Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden's helmet, 1940 (c)

Following the outbreak of World War Two (1939-1945) the British government mobilised around 200,000 Air Raid Precautions (ARP) volunteer wardens. Eventually over one million people served as wardens during the conflict. During enemy raids they directed people to air raid shelters, but they also helped enforce the blackout, assisted with fire-fighting, rescued people and policed bombed-out buildings. Their steel helmet had 'W' for Warden in bold white writing across it.