Home Guard.

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by wizz123, Jan 17, 2007.

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  1. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Owen, I had a quick look at that site - what fascinates me is the name Wilbraham. Thats a local family to us, and we have a Marton too, which is a common village name. I wonder if they are connected in any way?
     
    Kitty, Jun 8, 2007
    #21
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I get the feeling that it's a posed propaganda photograph rather than a 'news' photograph. The car maybe real but I doubt if the unit would have all been issued SMLEs (even Mk 1s) so early on, especially before their uniforms.
    Got a little book on Home Guard vehicles, some units were fantastically well equipped from day one in vehicles, arms and equipment by wealthy benefactors.
    One unit in Maidenhead stands out, it was run by a Col. Tickler who happened to own the local Jam factory, many different marks of extemporised armoured car were turned out by his boys using factory facilities and they appear to have had Vickers guns etc. from day one.
     
    von Poop, Jun 8, 2007
    #22
  3. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Don't know if this photo of the home guard vehicles has been posted before.

    Have seen one but not as a group

    D Day Tanks and countdown to 60th anniversary of D-Day from the Tank Museum Bovington
    This one Spidge?
    [​IMG]
    Totally understandable to read it so but Contrary to their homemade appearance those are actual type-approved military vehicles.
    'Beaverette Mk.1's' Named after Lord Beaverbrook and basically lashed up for airfield/factory defence following the equipment losses by the BEF. They used to be incredibly rare in the collector world but many were 'found' scattered about in the 90's just dumped near the areas they'd defended.

    Got a few pictures of units with little convoys of genuinely extemporised vehicles, I'll see if I can find 'em on the web.
     
    von Poop, Jun 8, 2007
    #23
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I cannot drive past one of the gasometers in town without thinking of my Grandad up on top of it looking out for Jerry bombers!
    After time in the Home Guard he went off to be an RAF Dog-Handler.
     
    Owen, Jun 8, 2007
    #24
  5. gen

    gen Senior Member

    My grandfather was in charge of a 'Home Guard' unit during the war in South Wales. Its such a pity that he did not talk to me about it.
    During the day he worked for Vickers at RAF Llandow as an engineer. He won the BEM when he pulled a pilot out of a burning plane. Incidently he was an engineer aboard the R100 airship that made the trip to Canada in 1929. Sorry i was off topic there.

    Are there any personnel records for the Home Guard? I would be interested in finding out anything i could about him and his unit.

    Mike
     
    gen, Jun 26, 2007
    #25
  6. ChrisM

    ChrisM Member

    Are there any personnel records for the Home Guard? I would be interested in finding out anything i could about him and his unit.

    Mike

    Mike,

    There are a few suggestions about tracing individual members of the Home Guard in the staffshomeguard website Guestbook:
    GUESTBOOK

    Chris
     
    ChrisM, Jun 26, 2007
    #26
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Owen, Jul 17, 2007
    #27
  8. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Owen where do you get them from? Ideal Chrstmas present for someone I know.
     
    Kitty, Jul 20, 2007
    #28
  9. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    Kyt, Jul 20, 2007
    #29
  10. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Sure someone linked to these films before but can't find the thread, some great Home Guard stuff nonetheless:
    Films from the Home Front
     
    von Poop, Aug 22, 2007
    #30
  11. Dieppe

    Dieppe Senior Member

    Dieppe, Oct 2, 2007
    #31
  12. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    von Poop, Dec 4, 2007
    #32
  13. john549

    john549 Junior Member

    Sapper, What cap badge did you wear ?
    I had a relative in Petersfield Home Guard and I am trying to find out if he wore the 'Royal Hampshire' cap Badge or the 'Wessex Regiment' Capbadge
    Since you were \hampshire Based perhaps you will remember
    Thanks John
     
    john549, Feb 4, 2008
    #33
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    John,
    Wessex Brigade badge did not come into use until 1958.
    Then 1967 it became the Wessex Regiment badge when said Regiment was formed.
    Just found this which may help.
    BBC - WW2 People's War - Records of Hampshire Home Guard units

    Hampshire Record Office in Winchester holds records of a number of Home Guard units (originally Local Defence Volunteers) from around the county.
     
    Owen, Feb 4, 2008
    #34
  15. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I cannot recall ever having a cap badge! Only the Home Guard insignia on the shoulders. One thing I do recallthat at the time it was a very serious business indeed, AND not the figure of fun that its seen as today. Long hours of duty on Guard at night.
    Sapper
     
    sapper, Feb 5, 2008
    #35
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Owen, Apr 5, 2008
    #36
  17. aron

    aron Member

    Don't forget that a number died in service for their country.I know of a Home Guard Volunteer who lies in a local cemetery who was killed on duty during a river patrol at a time when the invasion was said to be imminent.I think he saw service in the First World War.

    Four years later,his only child, a son was killed in RAF air operations over Germany and has no known grave.A holder of the DFC he was barely 21 years old and had been in the ATC from its inception to entering RAF service.He survived the Nuremburg raid in March 1944 only to lose his life,6 months later.
    does any body know where i can get information about shoulder badge number's for our local home guard unit.thanks
     
    aron, Jun 12, 2008
    #37
  18. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Hi aron,
    If you can tell us where the unit you're interested in was based then people may will have a better chance of helping out.

    Cheers,
    Adam.
     
    von Poop, Jun 12, 2008
    #38
  19. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi Owen.
    I serve in the Rebridge Southampton unit of the Home Guard. We guarded the Totton flyover bridge and the railway yard, I cannot recall the battalion. That was during the Blitz. We were out and about during the bombing on the town and docks.

    Then I was moved to Poole, where I belonged to the Hamworthy Home Guard. Our HQ was in an old wooden building on a spare bit of ground next to the Pub. It was the pub that was at the end of the road, when you crossed the lifting bridge onto the Hamworthy side. I know the wooden building went years ago. I am not sure if the pub is still there?

    Again I cannot recall what battalion I serve in? I was very young at that time. Much of our duties were night time Guard and mine watching over Poole harbour. We had a compass with a pointer ,.If we saw a sea mine being dropped froma aircraft, we had to make a reading of the splash.
    We never did see one! But one lunch time while were eating our sandwiches, A Catalina came in, touched down on the water and blew up in a myghty explosion. Nothing left all gone!

    Oddly enough, when I joined the army, I was told to report to Newcastle (Gosforth) in my full HG uniform. I still had it when I finally departed in Holland.
    sapper
     
    sapper, Jun 13, 2008
    #39
  20. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

    Hey Swanage!
    This picture is from George Forty's 'British Army Handbook 1939-1945'. Showing an array of Home Guard weaponry lined up on the platform at Swanage Railway Station. In aid of War Savings.

    [​IMG]

    Does it bring back any memories, Brian?
     
    Bodston, Jun 13, 2008
    #40
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