A for Air Raid Precautions

This was growing too huge for a "Card of the Day", so we now have this new blog post, "A for Air Raid Precautions". The increased space will allow us to eventually display one selected card in all the back versions, list all the titles of the cards, and also reveal which cards were excised from the Irish version of only forty cards, and the Churchman`s set of only forty-eight - and maybe even why......

We can also add some background to the production of the set, using contemporary military manuals and sources.

Now the first ever write up for this set appears on the front cover of the London Cigarette Card Company`s “Cigarette Card News”, Volume 5, No.39 - copy dated September 1938. This starts by saying :

In view of the extreme national importance of the subject, the issue by Messrs. W.D. & H.O. Wills, Ltd., of a series of cards dealing with Air-Raid Precautions carries more than the interest usually attached to the issue of a new set, however good. The series deals with every aspect of the subject; the use of suitable appliance for dealing with gas and incendiary bombs, construction of refuges, decontamination work, the protection of windows and doors against gas, splinters, etc., and much other information. This is, we believe the first series ever to receive official notice by one of H.M. Ministers; it is certainly worthy of the distinction.”

They cite the Wills set, but that was not the first version to be issued, in fact it was one of the last, but the British home issue was first circulated whilst this magazine was being edited, in August 1938, so it was more immediately visible. I do think they miss something very important about this set though, for it is proof positive that cigarette cards were definitely regarded as a great way of getting information across to the general public. If not, this set would have not been issued, it would have been instead a series of posters, or advertisements in the daily paper.

Still another proof of its usefulness is the way that it was issued not only by more than one cigarette company, but ones in different regional areas, Churchman in Ipswich and East Anglia, Wills of Bristol and the West, Mitchell in Glasgow and Scotland, and Ogdens of Liverpool and the North West.

The Cards :

This listing uses the numbers of the standard sized sets. The letters in brackets refer to the different versions, to show the missing cards more than anything else, as they contain the initial of the maker and the number of the card. These are :

(C) - W.A & A.C. Churchman
(H) - Hignett
(M) - Stephen Mitchell
(O) - Ogdens Ltd
( WA)- W.D. & H.O. Wills home issue
( WC)- W.D. & H.O. Wills Channel Islands issue
( WI ) - W.D. & H.O. Wills Irish issue

The set started with preparations, the first nine cards speaking of the need to make a suitable room to serve as a refuge. The titles of these are :

Choosing Your Refuge Room (C1)
Rendering Your Refuge Room Gas-Proof (C2)
Making a Door Gas-Proof (C3)
Window Protection (C4)
Window Protection against Blast (C5)
Types of Splinter-Proof Wall (C6)
Protecting Your Windows--A Sandbag Defence (C7)
Equipping Your Refuge Room -- (A) (C8)
Equipping Your Refuge Room -- (B) (C9)

The biggest fear, as these cards show, was that poison gas would be released on the British public, but it never was.

The cards then move on to a home dug outdoor shelter, one which looks like the interior of a submarine, and a "French Type". However in the Churchman version there is just the one card, of the garden dug-out; the others were not included.
A Garden Dug-Out (C10)
A Ventilated Gas-Proof Shelter
A Gas-Proof Balloon Shelter (French Type)

The next cards deal with things that it was hoped any home owner or resident could easily manage to do in order to tackle a range of emergencies before the wardens arrived. It was also thought that seeing them tackled so easily, and in an illustrated manner, would give the householder confidence that they could indeed do these things.

Chief amongst these was fighting incendiary bombs, which were designed to start fires; they had an explosive charge inside the casing and that would burst either in the air or once it hit the ground, setting light to a flammable material inside the bomb. You can see how it comes through the window and lands on the carpet. If things did get out of hand there were cards showing how to operate fire pumps, or, failing that, forming a human chain with buckets of water. I am not sure why they featured the mechanised equipment, unless it was to show what would eventually arrive.
Incendiary Bomb and Its Effect (Fire started in room) (C11)
Incendiary Bomb Cooling Down (Preliminary Fire Extinguishing with Jet from Stirrup Hand Pump) (C12)
Control of Incendiary Bomb (Pouring on Sand from Scoop) (C13)
Removal of Incendiary Bomb with Scoop and Hoe (C14)
Extinction of Incendiary Bomb (Transferring the bomb to the Redhill Container) - (C15)
The Stirrup Hand Pump (C16)
Two-Men Portable Manual Fire-Pump in Action (C17)
A Chain of Buckets (C18)
Light Trailer Fire-Pump (C19)
Light Trailer Fire-Pump in Action (C20)
Medium Trailer Fire-Pump (C21)
Medium Trailer Fire-Pump in Action (C22)
Emergency Heavy Pump Unit (C23)
Hose-Laying Lorry (C24)

After that the set slides into rubber, featuring respirators, or gas masks, including how to fit them, plus anti gas suits, and clothing
The Civilian Respirator (C25)
The Civilian Respirator--How to Adjust It (C26)
The Civilian Respirator--How to Remove It (C27)
The Civilian Duty Respirator (C28)
The Service Respirator (C29)
A Heavy Anti-Gas Suit (C30)
Rubber Clothing (C31)

The next part shows the power of connection, and of volunteering, especially amongst the general public, which is why we have cards with titles such as "Air Raid Wardens and a Civilian Volunteer Despatch Rider", but it also shows owner drivers serving with their own cars, a first aid party, ordinary people packing respirators, the various crew and helpers of a mobile gas van, and new contamination workers in training. And this section closes by showing the A.R.P. badge of honour, which was actually made of hallmarked silver, and ensured that the wearer would be instantly recognised as an official. The card tells us that to get the badge you only needed to serve for a month at either first aid/medical, rescue/demolition, decontamination, air raid wardenry, or as a gas detection officer - and also be deemed an efficient member of your squad. It then says that "women volunteers are presented with a brooch carrying the badge". These brooches are far scarcer than the man`s version, by the way. You can read more about this badge at WW2 Civil Defence/ARP which is a fascinating site on every page.
Air Raid Wardens and Civilian Volunteer Despatch-Rider (C32)
Volunteer Mobile Corps (Owner Drivers) (C33)
A First Aid Party (C34)
Supply Depot for Respirators (C35)
Mobile Gas Vans (C36)
Civilian Anti-Gas School (C37)
Testing for Gas Contamination (C38)

This is where the version issued by W.D. & H.O. Wills in Ireland ends, their set is just forty cards.
Decontamination Workers in Training (C39)
Air Raid Precautions Badge (C40)
Representation of Air Defence Control Room (C41)
Pilots Running to Machines (Interceptor Fighters) to Take Off (C42)
Gloucester Gauntlet Interceptor Fighters (C43)
Representation of Balloon Barrage for Defence of London (C44)
Anti-Aircraft Searchlight (C45)
Anti-Aircraft Sound Locator (C46)
Height Finder (C47)
Anti-Aircraft Gun (C48)

Our Sample Card :

The card which speaks to me most is the Air Raid Precautions badge. The idea of this was mooted as early as 1936, and in the March of that year the Royal Mint was contacted by the Home Office, asking them to source a designer for a badge for civilian defence volunteers. The design chosen was by Eric Gill, who had come up with it very quickly, in April 1936. He was paid three guineas for it, which does not seem much.

The badges were primarily for Air Raid Wardens, but also for medical workers, and those involved in rescue or demolition, or gas detection and decontamination. Strangely they were not to be worn by members of the police or fire brigade. The decision of who was to wear them was up to the local authorities, and they were only issued after the person had passed through their training. So far, so good, but we know that unauthorised copies were made, in a variety of shapes and sizes, and also that found badges were not always returned to the authorities. In fact, the Civil Defence Act of 1939 includes the fact that wearing an ARP badge that you were not entitled to was a criminal offence, punishable with a fine not exceeding £20. To assist in this, a list was ordered to be kept by the local authorities of everyone who was entitled to wear the badge, which was to be sent up to the Home Office at regular intervals; however we know that this was very hit and miss, and that eventually the idea of the lists was quietly abandoned.

The Issuers :

So to the card listings : and some of these sets are already shown online as cards of the day and in the newsletter, which is why some of them are in bold type. Clicking those will lead you to more information about that specific issue, rather than about the set in general. However the list of versions will remain here so that they are easier to compare.

CHURCHMAN :

Our original 1948 Churchman reference book, RB.10, lists two sets, as follows :

4. November 1938. 48 AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS (titled series). Size 2 7/10” x 2 1/10” or 68 x 53 m/m. Numbered 1-48. Fronts printed by letterpress 4-colour halftone process. Backs printed in dark green, with descriptions, album clause and I.T.C. clause. Printed by Mardon, Son and Hall.

- see https://csgb.co.uk/publications/newsletter/2023-02-25

5. August 1938. AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Identical to (4) but omitting album and I.T.C. clauses. Overseas issue.

The World Tobacco Issues Index splits these up, placing the home issue in section two, for "Issues with I.T.C. clause. All issued in U.K. Small size 67 x 36, medium 68 x 53, large 80 x 62 m/m, unless stated" and sub-section 2.B, for "Issues 1922 - 1939". .The entry reads :

AIR-RAID PRECAUTIONS. Md. Nd. (48). See Ha.544 ... C82-31

... and the overseas issue in section three, for "Export issues without I.T.C. Clause. Issued 1937-39 through B.A.T. in Channel Islands, Malta, and British Garrisons overseas. All series are similar to the corresponding Home Issue under Section 2.B." . This entry reads;

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Md. Nd. (48). See Ha.544 – C82-93

Our updated World Tobacco Issues Index continues to split these up, keeping the home issue in section 2.B as :

AIR-RAID PRECAUTIONS. Md. Nd. (48). See H.544 ... C504-405

... and the overseas issue in section 3 as :

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Md. Nd. (48). See H.544 – C504-730

The "Ha" and H" codes are for handbooks - Ha.544, at this time, was to one published by the London Cigarette Card Company Handbook, uniform with their 1950 catalogue. That records all the sets together as :

Ha.544. AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS (titled series). Front in colour. Numbered.

Churchman - Medium size, series of 48
A. With I.T.C. Clause. Home issue
B. Without I.T.C. Clause. Export issue

Hignett - Small size, series of 50.

Mitchell - Small size, series of 50.

Ogden - Small size, series of 50.

Wills - Small size
A. Series of 50, adhesive backs. Home issue
B. Series of 40, non-adhesive backs. Irish issue
C. Series of 50, non-adhesive backs. Export issue

The "H" code brings us to our Handbook, which accompanied the updated World Tobacco Issues Index. And in there, right as the last breath, comes a revelation....

Ha.544. AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS (titled series). Front in colour. Numbered.

Churchman - Medium size, series of 48
  A. With I.T.C. Clause. Home issue
  B. Without I.T.C. Clause. Export issue

Hignett - Small size, series of 50.

Mitchell - Small size, series of 50.

Ogden - Small size, series of 50.

Wills    - Small size
   A. Series of 50, adhesive backs. Home issue
B. Series of 40, non-adhesive backs. Irish issue
C. Series of 50, non-adhesive backs. Export issue

Note : A small size proof set of 50 cards prepared for Churchman is known

HIGNETT, MITCHELL, OGDENS :

The next trio of makers are all standard sized cards, and here is a comparison of them.

HIGNETT Bros & Co., Liverpool, England - see - https://csgb.co.uk/cardoftheday/2022-11-20

There was no special reference book devoted to the issues of Hignett, supposedly because many of their later sets were share-issues with Ogden, and Ogden did have a book, read on for details of that..The Hignett version therefore appears first in our original World Tobacco Issues Index of 1956, with the rather scant description of

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See Ha.544 ... H44-43

Our updated World Tobacco Issues Index used the same text, but gives a new card code

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See H.544 ... H536-400

Stephen MITCHELL & Son, Glasgow, Scotland

There was no special reference book devoted to the issues of Stephen Mitchell either, though one was planned, and never came.Their version therefore also appears first in our original World Tobacco Issues Index of 1956, with the rather scant description of

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See Ha.544 ... M122-26

Our updated World Tobacco Issues Index uses the same text, but gives a new card code

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See H.544 ... M757-410

OGDEN`s Ltd -

Standard sized set of 50 cards, home issue (1938), described in our original Ogden reference book (RB.15, 1949) as :

16. 50. AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Fronts printed by letterpress in colour. Backs in grey, with descriptive text. Home issue, 1938. Similar series issued by Churchman, Hignett, Mitchell and Wills.

...and in our original World Tobacco Issues Index of 1956, with the rather scant description of

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See Ha.544 ... O/2-124

Whilst our updated World Tobacco Issues Index uses the same text, but gives a new card code

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See H.544 ... O100-468

W.D. & H.O. WILLS

Now when I chose the A.R.P. badge for the master photos, I was not so bright as I had imagined, because this card does not appear in the version of the Wills set which was issued in Ireland. In fact the Irish A.R.P. badge was very different, being a shield shape, with an Irish harp, to the left of which is the "A", to the right of which is the "R", and below which is the "P". It is also, strikingly, inlaid with a green enamelled. background. I am not sure why they did not use it on a card, but they chose not to.

The earliest listing of this version of the set comes from our original Wills Reference Book RB.16, part four, issued in 1950, where it is described as :

123. AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Fronts printed by letterpress in colour. Backs in grey, with descriptive texts. Issued 1938.

A. Series of 50, adhesive backs. Home issue. Special album announcement at top of back.

B. Series of 50, adhesive backs. Channel Islands Issue. No Album or I.T.C. Clauses

C. Series of 40, non-adhesive backs. Irish issue. Inscribed at top of back, "Albums for Wills`s Picture Cards can be obtained from tobacconists." Subjects selected from 50 in A. and B.

Similar series issued by Churchman (medium) and Hignett, Mitchell, Ogden (small)

Thanks to a list of printing dates which was provided us by W.D. & H.O. Wills, we know the export version of this set, "B" above, was issued first, in July 1938, with the Home version, "A" following in August 1938. There is, however, no mention of the Irish version "C", which seems to suggest that this was printed in Ireland. Some collectors also believe that this is why that version only has forty cards, for it would have only taken that one change to the artwork, "fifty" swopped for "forty", and the last ten cards not printed, or printed and discarded.

Anyway at this point, as you can see, all three versions were together under that one single code. Then, suddenly, in our original World Tobacco Issues Index of 1956, and continuing in the follow up, the decision was made to split them into three sections, as follows :

Wills Ireland issue : Card of the Day for 30 April 2025

This version is listed first, in section 2, for "issues with I.T.C. Clause" and sub section 2.B for "Issues 1922-39. Excluding cards with adhesive backs.". It appears in the original World Tobacco Issues Index as :

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (40). Irish issue. See W/123.C ... W62-109

and in the updated World Tobacco Issues Index as :

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (40). Irish issue. Special album issued. See W/123.C ... W675-142

Wills Home Issue : Card of the Day for 12 December 2022

This version is still listed in section 2, as above, but in sub section 2.C for "Issues 1934-39. Cards with adhesive backs. Special albums issued unless stated", as :

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See W/123.A ... W62-191

and in the updated World Tobacco Issues Index as :

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See W/123.A ... W675-232

This version of the set was issued from August 1938, replacing "The Sea Shore", which had started circulation in May 1938. It was replaced in October 1938, by "Speed". Home issues kept going until November 1939, when the final set, "Association Footballers" (no frameline back version) was circulated.

Wills Channel Islands issue :

This version is listed in section 5 for "Other Export Issues" and sub section "D for "English Language Issues 1935-39. Issued chiefly in Channel Islands and Malta", as :

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). See W/123.B ... W62-491

Now in the updated World Tobacco Issues Index, the section alters, due to the fact that Wills issued more cards in the 1960s, after the publication of the original volume, and these were squeezed in as section 3. That means that the export issued move, and ours is now under Section 6, and sub-section "D", where it appears as :

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. Sm. Nd. (50). Adhesive back. See W/123.B ... W675-702

The export set was issued from July 1938, also replacing "The Sea Shore", which had started circulation in May 1938. It was replaced in September 1938, again by "Speed", which was the last set to be issued as an export issue before the outbreak of the Second World War.

To close, as is customary, I have a record of the retail prices for the various sets in 1950. These are :

odds sets

Churchman - Home issue (Aug. 1938) 1/2d. 2/-
Hignett - Home issue (1939) 3d. 15/-
Mitchell - Home issue (1938) 3d. 15/-
Ogdens - Home issue (1938) 1/2d. 2/6d.
Wills (Aug. 1938)
- Home issue - adhesive back 1d. 3./-
- Irish issue - non-adhesive back 1/-. none