We Remember the Home Guard

'I remember standing on top of our local glen with a block of wood, expecting thousands of Germans coming down from the sky. What was I going to do with the block of wood? I never knew.' Leonard JacksonOn 22 June 1940 France surrendered to Germany and the invasion of Britain seemed a very real possibility.The Home Guard was formed to defend our villages and towns. Members came from reserved occupations, those who had failed their medicals, the elderly and the young, with miners and farmers training alongside former majors. Their weapons and ammunition were negligible at first, but slowly these amateur soldiers began to produce professional results.In this unique book of reminiscenses about life on the home front, we see these men as they practise with pitchforks and fall into ditches after a pint or two of ale on the job. But we also see them learning how to fire grenades after a day studying engineering and undertaking night watches after exhausting factory shifts - knowing they could be the last stop between the enemy and their families and homes.

Préface
Entertaining memories from the courageous men of the Home Guard, Britain's real life Dad's Army, with a foreword by Ian Lavender

Auteur

Frank and Joan Shaw

Texte du rabat

On 22nd June 1940 France surrendered to Germany and the invasion of Britain seemed a very real possibility.

The Home Guard was formed to defend our villages and towns.Members came from reserved occupations, those who had failed their medicals, the elderly and the young, with miners and farmers training alongside former majors. Their weapons and ammunition were negligible at first but slowly these amateur soldiers began to produce professional results.

In this unique book of reminiscences we see these men as they practice with pitchforks and fall into ditches after a pint or two of ale on the job. But we also see them learning how to fire grenades after a day studying engineering and undertaking night watches after exhausting factory shifts- knowing they could be the last stop between the enemy and their families and homes