[PW] ARP question - inspection by Admiral Ramsey

[Marcus L. Rowland]

I came across your site while looking for references to the ARP in WW2, 
and wondered if you might be able to help me with a small mystery I'm 
trying to help solve:

For the last few months my sister has been trying to find out about a 
picture which shows my father Arthur Rowland talking to a naval officer 
during WW2.

http://pics.livejournal.com/ffutures/pic/0000w5zt/

Click on picture for a MUCH larger version, 968k

The picture is stamped as copyright the News Chronicle, and the Imperial 
War Museum believes that the officer is Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey, who 
was Commander of Dover and responsible for the evacuation of Dunkirk, 
and later organised operation Torch and the Royal Navy's role in the 
D-Day landings. They also say that the helmet my father was wearing 
identifies him as a Stretcher Party Supervisor in the ARP, which we did 
more or less know. He was in the ARP, we believe based in London 
throughout the war. About the only thing I can add is that I think that 
the man on the extreme left has the words "Depot Supervisor" on his 
helmet, which to me suggests that the picture was taken at an ARP depot.

The trouble is that we have no idea when or where this was taken, or 
what the occasion for it was - records appear to be more or less 
non-existent, and so far the picture hasn't turned up in microfilmed 
archives of the News Chronicle at the British Newspaper Library in 
Colindale. It would be nice to know more. I've just learned that Ramsey 
became an admiral in 1942 but was out of the country until October 1943, 
so it's probably after that date.

Anyway, if you can shed any light on this, or suggest any sources we 
could try, I'd be grateful for your help. Please feel free to pass this 
on to anyone who might know anything relevant.
-- 
Marcus L. Rowland             http://www.forgottenfutures.com/
LJ:ffutures     http://homepage.ntlworld.com/forgottenfutures/
   Forgotten Futures - The Scientific Romance Role Playing Game
   Diana: Warrior Princess  &   Elvis: The Legendary Tours
   The Original Flatland Role Playing Game