A COAT FIT FOR A WW2 HEROINE, EVEN THE QUEEN

Slightly off the beaten track this week, but rare nonetheless, a World War Two Air Raid Precautions (ARP) woman’s ambulance driver’s coat with Scottish connections. And, of course, as soon as I saw it appearing at C & T Auctioneers in Kent, I was reminded that the Queen drove an ambulance during the war.

Aged 18, Princess Elizabeth was the first royal to undertake military service when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service to train as a truck mechanic.

Newspapers such as this one dubbed her ‘Princess Auto Mechanic’. And, of course, among the vehicles she drove was an emergency ambulance.

Meanwhile, among the duties of Air Raid Precaution personnel were enforcing the wartime blackout, reporting on bombing incidents, managing air raid sirens, organising rescue parties and driving ambulances. Casualties from bombings were taken to first aid posts or hospital by these courageous volunteer drivers.

The full-length coat was made from heavy dark blue cloth, probably the ‘bluette’ denim that the ARP tended to use, with a double row of silver-coloured ARP buttons to the front. I believe these buttons could be removed to allow the garment to be washed.

It had a ‘Semple & Peck Ltd Scotland’ label to the collar, with the pattern No 43. I think pattern 41 dated to around 1940, so the coat probably is from the mid-war period. It would have had an ARP embroidered breast badge, while the likely headwear worn alongside was the ARP Pattern 44 felt hat. Semple & Peck, I understand, was a clothing factory in Paisley.

Hardly an easy item to value and the coat, alas, remained unsold at a £150-£250 estimate.

The ARP warden’s coat up for sale.