Civil Defence Long Service medal
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Civil Defence Long Service Medals were first instituted in 1961 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and were awarded by the United Kingdom for 15 years continuous service within various organisations such as fire services, nursing and military defence.
Civil Defences existed in times of crisis and depended on volunteers dedicating their time to their causes. The Civil Defence Corps, established in 1949, were used in response to large scale emergencies or crises. In 1949 the Minister of Health asked the British Red Cross and Order of St. John to organise volunteers for the Service. Civil Defence posters from the 1940s and 1950s stated that civil defence members would ‘do many jobs – first aid, rescue, control and communications’ should there be another outbreak of war, with others stating, ‘Civil Defence is common sense.’ The Auxiliary Fire Service was another branch of the Civil Defence Service, first formed in 1938, as part of an emergency response to conflicts, such as the Blitz bombing. The National Hospital Service reserve was a third branch, established in 1948, with men and women encouraged to train in first aid in their spare time to help local hospitals in the face of the threat of nuclear warfare. In the 1950s there were nearly 35,000 recruits ready to man mobile hospitals and first aid units when necessary.
The threat of nuclear war so close to the end of the Second World War gave meaning to the Civil Defence Act and inspired so many to volunteer their services to aid others. Most services have long been disbanded and as such, Civil Defence Medals are now only issued within the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. In 2011, two medals were awarded to Martin Blackburn and Norman McBride in honour of 27 years’ service in the Isle of Man Civil Defence Corps. Both had completed long service in the armed forces before taking on positions responding to emergencies in the Isle of Man.
Audio recording by Eloise Sargent (Volunteer), Manchester.
Civil Defences existed in times of crisis and depended on volunteers dedicating their time to their causes. The Civil Defence Corps, established in 1949, were used in response to large scale emergencies or crises. In 1949 the Minister of Health asked the British Red Cross and Order of St. John to organise volunteers for the Service. Civil Defence posters from the 1940s and 1950s stated that civil defence members would ‘do many jobs – first aid, rescue, control and communications’ should there be another outbreak of war, with others stating, ‘Civil Defence is common sense.’ The Auxiliary Fire Service was another branch of the Civil Defence Service, first formed in 1938, as part of an emergency response to conflicts, such as the Blitz bombing. The National Hospital Service reserve was a third branch, established in 1948, with men and women encouraged to train in first aid in their spare time to help local hospitals in the face of the threat of nuclear warfare. In the 1950s there were nearly 35,000 recruits ready to man mobile hospitals and first aid units when necessary.
The threat of nuclear war so close to the end of the Second World War gave meaning to the Civil Defence Act and inspired so many to volunteer their services to aid others. Most services have long been disbanded and as such, Civil Defence Medals are now only issued within the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. In 2011, two medals were awarded to Martin Blackburn and Norman McBride in honour of 27 years’ service in the Isle of Man Civil Defence Corps. Both had completed long service in the armed forces before taking on positions responding to emergencies in the Isle of Man.
Audio recording by Eloise Sargent (Volunteer), Manchester.
Collection Type
Objects
History
The medal was instituted March 1961 and was awarded for 15 years service in organisations including; Auxiliary Fire Service, National Hospital Service Reserve and the Civil Defence Corps.
Catalogue Number
600/2
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Object Types
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