unusual dark blue beret

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Helldunkle, just to make it clear: I would go with Rob's answer.

Cheers, Ade.

[davejb]

During a Nuclear War scenario excercise whilst in the Police force, we worked with the Civil Defence Corps back in the 70s, i seem to remember that the girls had something very similar almost like a French beret without the leather band which was worn with the CD badge central to the forehead but pushed back like a Panzer beret

[helldunkle]

ok thanks guys. so probably a 50's civil defence beret then. The date looks ok to me on the beret...but you never know.

[Unionjack]

It's more than likely a wartime Civil Defence beret. They came in black or dark blue and were made as a basque-style spun woven beret or from stitched sections like a GS cap.

The post-war Civil Defence Corps berets are identical to this one, unlined & un-edged.

The only odd thing is that there is no CD or ARP markings.

The number after that is the pattern, so:
ARP 68 is a WW2 spun woven beret, can be with or without leather edging.
ARP 68A is a WW2 beret made from stitched sections of cloth, (A is for Austerity) lined or unlined.
CD 18 is a 1949-1968 Civil Defence Corps spun woven beret. Basically the same as ARP 68, and as pictured.

"proper' basque-style berets needed specialised weaving looms to produce, the Austerity pattern could be made by anyone with a sewing machine.