History Home Guard (United Kingdom)

1 history

1.1 development
1.2 official recognition
1.3 later years , disbandment
1.4 revived home guard, 1952-1957
1.5 home service force, 1982–1993

history
early development

there home guard during first world war (the volunteer training corps) although not on same scale second world war successor. origins of second world war home guard can traced captain tom wintringham, returned spanish civil war , wrote book entitled how reform army. in book, large number of regular army reforms, wintringham called creation of 12 divisions similar in composition of international brigades had been formed in spain during conflict; divisions raised through process of voluntary enlistment targeting ex-servicemen , youths. despite great interest war office in book s assertion security possible , wintringham s call train 100,000 men not implemented.

when britain declared war on nazi germany on 3 september 1939, debates began in official circles possible ways in german military might launch invasion of britain; in first week of conflict numerous diplomatic , intelligence reports seemed indicate there possibility of imminent german amphibious assault. many government ministers , senior army officials including commander in chief home forces, general walter kirke, believed threat of invasion exaggerated , sceptical others not, including winston churchill newly installed first lord of admiralty. churchill argued form of home defence force should raised members of population ineligible serve in regular forces wished serve country; in letter wrote samuel hoare, lord privy seal on 8 october 1939, churchill called home guard force of 500,000 men on age of 40 formed. @ same time government officials debating need home defence force, such force being formed without official encouragement; in essex, men not eligible call-up armed forces coming forward join self-styled legion of frontiersmen . officials informed of development of legion, adjutant-general, sir robert gordon-finlayson, arguing government should encourage development of more unofficial organisations. however, fear of invasion dissipated became evident german military not in position launch invasion of britain, , official enthusiasm home defence forces waned, , legion appears have dissolved @ same time.

the battle of france began on 10 may 1940, wehrmacht launching invasion of belgium, netherlands , france; 20 may, german forces had reached english channel , on 28 may, belgian army surrendered. combination of large-scale combined operations mounted wehrmacht during invasion of norway in april, , prospect of channel coast occupied made prospect of german invasion of british isles alarmingly real. fears of invasion grew rapidly, spurred on reports in both press , official government bodies, of fifth column operating in britain aid invasion german airborne forces. government found under increasing pressure intern suspect aliens prevent formation of fifth column , allow population take arms defend against invasion. calls form of home defence force began heard press , private individuals government began intern german , austrian citizens in country. press baron lord kemsley privately proposed war office rifle clubs formed form nucleus of home defence force, , josiah wedgwood, labour mp, wrote prime minister asking entire adult population trained in use of arms , given weapons defend themselves. similar calls appeared in newspaper columns; in 12 may issue of sunday express brigadier called on government issue free arms licences , permits buy ammunition men possessing small arms, , on same day sunday pictorial asked if government had considered training golfers in rifle shooting eliminate stray parachutists.

a member of montgomeryshire home guard unit in 1941

these calls alarmed government , senior military officials, worried prospect of population forming private defence forces army not able control, , in mid-may home office issued press release on matter; task of army deal enemy parachutists, civilians carried weapons , fired on german troops executed if captured. private defence forces began formed throughout country, placing government in awkward position; these private forces, army might not able control, inhibit attempts army during invasion, yet ignore calls home defence force set politically problematic. officially sponsored home defence force allow government greater control , allow greater security around vulnerable areas such munitions factories , airfields, there confusion on form , control force, separate plans drawn war office , general headquarters home forces under general kirke. government , senior military officials rapidly compared plans , 13 may had worked out improvised plan home defence force, called local defence volunteers, rush complete plan , announce public had led number of administrative , logistical problems, such how volunteers in new force armed, cause problems force evolved. however, on evening of 14 may 1940 secretary of state war, anthony eden, gave radio broadcast announcing formation of local defence volunteers , called volunteers join force.

official recognition

in radio announcement, eden called on men between ages of 17 , 65 in britain, not in military service wished defend country against invasion, enroll in ldv @ local police station. announcement met great deal of enthusiasm on part of population, 250,000 volunteers attempting sign in first 7 days; july number increased 1.5 million. volunteers , social groups such cricket clubs began forming own units, dubbed parashots press, war office continued lay down administrative , logistical foundations organisation. in telegrams lord lieutenants of each county, explained ldv units operate in pre-defined military areas used regular army, general staff officer coordinating civilian regional commissioners divide these areas smaller zones; in london organised on basis of police districts. on 17 may ldv achieved official legal status when privy council issued defence (local defence volunteers) order in council, , orders issued war office regular army headquarters throughout britain explaining status of ldv units; volunteers divided sections, platoons , companies not paid , leaders of units not hold commissions or have power command regular forces.

however, implementation of legislation proved extremely difficult, particularly primary focus of war office , general headquarters home forces on operation dynamo, evacuation of british expeditionary force dunkirk between 27 may , 4 june. apparent lack of focus led many ldv members becoming impatient, particularly when announced volunteers receive armbands printed l.d.v. on them until proper uniforms manufactured , there no mention of weapons being issued units; impatience led units conducting own patrols without official permission, led men had served in armed forces. presence of many veterans, , appointment of ex-officers commanders of ldv units, worsened situation, many believing did not require training before being issued weapons; led numerous complaints being received war office , press, , many ex-senior officers attempting use influence obtain weapons or permission begin patrolling. issue of weapons ldv units particularly problematic war office, recognised re-arming , re-equipping of regular forces have take precedence on ldv. instead, war office issued instructions on how make molotov cocktails , emergency orders placed first world war vintage ross rifles canada , pattern 14 , m1917 rifles united states. in absence of proper weapons, many ldv units broke museums , appropriated whatever weapons found, or equipped private weapons such shotguns. british government, passing of 1937 firearms act, removed private hands , destroyed many of such weapons 3 years later have been used, in hands of original owners, defend country.

another problem encountered ldv organised definition of role organisation play. in eyes of war office , army, ldv act armed police constabulary in event of invasion observe german troop movements, convey information regular forces , guard places of strategic or tactical importance. war office believed ldv act best in such passive role because of lack of training, weapons , proper equipment. such role clashed expectations of ldv commanders , members, believed organisation best suited active role, attacking , harassing german forces. clash led morale problems , more complaints press , war office ldv members opposed to, saw it, government leaving them defenceless , placing them in non-combatant role. complaints role of ldv, continuing problems encountered war office in attempts clothe , arm ldv, led government respond public pressure in august, redefining role of ldv include delaying , obstructing german forces through means possible. @ same time winston churchill, had assumed position of prime minister in may, became involved in matter after being alerted problems, obtaining summary of current ldv position war office on 22 june. after reviewing summary, churchill wrote eden stating that, in opinion, 1 of main causes of disciplinary , morale problems stemmed uninspiring title of ldv , suggesting renamed home guard . despite resistance eden , other government officials, noted 1 million ldv armbands had been printed , cost of printing million home guard armbands excessive, churchill not dissuaded; on 22 july ldv officially renamed home guard.

the home guard had number of secret roles. included sabotage units disable factories , petrol installations following invasion. members recruited commando teams of auxiliary units, extremely secretive force of more highly trained guerrilla units act in support of regular army during military campaign resist invasion, operating secret underground bases dug in woods, in caves, , concealed in sorts of interesting ways. these bases, upwards of 600 in number, able support units ranging in size squads companies.

the home guard did not, initially, admit women ranks. women formed own groups amazon defence corps. in december 1941, more organised still unofficial women s home defence (whd) formed under direction of dr edith summerskill, labour mp fulham west. whd members taught weapons training , basic military training. limited female involvement permitted later on understanding these in traditional female support roles , not in way seen combatants. auxiliary units may have had female members in both support , combat roles, although records scarce.

later years , disbandment

home guard soldiers training blacker bombard anti-tank mortar in may 1943

even once threat of invasion had passed, home guard remained in existence manning guard posts , performing other duties free regular troops duties overseas. in 1942 national service act allowed compulsory enrolment units below strength. @ time, lowest rank within home guard, volunteer , renamed private match regular army usage.

it common fallacy home guard never fired shot in anger during whole of second world war. in fact individual home guardsmen helped man anti-aircraft guns far battle of britain during summer of 1940. 1943 home guard operated own dedicated batteries of anti-aircraft guns , rockets plus coastal defence artillery engaging german planes machine guns. credited shooting down numerous luftwaffe aircraft , v-1 flying bombs followed them in summer of 1944. home guard s first official kill shot down on tyneside in 1943. home guard in northern ireland took part in gun battles ira.

however following successful landings in france , drive towards germany allies, home guard formally stood down on 3 december 1944 , disbanded on 31 december 1945. male members rewarded certificate, bearing words:

in years when our country in mortal danger, (name) served (dates) gave generously of time , powers make himself ready defence force of arms , life if need be. george r.i.

aside deaths in accidents, home guard lost total of 1,206 members on duty air , rocket attacks during war.

if had served more 3 years , requested it, member awarded defence medal. not until 1945 women had helped auxiliaries recognised own certificate.

the revived home guard, 1952-1957

lt gen lashmer whistler (general officer commanding-in-chief of western command) local home guard commanders @ oswestry, 1954

not long after home guard had been disbanded, suggestions began made revived in face of new threat soviet union. first official step paper director of military operations (dmo) in november 1948, later incorporated executive committee of army council (ecac) report. suggested roles included countering communist inspired insurrection guarding vulnerable points , anti-invasion duties. in may 1949, parliamentary home guard working party established consider issues raised, resulted in further report being completed in august 1950. although preliminary planning started, such identification of suitable battalion commanders, nothing concrete done due financial constraints. not until winston churchill again become prime minister , minister of defence in general election of october 1951 preparations revive home guard began in earnest. churchill predicted there assault on britain twenty thousand or soviet paratroopers (an assessment of risk not requested until march 1953, outcome of ...the chiefs of staff believe russians not contemplate such step - or without atomic bombardment... ). speech throne on 6 november 1951 included intention take necessary measures... re-establish home guard . while required legislation in passage through parliament, chiefs-of-staff produced yet report, outlining final form new home guard should take. force consist of 2 categories of battalions; 162 category recruit 60% of projected wartime strength, while 397 category b battalions established on en cadre basis, skeleton staff of trained officers , ncos expanded in crisis. majority of category battalions in south , east of england. home guard act 1951 received royal assent on 7 december. enrolment started on 2 april 1952. aim recruit 170,000 men in first year, november 1952, 23,288 had been enrolled, further 20,623 men had joined reserve roll (initially called supernumerary register ) enrolment in emergency.

uniform consisted of standard battledress , dark blue beret worn royal army service corps. scottish battalions wore balmoral bonnet. helmet , greatcoat provided, along basic pouches no haversack. no waterproofs, water bottle or entrenching tool issued. small arms issued home guard lee–enfield rifle, both no 1 mk iii , more modern no 4 mk versions. sten sub-machine gun provided ncos , bren gun section automatic weapon. support weapons obsolescent piat anti-tank projector, vickers medium machine gun , 2-inch mortar. detachment of home guard led british army section of state procession @ coronation of queen elizabeth ii in june 1953.

there criticism of cost of home guard, full-time officers, battalions had paid adjutant , quartermaster workload quite limited, in category b units. accordingly, on 20 december 1955, announced there reorganisation on reserve basis . essence of battalions reduced cadre basis, , paid staff have effect change before resigning commissions or transferring reserve roll 1 april 1956. certificate of issued had served in active role. these reforms not enough , on 26 june 1957, john hare, secretary of state war, announced in parliament home guard disbanded on 31 july, making saving of £100,000 in year.

the home service force, 1982–1993

at height of cold war, home service force established in 1982, starting 4 pilot companies . recruitment began in earnest in 1984 , open ex-servicemen not meet territorial army (ta) training requirements. envisaged force, company in every territorial battalion, used guard strategic points against sabotage enemy special forces in event of war. disbandment of force commenced in 1992, part of peace dividend .