. Air Transport Auxiliary, Air crew only

37. Civil Defence Reserve

38. Kent County Civil Defence Mobile Reserve

39. West Sussex County Civil Defence Mobile attacks

40. Coast Guard

41. Civil Servants forming departmental Civil Defence organisations

42. Lighthouse keepers who served under the three general lighthouse Authorities, and keepers of Light Vessel under those authority, who do not qualify for the 1939 - 45 Star

43. Port of London Authority River Emergency Service

44. Clyde River Patrol.

45. Royal Observer Corps.

46. Volunteer Stretcher Bearers Emergency Hospital Scheme

47. Male Orderlies in Casualty Evacuation Trains Emergency Medical Service

48. Emergency Information Officers and their helpers( who served under the Ministry of Information, and including Deputy E.I.Os.Announcers, Drivers, and Messengers, if engage in a section of the Service which had, operational functions during or immediately after enemy attack.

49. R.A.F. Education Officers serving in the United Kingdom

50. Enrolled lifeboat men R.N.L.I. who do not qualify for the 1939 - 45 Star.

21. Fire guards

who performed duties under a local authority in any areas where the establishment of a fire guard organisation was compulsory or was approved by the Regional Commissioner in Northern Ireland, the Ministry responsible being service which was qualifying service for the award of Chevrons for war services
including civil defence and Fire brigade personnel who performed duties at government or business premises under arrangements made under the Fire Guard Business and Government Premises Order 1943, or any previous provision or under the corresponding Order in Northern Ireland being service which was qualifying service for the award of Chevron for war service
22. E.N.S.A (Entertainments National Service Association)

23. Women’s Voluntary Service for Civil Defence

being members who were eligible for war service red chevrons by reasons that they performed on behalf of a local authority duties analogous to those, of the eligible local authority civil defence services, and were engaged in a section of the W.V.S , which had,or would have had, operational functions during or immediately after enemy Reserve.. authorities, who do not qualify for the W.V.S members who were enrolled members of one of the eligible local authority services should apply as laid down for categories 8 - 19 above.
24. Civil Nursing Reserve.

25. Nurses or Midwives in hospitals for which Government Department or Local Authorities are responsible, or in the recognised voluntary hospitals

26. National Fire Services including services in a local authority Fire Brigade or the Auxiliary Fire Services prior to nationalisation.

27. Police Regular Police, First Police Reserve, Police War Reserve, Women’s Auxiliary Police Corps, Police Auxiliary Messenger Service, Special Constabulary.

28. Royal Marine Police Special Reserve..

29. Admiralty Civil Police.

30. War Department Constabulary.

31. Air Ministry Constabulary.

32. Railway and Dock Police

9. Civil Defence Rescue Service, including former First Aid Party Services, or in London, Stretcher Party Services

10. Civil Defence Decontamination Service

11. Civil Defence Report and Control Service

12. Civil Defence Messenger Service.

13. Civil Defence Ambulance Service including sitting Case Cars.

14. Civil Defence First Aid Service, including First Aid Posts and Points. Public Cleaning Centres. Mobile Cleaning Units and the Nursing Service for public air-raid shelters.

15. Civil Defence Gas Identification Service.

16. Rest Centre Service.

17. Emergency Food Services including Queen’s Messenger Convoy Services

18. Canteen Services.

19. Administration and Information Centre Services not Ministry of Information Services

20. Mortuary Services

Young Men’s Christian Association
Young Women’s Christian Association
5. Voluntary Societies under the Council of British Society for Relief Abroad

Catholic Committee for Relief Abroad
Guide International Relief Service
International Voluntary Service for Peace
Jewish Committee for Relief Abroad
Joint War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem.
Salvation Army
Save the Children Fund, Registered Charity
Scout International Relief Service
World Student Relief ( also known as International Student Service) ( London Committee).
Young Women’s Christian Association.
6. N.A.A.F.I. ( Overseas)

N.A.F.F.I.Women’s Voluntary Service
Civilian Uniformed Employees.
Entertainment National Service Association
7. Other Organisations and independent members ( Overseas)

Allied Expeditionary Force Club
Army Schoolmistresses, Malta.
Assistant Commissioners H.M Forces war Savings Committee
Civil Defence Service Overseas Column
Interpreters
National Fire Service Overseas Column
Technical Representative Civilian . R.E.M.E
Telecom Personnel (Cable and Wireless Ltd
War Correspondents including Americans who served between 3/9/39 and 8/12/41 inclusive
War Office King’s Messengers
Women’s Voluntary Service A.W.S.
Women’s Transport Service A.W.S.
Women’s Transport Service F.A.N.Y.Special Parties.
8. Civil Defence Warden service including Shelter Warden

WW2 Medals for Civilians?
Categories of Entitlement for Defence Medal

1. Ex-member of the Armed Force or of the Women’s Military Auxiliary Services.

2. Home Guard

3. Medical Services (overseas)

Joint War Organisation of British Red Cross
Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem
Chartered Physiotherapists
(British Red Cross Society)
American Field Service
4. Philanthropic Bodies (Overseas)

Army Scripture Readers’ Association
Catholic Women’s League
Christian Scientists (Officiating Minister).
Christian Scientists Welfare Workers( Librarians and Secretaries )
Church Army
Church of England Soldiers’,Sailors’ and Airmen’s Institute
Church of Scotland.
Hibbert House
Incorporated Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Help Society
Methodist and United Board Churches
Mission to Mediterranean Garrisons.
Salvation Army.
Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s’Families Association
Toc H

I found out yesterday that my husbands grandad worked at the Woolwich arsenal during WW2. I believe that the employees were civil servants. I was wondering if anyone knew if they got a medal for helping out the war effort in the UK.
My own grandad was a postpaster and also a farmer and he got a medal of some sorts.
I have googled it but got no answers.
Thanks
Cheryl