Home Guard general thread (Badges, Uniforms, Weapons & Photographs)

Pair of Home Guard Ammunition Pouches khaki webbing, square form pouches. Top flap secured by a tab and brass press stud. Rear belt loops and central badge strap. One pouch with 1942 date stamp. Both mounted on a 1939 pattern leather belt complete with pair of webbing cross straps.

1939 Pattern Home Guard Essex Greatcoat khaki woollen, double breasted, long greatcoat. Large fold over collar. Lower hidden pockets with plain flaps. Both sleeves with printed Home Guard titles over "ESX.16". Formation badges and braid Lance Corporal strips. Brass, KC General List buttons. "Greatcoat 1939 Pattern".

1939 field service cap with bi-metal Essex Regiment badge.

 

Some items from my collection.

 

Thomas Vivian Spurgeon's insignia.

 

17th City of London Battalion.

 

17th City of London Battalion, Home Guard official stamp.

 

33rd Middlesex (L.N.E.R.) Battalion, Home Guard O.C.A. 10th & Final Reunion Dinner & Dance.

 

Members of the Aston Clinton platoon of Local Defence Volunteers from the British Army's Home Guard take part in a woodland fighting exercise near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England during World War II in March 1941

Members of the Aston Clinton platoon of Local Defence Volunteers from the British Army's Home Guard take part in firing practice after advancing through wooded country near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England during World War II in March 1941.

 

BBC Staff Local Defence Volunteers & Home Guard


LOCAL DEFENCE VOLUNTEERS 1940: BBC staff members of the LDV (later renamed the Home Guard) inspecting a Lee Enfield .303 rifle. The men wear their civilian clothes, apart from a helmet, armband and gas mask holder. Picture part of PA Second World War collection.

Image ID:G5349R

 

Cumberland Mounted Home Guard Unit
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A unit of Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) from the Home Guard, a militia supporting the British Army, mounted on Fell ponies to take part in a training exercise defending the Cumberland dales in England during World War II on 7th April 1943. (Photo by James Jarche AFPU/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

The Home Guard Cavalry
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The Home Guard Cavalry, The Home Guard are turning more and more to horses for patro work because work because of their silence and mobility in lonely rough country. In a Sussex district, where the Home Guard includes famous jockeys and many well-known racing met they have bought their own horses; this action has been san d by the War Offices and a small sum is granted for the upkeep e horses and equipment. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

 

Jack Potter Home Guard​

Rifles stand stacked ready while farmhands in the uniform and forage caps of parashooters carry on their work at an Essex farm. Every man in the village, except those too old to hold a rifle, has enrolled in the new Defence Corps to protect home and country against German parachutists. Each morning as members of the corps set off to work they carry their rifles. Yesterday about a dozen were busy in a sugar-beet field. At each end rifles were stacked. One man carried his slung across his shoulder. Most of the men have lived in the all their lives. They know every yard of the woods and fields for miles around. Rabbit-shooting has taught them how to use a rifle. Now, to finish training, they are being drilled and instructed by a local farmer, Mr Edward Garnham, who served through the last war. The oldest member of the corps is fifty-five-year-old Jack Potter, who has worked thirty years on the same farm. 'The Germans will get a pretty hot time if they try any tricks around here,' he told the ' Daily Mirror.' ' We're ready for 'em.' Jack's son, twenty eight year old Stanley Potter, echoed his words 'Yes, we'll show 'em,' he said Leon Livingstone and Derek Barrel, both young men waiting to be called up, are ready to do their bit in the meantime. ' We don't want our homes attacked by Huns,' Leon said, 'so we're making sure it doesn't happen before we go away to fight. Our Picture Shows: In the regulation uniform and doubly armed with hoe and service rifle is fifty five year old, Jack Potter, father of seven children. He was first to enlist, 24th May 1940. (Photo by Edward Dean/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

 

Essex Home Guard (ESX 8)​

Members of the Bulmer and Belchaump Home Guard, supporting the British Army, march with their recently issued pikes down a snow covered road in Essex, England during World War II on 11th February 1942. (Photo by Calcraft/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

 

Officers and Warrant Officers of the 26th Middlesex Battalion, Home Guard
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Front row: Capt. Pales, Capt. Pailthorpe, Capt. Goundry, Major Millar, Major Nicholson, Capt. Drinkwater (Q.M.), Major Derrett (Second in Command), Col Robey (Battn Cdr), Capt. Philip, M.C. (Adjt), Major Gordon, Major Smout, M.C., Capt. Roberts, M.C., D.C.M., Capt. Griffith, Capt. Wright​

Second row: Lt. Eastwood, Lt. Underwood, Lt. Mitchell, Lt. Drakes, Lt. Edwards, Lt. Ward, Lt. French, Lt. Martin, M.M., Lt. Lewis, Lt. Robinson, Lt. Lege, Lt. Holmes, C.S.M. Rees

Third row: Lt. Baker, R.S.M. Marhsall, Lt. King, Lt. Fletcher, Lt. Mashford, Lt. Miller, Lt. Fullarton, M.M., Lt. Smith, R.Q.M.S. Campbell, Lt. Jacobs, Lt. Rodgers, P.S.I./Sgt. Warren

Fourth row: Lt. Woolley, Lt. Wood, Lt. Yeoman, Capt. McIntosh, Lt. Wheeler, Lt. Stone, Lt. McGregor, lt. Andrews, Lt. Morris, M.C., Lt. Merrick, Capt. Gower, Lt. Buckby, C.S.M. Hester

Back row: Lt. Fidler, Lt. Lucas. Lt. Baker, Lt. Griffith, M.M., Lt. Moffett, Lt. Tring, Lt. Hogg, Lt. Stroud, Lt. Stanfield, Lt. Jennings

The Tatler 14 March 1945

 

Certificate of Proficiency. Home Guard.

 

Close up.

 

Re: the Home Guard pikemen circa February 1942, I searched for a satisfactory explanation of why the Ministry of Supply did not furnish enough guns for the militia after about 30 months of war with Germany. Admittedly I don't know the timetables for lend lease shipments, number of weapons diverted to Russia and partisan groups, and losses of shipments in the U-boat war. Was looking for a "where did all the guns go" type narrative, but did not see anything that seemed authoritative or in-depth.

From the pictures in this thread I've noticed that many of the Home Guard types had leather ankle wraps, like the two men in the next photo. Also I had no knowledge of these rockets until today.


File:The Home Guard 1939-45 H21135.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

 

Thread here about Z Batteries
'Z' Batteries - British AA Rocket system

 

No. 4 Platoon, A Company, 4th Middlesex Battalion

 

My other Grandads home guard certificate, he enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment. Edward George Bray 6189319.....Lovely old boy always chuckling, but cross him, and you see the other side........tough as old boots.

 

Very nice. Where did he live/where was he based?

 

EDIT
He lived in Wood Green North London.....not sure where he was based, (just been told it was Norwich) I know he used to sneak home as the train passed right by home......mum said they were always knocking on the door to come and get him. He signed up in 1916 so think he was in WW1. I will be getting his war records when I get the chance.