- Spelling of names was not as consistent as it is today, so be sure to check alternatives—e.g. Thompson and Thomson.
- Names may have been incorrectly indexed as the handwriting is sometimes difficult to read or the ink has faded.
- The capital letters L, T, F and S are often confused as lower-case letters n, m, u and w. This means that Taylor may indexed as Laylor or Brum may be indexed as Bruin.
- The use of double ‘s’ (ss) often looks like fs, so Ross will be indexed as Ross but may appear in the record as Rofs.
- Names may have been written in the record phonetically as the clerks wrote the names as they heard them. Think about how it could be spelt as it was heard.
- Some given names are abbreviated as they appear in the original record
- Some records are restricted for several years.
- Some records have not survived.
- A blank cell indicates that there is no information recorded in the original.
Police
Civil defence
We hold records on civil defence made during the Second World War by the Police Service Commissioner’s Office, as well as information on inquiries and reports, lighting restrictions and blackouts, internment, acts and regulations, stealing and profiteering, firearms and ammunition, American forces, air raids.
These links will take you into our catalogue to view the item’s description. In the catalogue you can request a copy of this item for a fee, or request to view it in person. You may need agency approval to request items with restricted access. Read more about restricted records.
- Civil defence organisation and electrical services during 1942
- Memoranda—liaison between services and civil authorities during 1942
- Wartime precautions from 1939 to 1942
- Control of wireless and telegraphy from 1939 to 1943
- Circulars—organisation and procedures from 1940 and 1942
- Checking deserted aerodromes and unidentified aircraft from 1941 to 1948
- Civil defence organisation circulars during 1942
- Free passage civil defence vehicles over toll bridges during 1942
- Civil defence from 1942 and 1943
- Civil defence organisation from 1942 to 1944
- Censorship and prevention of leakage of information from 1943 to 1944
- Private property commandeered or used by fighting services from 1943 to 1947
- Use of land for defence purposes. Land resumed by Commonwealth Government from 1944 to 1944
- Civil defence organisation from 1944 to 1945
- Prohibited, protected and controlled places from 1944 to 1945
- Military camps during 1940
- Safeguarding wharves from 1941 to 1948
- Supervision of military property from 1940 to 1942
- Prevention of sabotage in commercial establishments carrying out defence works from 1940 to 1945
- Mine watchers during 1942
- Parachutists landing and/or seen during 1942
- Passes, applications for inquiries regarding persons desiring to enter aerodromes, allied works, etc, regarding employment, not passes to wharves from during 1942
- Homing pigeons from 1942 to 1943
- Homing pigeons during 1943
- Civil Construction Corps (allied works) from 1942 to 1947
- Raid spotters and formation of squads during 1943
- Sabotage at Gladstone meatworks during 1943
- Disposal of bodies of persons killed as a result of war operations from 1941 to 1947
- Flood lights, markers or scorers used by aircraft during 1942
- Verey lights (flare guns) and/or flashes to assist enemy during 1942
- Removal of direction signs from 1942 to 1943
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In this guide:
- Stealing and profiteering
- Supplies
- Air raids
- Internment
- American forces
- Civil defence
- Acts and regulations
- Inquiries and reports
- Firearm and ammunition
- Lighting restrictions