MovieChat Forums > Passport to Pimlico (1949) Discussion > Stanley Holloway's helmet?

Stanley Holloway's helmet?

posted 16 years ago by fast_fierce_and_funny
4 replies | jump to latest

Sorry to sound like Sir Doyle the Dense, but what, exactly, did the "PW" stand for on the white helmet that Stanley Holloway wore early on in the film?

From what I can tell, white helmets were generally worn by civilians acting in a civil defense capacity, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there on the accoutrements they wore whilst performing their duties.

I assume the "W" stands for "Warden," but what the "P" could stand for is a complete mystery.

Can anyone help?

[–] squaddie 16 years ago

As the helmet was Olive Drab, with no netting, (Army issue was Olive Drab, covered in hessian and netting) it was not Civil Defence issue.

I can confirm that the initials are PW (frame stepped through the scene on the DVD).

Just thinking, could it be "Pimlico Water"?

As Arthur Pemberton knew where the water supply was during the "filling" of the EWS scene.
The local water employees would have been called out during a Blitz to ensure that there was water supplies to the Firemen and would have been issued with "Tin Pissers" (We still had them in the Brit Army in the 70s <grin>).

Just a thought.

[–] barryenglish 16 years ago

The letters PW probably refer to Post Warden, the person in charge of a small group of wardens controlling a number of streets or buildings.

A warden's 'Post' was the area within a small group of streets or buildings. It is controlled by a Post Warden. This person was responsible for maintaining patrols and for reporting anything resulting from enemy action within his post-area.

[–] fast_fierce_and_funny 14 years ago

The letters PW probably refer to Post Warden, the person in charge of a small group of wardens controlling a number of streets or buildings.

Thank you very much for the explanation. :)

[–] 14 years ago

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