
These are WW 2 British volunteer stripes worn on the sleeve. Each red chevron denoted 12 months’ service in the Civil Defence Services after hostilities began on 3 September 1939.
Introduced in February 1944, war service chevrons, which were identical to those awarded to army personnel, were worn on the lower right sleeve of the civil defence battledress and tunics. The designated position was midway between the sleeve seams and the apex of the lower chevron was four inches from the end of the sleeve.
For people engaged on Civil Defence duties but who did not wear a uniform the chevrons could be sewn onto an armband. Examples exist showing them on the Civil Defence and Fire Guard armbands. The apex of the chevrons point up and a maximum number of five could be worn.