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The training of Civil Defence volunteers must be given by persons who hold a Civil
Defence instructor's certificate either obtained centrally (i.e. at one of the Home Office
Civil Defence Schools at Falfield, Gloucestershire, or at Easingwold, Yorkshire) or obtained
locally and it has been the aim of the London Ambulance Service to allow as many as
possible uniformed supervisory staff to attend instructors' courses at the Home Office
Schools. Over the years 25 officers have attended; because the instructors' certificates are
only valid for a period of six years, eight have attended instructors' requalifying courses.
In addition, 42 senior officers, both uniformed and administrative staff (including three
volunteer officers) have attended ambulance officer courses at the Home Office Schools and
11 have attended a senior officers' course at the Civil Defence Staff College, Sunningdalc,
where the aim has been to provide a wide background knowledge to Civil Defence in a way
which is not possible within the framework of the usual training syllabuses.
Training for volunteers in the Civil Defence Corps—The Civil Defence Act, 1948 brought
various sections of the Civil Defence Corps into being, among them the Ambulance Section.
When a volunteer enrolled in the Corps he did so through a metropolitan borough council
and his general basic training was arranged by that borough. It was only after he elected
to join a particular section, where specialist training was required, that he was passed on
to the appropriate authority. This meant that ambulance service instructors confined their
attentions to first aid and ambulance duties. Home Office Circular 32/1953 discontinued
this arrangement; from 1954 onwards a volunteer enrolled directly into the section of his
choice and all his training was arranged by that section. The Ambulance Section was
renamed the Ambulance and Casualty Collecting Section. Also in 1954, plans were completed
for volunteers to receive driving instruction and practice accompanied by members
of the regular service. For volunteers who were non-drivers, instruction at the Council's
expense was arranged through a driving school, whilst volunteers holding a full driving
licence proceeded to driving practice on various types of ambulance under the eye of a
peacetime driver. In addition, courses began in elementary vehicle maintenance. In 1956
courses in casualty simulation (a valuable adjunct to first aid training) and for the selection
of officers were added to the curriculum.
In 1960, following an extensive review of the organisation and functions of the Section
by the Home Office, it was renamed the Ambulance and First Aid Section, with functions
altered to match new concepts in Civil Defence. There followed in 1962 a full-scale reorganisation
of the whole Corps, aimed at bringing into being a more efficient nucleus of
volunteers around which to expand in case of emergency. The Home Office introduced
tests of standard and advanced training; classes in which volunteers could elect to serve
following the recruit stage and after passing the standard test; and the payment of an
annual bounty, varying with the rank held and depending upon fulfilling certain conditions
of training. Furthermore, recruits were given a limited period in which to complete their
standard training. The full effects of the reorganisation are only now being experienced
and have been entirely beneficial. Although the new scheme resulted in a substantial fall in
1962 and 1963 in the number of volunteers on roll, it could be felt that the lower numbers
were at least realistic.