The Organisation of the Civil Defence Corps.

The Organisation of the

Civil Defence Corps. 

When first formed, in 1949, the Civil Defence Corps had six sections:-

Pioneer Section

this section was absorbed into the Rescue section within the first eighteen months.

 

The remaining five sections were: 

Headquarters Section

which was divided into:— 

(a) Intelligence and operations: to provide the trained staff for static and mobile controls, to collate intelligence and, under direction, to direct operations.

(b) Signal: to be responsible for maintaining line and radio communications and for providing field cable parties and despatch riders.

(c) Scientific and reconnaissance: to advise on scientific (especially fallout) problems, and to provide mobile reconnaissance for collecting technical information.

 

Warden Section

to provide the link between the public and the C.D. services ; and to be responsible for non-technical reconnaissance and reporting, and for helping and guiding the public, including the control of the public in fall-out conditions. The wardens would be responsible for the organisation of immediate self-help including fire-fighting, rescue and first aid. They would constitute that part of the control system in direct touch with the public.

 

Welfare Section

to help local authorities in carrying out any necessary dispersal of the priority classes [i.e. evacuation from target areas] and in caring for those who become homeless, include giving assistance in billeting, rest centres and information; and to help local authorities with emergency feeding.

 

Rescue Section

to locate and rescue trapped survivors. The Section would be responsible for administering immediate first aid and might also have to carry out emergency work for the demolition of dangerous buildings and debris clearance. 

 

Ambulance and First Aid Section

to administer first aid to casualties, to organise stretcher-bearing and to. transport casualties to Forward Medical Aid Units and, as necessary, to hospital. (In war, this section would in England and Wales be combined with the peace-time Ambulance Service to form the war-time organisation. Please note that this section did not exist in Scotland until the 1960/1 re-organisation.