The Civil Defence Corps was founded in 1949 by the United Kingdom Government, and operated throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as on the Isle of Man.

In 2012, twenty-eight volunteers of the Civil Defence Corps were awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal by the then Home Affairs Minister, Juan Watterson MHK.

There was also a special presentation to two stalwarts of the organisation, Stewart Kermeen and Mike Dobson, who had both completed 27 years of service, joining Martin Blackburn and Norman McBride as the island's other recipients of this rare award.

They are responsible for a range of duties including establishing a command post in connection with any civil emergency, and evacuating the civilian population where necessary.

[4] The key areas of responsibility for the CDC are defined as: As an emergency service the Civil Defence Corps maintains a military-style discipline, and its members wear uniform.