1938 Wills Air Raid Precautions trading cards were just one of several such sets released by the Imperial Tobacco company in England. This same set was also released under the Ogden and Churchman brand of cigarettes at the encouragement of the English government.
The set was released in the early days of World War II. Though Germany’s invasion of Poland wasn’t until 1940, much of Asia was at war and the UK government clearly saw the writing on the wall as these types of sets were widely released and officially endorsed by government officials.
A reprint of the Ogden branded set was released in 1999 so collectors should be wary when purchasing.
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1938 Wills Air Raid Precautions Checklist
Base Set – 50 Cards
| 1 | Choosing Your Refuge Room |
| 2 | Rendering Your Refuge Room Gas-Proof |
| 3 | Making A Door Gas-Proof |
| 4 | Window Protection |
| 5 | Window Protection Against blast |
| 6 | Types of Splinter-Proof Wall |
| 7 | Protecting Your Windows – A Sandbag Defence |
| 8 | Equipping Your Refuge Room |
| 9 | Equipping Your Refuge Room |
| 10 | A Garden Dug-Out |
| 11 | A ventilated Gas Proof Shelter |
| 12 | A Gas-Proof Balloon Shelter (French Type) |
| 13 | Incendiary Bomb and Its Effect |
| 14 | Incendiary Bomb Cooling Down |
| 15 | Control of Incendiary Bomb |
| 16 | Removal of Incendiary Bomb With Scoop and Hoe |
| 17 | Extinction of Incendiary Bomb |
| 18 | The Stirrup Hand Pump |
| 19 | Two-Men Portable Manual Fire-Pump in Action |
| 20 | A Chain of Buckets |
| 21 | Light Trailer Fire-Pump |
| 22 | Light Trailer Fire-Pump In Action |
| 23 | Medium Trailer Fire-Pump |
| 24 | Medium Trailer Fire-Pump in Action |
| 25 | Emergency Heavy Pump Unit |
| 26 | Hose-Laying Lorry |
| 27 | The Civilian Respirator |
| 28 | The Civilian Respirator – How to Adjust It |
| 29 | The Civilian Respirator – How to Remove It |
| 30 | The Civilian Duty Respirator |
| 31 | The Service Respirator |
| 32 | A Heavy Anti-Gas Suit |
| 33 | Rubber Clothing |
| 34 | Air Raid Wardens and Civilian Volunteer Dispatch-Riders |
| 35 | Volunteer Mobile Corps (Owner Drivers) |
| 36 | A First Aid Party |
| 37 | Supply Depot for Respirators |
| 38 | Mobile Gas Vans |
| 39 | Civilian Anti-Gas School |
| 40 | Testing for Gas Contamination |
| 41 | Decontamination Workers In Training |
| 42 | Air Raid Precautions Badge |
| 43 | Representation of Air Defence Control Room |
| 44 | Pilots Running to Machines (Interceptor Fighters) To Take Off |
| 45 | Gloucester Gauntlet Interceptor Fighters |
| 46 | Representation of Balloon Barrage for Defence of London |
| 47 | Anti-Aircraft Searchlight |
| 48 | Anti-Aircraft Sound Locator |
| 49 | Height Finder |
| 50 | Anti-Aircraft Gun |