page_title: Civil Defence Service
section_title: Disbanded
hierarchical_section_title: Civil Defence Service / Disbanded
caption_attribution_description: Text of King's speech to Civil Defence Service volunteers June 10, 1945.
context_page_description: The Civil Defence Service was a civilian volunteer organisation in Great Britain during World War II. Established by the Home Office in 1935 as Air Raid Precautions, its name was officially changed to the Civil Defence Service in 1941. The Civil Defence Service included the ARP Wardens Service as well as firemen, fire watchers, rescue, first aid post and stretcher parties. Over 1.9 million people served within the CD and nearly 2,400 lost their lives to enemy action.
context_section_description: The Civil Defence Service was disbanded on 2 May 1945. On 10 June 1945, before His Majesty King George VI, a farewell parade with representatives of all the Civil Defence Services from across Great Britain took place in Hyde Park, London. Many of the duties of the service were later revived as part of the Civil Defence Corps in 1949.
caption: Text of King's speech to Civil Defence Service volunteers 1945.
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