on the request of the civil authorities at the discretion of the military commander. While engaged on such work · the Home Guard would act as a military body under military orders. BRITISH INFORMATION SERVICES v. P ensions AN A GENCY OF THE B R ITISH GOV ER NM E N T In June, 1943, a Royal Warrant was issued explaining the position of Home Guards, their widows, children and dependents in regard to pensions. It stated that, subject to certain provisions, the Army Pensions Warrant of 1943 applied INFORMATION DIVISION l.D. 575 to the Home Guard, and that Home Guards were to be treated as if at all times while so serving they were soldiers of the Army on full pay holding the rank of private. If the widow of a Home Guardsman were qualified for a pension under these regulations, she might be granted a temporary allowance of 50 shillings a week for ten weeks, beginning on the day following his death, after BRITAIN'S HO.ME GUARD which time arrangements for the payment of the normal pension were expected to be made. This was followed in September, 1943, by the issuance of a ruling by the on disablement allowances. Members of the Home Guard who PAGE suffered permanent partial disablement were made eligible to receive, during Contents their continued membership of the Home Guard, a partial disablement allowance, I. INTRODUCTION . equivalent to the disability pension granted to a discharged soldier of the rank of private with a similar disability. Mr. Eden's Broadcast II. CIVILIAN INTO SO LDIER .f i. The Response ii. E quipment. iii. Uniforms. 45 iv. The Call to Arms. I Ill. TRAINI NG AND DUTIES . i. Early Problems. ---- SOME P UBLICATI ONS F RE E ON REQUEST F ROM ii. Winter Training 1940-41. iii. Winter Training 1942-43. BRITISH INFORMATION SERVICES iv. Home Guard Schools. ~ Dutie~ • 50 Facts About Britain's War Effort vi. Recruitment. Women's War Work in Britain vii. Compulsory Service. Flying Bombs (illustrated) IV. Tl-jE LONG WATCH • 10 i. C~unter-Invasion Role: The Garrison. Britain versus Japan (illustrated) ii. The Blitz. · V. THE HOME GUARD IS STOOD DOWN 11 i. The Passing of Invasion Danger. - , ii. H. M. the King's Message. Material published by British Information Services will be iii. Strength. sent regularly to all who enter their names on the mailing list iv. Awards. of the Circulation Section, New York office. APPENDIX: ADMINISTRATI ON AND ORGANIZATION 14 i. Early Arrangements. . . ii. Reorganization . iii. Commissions. iv. The New System. v. Pensions. DECEMBER, 1944

NEWYORK20 . 30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA C ircle 6-5100 WASHINGTON, D. C. 5 1336 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W. Executive 8525 CHICAGO I 360 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE Andover 1733 16 SAN FRANCISCO 11 260 CALIFORNIA STREET . Sutter 663'4 BR ITA IN 'S HOME GUARD H. M. THE KING'S ORDER OF THE DAY I. INTRODUCTION TO THE HOME GUA-RD Britain in her darkest hours has never lacked a civilian army to defend her shores. Whenever invasion threatened as it has more DECEMBER 3, 1944 than once during her long history, a volunteer army has come for­ ward, ready to fight on the beaches, in the fields, in the streets and "For more than four years you have borne a heavy bur­ in the hills. In the face of threats like that of the Spanish Armada over three hundred years ago, and of Napol eon, across the Channel, den. Most of you' have been engaged for long hours in work two hundred years later, Trained Bands and Musters, Levees en necessary to the prosecution of the war or to maintaining the Masse and Volunteer Corps have sprung up to defend their homes. healthful life of the nation; and you have given a great por­ So it was in 1940 when Britain was once again faced by a hostile tion of the time which should have been your own to learning army on the Continent, an army which had engulfed Holland and the skilled work of a soldier. By this patient, ungrudging Belgium and which was threatening France with disaster. The de­ effort you have built and maintained a force able to play an scendants of the men who had risen in Britain's defense centuries before sprang to arms in the greatest volunteer army in the history essential part in the defense of our threatened soil and liberty. of the world. I have long wished to see you relieved of this burden; but it would have been a betrayal of all we owe to our fathers and Mr. E den's Broadcast our sons if any step had been taken which might have im­ This time the radio replaced the beacons and the mounted mes­ perilled our country's safety. Till very recently, a slackening senger, but the message was essentially the same. The Secretary of State for War, Mr. Anthony Eden, spoke directly to the people of of our defenses might have encouraged the enemy to launch a Britain on the night of May 14, 1940. He said: desperate blow which could grievously have damaged us and "I want to speak to you tonight about the form of warfare ~hich weakened the power of our own assault. Now, at last, the the Germans have been employing so successfully against Holland splendid resolution and endurance of the Allied Armies have and Belgium-namely, the dropping of troops by parachute behind thrust back that danger from our coasts. At last I can say the main defense lines .. .. In order to leave nothing to chance and to that you have fulfilled your charge. supplement, from sources as yet untapped, the means of defense already arranged, we are going to ask you to help us in a manner The Home Guard has reached the end of its long tour of which I know will be welcome to thousands of you. Since the war duty under arms. But I know that your devotion to our land, began, the Government has rf:)ceived countless enquiries from all your com,radeship, your power to work your hardest at. t~e over the Kingdom from men of all ages who are for one reason or end of the longest day will discover new outlets for patriotic another not at present engaged in military service, and who wish to do something for the defense of the country. service in time of peace. Now is your opportunity. We want large humbers of such men History will say that your share in the greatest of all in Great Britain who are British subjects, between the ages of 17 our struggles for freedom was a vitally important one. You and 65, to come forward now and offer their services in order to have given your service without thought of reward. You have make assurance doubly sure. The name of the new force which is now to be raised will be "Local Defense Volunteers." This name, earned in full measur e your country's gratitude." Local Defense Volunteers, describes its duties in three words .... You will not be paid but you will receive uniforms and will be armed ... . In order to volunteer, what you have to do is to give your names at your local police station; and then, as and when we want you we will let you know . .. . "

II. CIVILIAN INTO SOLDIER i. The Response Simultaneously with Mr. Eden's broadcast a statement along Colonel-in-Chief. similar lines was issued from the War Office. It defined the terms of service as "for the duration of the war" and emphasized that the 2 3 .,,.....,__ ••-""" «:)• --~· .~.,-.-...--- ..... -- -.-.---- ~ - ...----, o------~-~~~~--...---'l!'""',....,,.,.."::'"'r-~.&~ • ~ -:&...... &UV .._.-...---•-• - - -- ·-__.- .,.~---~- areas." The force was to be under the command of the Commander- fore armed with such as could be rounded up-shotguns in-0hief, .Home forces. and sporting guns of various dates a1,1d patterns as well as regulation The public reaction was immediate and spontaneous. Volunteers -and improvised weapons such as the so-called "pike," consist- began to arrive at their local police stations before Mr. Eden had fin- ing of a spot-welded to an iron tube. The pikes were super- ished his broadcast. Thousands of others thronged to police stations seded by the American .300 bore of a 1917 pattern. T.hereafter later that night. It was hoped to raise 150,000 men; within two some units were issued with the shorter service rifle firing British weeks 400,000 had enrolled, and in two months the number had .303 ammunition. In 1943 almost all units .were given these rifles, mounted to. 1,060,000, and in almost every area recruiting had to though some received new Army rifles with an aperture sight and six- be closed down. 1 inch dagger , and others the 1914 type Lee-Enfield rifle. All units were gradually provided with Levyis and Browning light Men from all walks of life came to join the force. It was a peo- automatic guns. The Tommy guns originally issued as and when ple massing for duty, the clerks and the workers, the youths and available were gradually replaced by guns. The Northover pro- the pensioners, the farmers and the retired soldiers, the citizens of jector, named after Major Northover, its inventor, was widely used, Britain. In the dockyard companies of Portsmouth were many ex- but the , another weapon of the type, was• Artillery men and ex-Naval gunners. They asked to man the local more favored. The E. Y. rifle, equipped to fire , was also Coastal Defense batteries, and were welcomed by th~ local Qoastal distributed in quan.tity. Finally in July, 1944, it wa.s a~nounced that Defense Gunners. These men were the pioneers in Coastal Defense the Home Guard was using the , an artillery weapon firing work. On the open moorlands of the West Country and Wales a 10-pound high explosive shell and combining some of the character- mounted patrols were formed from the farmers, and men living near istics of a howitzer and an anti-tank gun. inland waterways and rivers were formed into amphibious units whose job it was to keep open water communications and protect iii. Uniforms locks and dock facilities. At first, the arm brassard was the only semblance of uniform During the days that followed, enrollment and organization went that could be distributed widely. Then followed the denim overalls, on quickly. Such weap'ons as were available we:i;e distributed, prior­ and finally the regulation pattern serge· battle-dress. The transition ity being given to potential danger areas. Steps were taken to se­ was slow, as the Regular Army had first call on everything that was cure drill halls-schools, Territorial Association halls, public houses available; but from a force of civilians in civilian clothes th!'l Home with large rooms were all pressed into service-and posts were en­ Guard finally became a military body in full uniform attached to its thusiastically manned. Much of the equipment and many of the local County Regiments and with the full equipment of a regular i weapons were improvised, and often amazing ingenuity was shown soldier. ' in making something ;from nothing. iv. The Call to Arms ii. Equipment • The force at its inception was faced with a serious problem. It was originally intended to equip the Local Defense Volunteers Means had to be devised whereby it could be called out in case of in­ with a rifle, bayonet, steel helmet and an 'arm brassard to be worn vasion. It might · be expected that telephone and telegraph wires with civilian clothes until uniforms were issued. But eyen this mini­ would be cut by the enemy at the earliest possible opportunity. Thus, mum equipmen~ was beyond' the possibilities of the time. The total as in Elizabethan times, the decision was made to ring the 'Church stock of rifles available was only some 70,000. An appeal was made bells as the signal to muster. ' to the public for the loan of guns, rifles and revolvers and this pro­ ' duced an additional 20,000 weapons. The situation was improved by the 'arrival of weapons from the United States. The first list of III• . TRAINING AND DUTIES materials sent included 500,000 Enfield rifles of World War I manu­ facture, 900 75mm. guns, 80,000 machine guns, 130,000,000 rounds i. Early Problems I of ammunition for the rifles, 1,000,000 rounds for the 75's, an assort­ Training was at first hampered by the lack of equipment and ment of bombs and small quantities of smokeles powder and TNT. the difficulty of finding suitable places in which to hold parades. In Two hundred and fifty thousand rifles and additional equipment were organizing the parades themselves three serious difficulties arose. added later. This help was greatly appreciated, a fact made clear These were lack of suitable times for parades in view of increased · by Sir Edward Grigg in November, 1940, when he said to the House working hours, lack of weapons for arms drill, and lack of instructors of Commons, "I Would alio like to take off my hat, in the name of the with sourid a:qd up-to-date military knowledge. The first difficulty ' Home Guard, to tHe President, Congress and· people of the United was partially overcome by arranging parades on each night of the States. The Home Guard must have made ·a special appeal to them. We week and on Sunday mornings. Even so, there were some men certainly owe a great deal to their sympathetic and understanding ' \ working on a three-shift system who were able to attend parades one 4 5 week in three only. The second difficulty was solved in many cases tactics, recognition of en~m~ aircraft· and t~?ops, leadership ~nit~is­ by the loan of drill pattern rifles, but many units had to use broom­ cipline, and army orgamzabon. In the spl!ng of 1941 fire g mg sticks and canes. · Later, of course, these individual arrangelnents by and rescue work were added. Platoon Commanders had to give way to the program laid down by higher authorities. iii. Winter ·Training 1942-43 In order to standardize equipm:ent and training of the L. D. V. By the winter of 1942-43 it was possible to plan training with the post of Inspector Genaral was created on June 20, 1940, and the knowledge that the Home Guard would be an important factor Lieut-Gen. Henry R. Pownall, late Chief of Staff to Lord Gort in in the defense of the country when the Regular Army attacked tl~e Flanders, was appointed to it. Besides being appointed Inspector Continent. The higher · Home Guard efficiency I bec:it?e, the more General, General Pownall was appointed adviser to the Commander­ readily could regular troops be sent overseas. Tram~ng had been in-Chief, Home Forces, with the object of providing liaison between transferred to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, rn May, ~942, the War Office ·and the Army Commands for matters in1which the . and consolidated under him, with the result tha~ there was a smgle L. D. V was concerned. At the same time Lieut.-Col A. C. Shortt authority in charge of both training and operational command, thus was appointed to take clrarge of L. D. V. Training. giving an added unity to the whole force. , All through the summer of 1940 . the Home Guard, as it ,had There were three problems facing the force i!l the fall of ~942- become on July 23, on Mr. Churchill's suggestion, trained hard. "If you the loss to the •Services of some of the best-tra.med men ~wm~ to were·able to get a bird's eye view of ~ritain on ·a Sunday morning their reaching the draft age, the: num~er of recrm~s and semi-t~amed you would see uniformed men with rifles slung on their shoulders men to be trained, and the increase rn weapons m the handlmg of in every village street, on every main road, in every country lane which crews had to be efficient. . and every city thoroughfare converging on certain points. They The position was improved by increasing the training facilities would be coming down the sides of mountains, winding through the for instructors and the number of whole-time s~rving offi~ers and for~sts, following the narrow paths through cornfields and climbing Regular Army instructo:rs. Instructions were , issued tl~a~ battle the steep, cobbled streets of ancient towns. They would be walking craft and battle drill were to be the basis of all future trammg-an with the air· of men traveling old familiar roads, whose eyes are indication of the stage which the Home Guard. had already reached. busy noting familiar landmarks, whose ears are constantly pricked for familiar sounds. They would walk, neither hurriedly as men do when they walk to catch a train, nor slowly as they would to church, iv. Home Guard Schools . but wi(h a firm step and a sense of purpose."* · The 1940 campaigns in .Flanders and Northern France demo~­ Even in the early summer of 1940 some units had taken part strated the overwhelming effect of the German panzer attack, and it in combined exercises with the Civil Defense, and some units had appeared that the only thing which .could -stop them were. the rank / "defended" their own localities from practice attacks by local Army and file of the infan try Regiments. Hence many suggestions were and R. A. F . units. · made as to tank traps and other tank-sto~ing devi~es. From them grew the Home Guard training schools. , ii. Winter Training 1940-41 The first school in England was started at Dr~ycott, ~ear Cl~v­ erley, in Shropshire, and operated in a sand:pit, usm~ an mstrucbon Definite training plans were laid down for the winter of 1940-41. manual privately published by the commandant, .Lieut.-Col. Otter­ Their objects were to· train leaders and instructors, to bring units Barry. The most famous was set up at Os~erley Park, near Lond<;>n, up to the efficiency standard required of them and to keep alive en­ .which opened its first instructional course i~ July, 194~ .. To~ Wm­ thusiasm through the long winter months, when most of the training tringham, the Director of Traini?'lg, ~a~ assisted by British rnstr?c­ had to be done indoors. Various supplementary means of instru,c­ tors who had served in the Spamsh Civil War and by three Spamsh tions were adopted: films were introduced, instructors were sent out miners, experienced in guerill~ ~arfare. The lectures a~d demon­ from the War Office or from local Commands, demonstrations were strations included modern tactics rn general, German tactics pre~ent arranged, and selected personnel 'were sent" to special courses. The and future the use and improvisation of hand grenades, land mmes · intention of the scheme was to ensure that properly co-ordinated and anti-t~nk grenades, the use of various ty~es of fire~rms, camou­ instruction was extended to Commands, units and individual in a form flage, field craft, scouting, stalkin~,. patrolling, ~erilla warfare, most suited to local conditions. · street tactics and the defense of cities, the use of smoke-scre~ns, The syllabus of instruction included weapon training, observa­ troop-carrying afrcraft, parachutists and defensivb measures agai~st tion and the reporting of information, elementary field fortification, them, field works', . rqad blocks and anti-tank methods, observation field craft and map reading, patrolling and sentry duties, bombs and and reporting. hand grenades, elementary drill, anti-gas training and first aid, enemy The training was designed to produce first-class irregulars. *The Home Guard of Britain, B. I. S., page 1. Various detachments of the Regular Army attended the school, 6 . 7 among them units from the Brigade of Guards, the Royal Armoured Service on February 16, 1942, the maximum number of hours to be Corps, v~rious Line Regiments, and even a ·Naval Shore ~stablish-. completed was fixed at 48 each month. At first service was limited ment. · · to British subjects between the ages of 17 ·and 65, but in the spring About 4,940 officers and men passed through its courses before of 1941 nationals 'of Allied and neutral countries were allowed to yit was finally taken over by the War Office and transferred to Dork­ join if vouched for by the Chief Constable of the county. This led ing after September 30, 1940. A simiJar school had been established to an influx of Czech, Belgian, Dutch, French and Polish recruits, ' at Hurling.ham, and the War Office later started a whole series of and an American unit was &tarted in London under the command schools all over the country especially for the ftome Guard. Many of Brigadier General Wade Hayes. Constant demands were made of the later schools were started by officers and noncommissioned for the i;nclusion of women, but it was not until April, 1943, that officers who had attended, the original school: others were begun by official sanction was given for their inclusion as non.;corilbatant auxili­ men who had attended Regular Army courses. The Military Train­ aries proportionately to .the strength of the Home Guard. They were ing Directorate established two other Home Guard G. H. Q. schoels, not given uniforms, but were issued· a plastic brooch, and the War the first of which was set up in Perthshire. Special Travelling, Office decision to include them ·regularized the position of about 30,000 Wings and a Town Fighting Wing were set up, and the first of these women, many of whom had been working with the force since its Travelling Wings went out i.n February, 1941. Twenty-six went out inception iri 1940. in all, staffed by specialized instructors who brought weapon train­ ing to· units whose members could not get away t<> Battle Schools. vii. Compulsory Service There grew up dozens of schools and· courses to which officers and N. C. O.'s could be sent, among them Zone, Battalion, Regular-Army ' In November, 1941, the National Service. (No. 2) Bill was and Battle Schools, which provided battle inoculation with live am­ introduced, providing for compulsory enrollment iii both Civil De­ munition, a practice generally introduced in the Home Guard early fense and the Home Guard. This provision came into force in in 1944. _ , February ~ 1942. The maximum number of hours to ·be completed . each month was laid down as 48, considerably less than was being v. Duties done already by some battaiions. Failure to attend for trainfog and duties. was made punishable by a civil court, which would impose The duties of the Home Guard ih its early days were defined, a. penalty more suitable to a part-time force than a military tribunal. as Mr. Eden pointed out, in its original title, "Local Defense Volun- The maximum penalty for- such offences was fixed at one month'J • teers."· There were general units raised on a local basis, and unit~ imprisonment or a fine of £10 ($40) or both, the same scale as attached to factories, dockyards, 'business offices, etc. They defended tliat applie? to the Civil Defense Services. - · their own localities, 4md.patrolled the hills and moors' in their vicinity either on foot or on horseback, and the rivers, canals and lakes in When discussing the Bill in the House of Commons, on December boats. Their special functions were defined from time to time, but 18, 19-ll, Captain Margesson, then Secretary of State for War, remained largely urlchanged throughout the whole life of the organi_. announced that some Anti-Aircraft units would be formed from zation. It was their dut:11 to observe and report promptly: and ac­ the Home Guard. These units ·were recruited voluntarily -at first, curately what they saw. In case of thvasion they were charged with but in Ju_ne, 1942, compulsion was applied, and in July they came ·· delaying and obstructing the enemy by all means within their power. under control of A. A. Command. At the same time it was decided They _were to protect specific points such as factories, railroads, post to take a limited number of lads between the ages of 16 and 17 offices and communications sy._stems, etc. They were to . watch for on a voluntary basis. subversive activities, and to co-operate with the Civil Defense au­ Before the scheme for compulsory service was put into effect thorities. As the force grew and became more efficient, their scope . a p~rio~ of grace until February 16, 1942, was allowed for Home of operations was · extended. In April, 194.2, announcements were Guard volunteers to resign if they wished, and a number of men did made through the local press of the projected formation of Home resign. But there was no big rush to leave. At the same.time another Guard Anti-Aircraft batteries, and in July these batteries came under problem was solved. Many members' of the Home Guard, because the control of A. A.· Command. In May, 1944,,Home Guardsmen began of the importance of their jobs to the war effort, could not present training on· the use of fire-control instruments on A. A. sites: . Mem­ themselves immediately on the call to muster. To regularize this bers had been manning Coastal Defense guns since the early days of situation, two lists of members were compiled, one composed of men the movement in 1940. In all 141,676 Home·Guardsmen were serving who in the event of invasion could report 'for duty immediately, _ on A. A. gun sites and about 7,000 on coastal' guns by September; 1944. • and ,a se·cond composed of men who could be expected to report to . their platoon commanders within 48 hours. ..., vi. Recruitment In March, 1942, the War Office defined the rights of the Home 'Until February, 1942, all recruitment was voluntary, and there. Guard in connection with suspected persons. When in uniform Home was no limit to the number of hours which men could put in a& spare­ Guard members had all the rights and duties of any o'ther officer time soldiers. With the introduction of compulsory Home Guard· or soldier, including that of arrest, search and seizure. The Home Guard Directorate announced in July, 1942, that May 10, .1941, was an important day in the life of the 3rd Ren­ houses which might form vital defense points would be earmarked frewshire Battalion, whose . area covered over 50 square miles of for occupation in the event of invasion. It was also announced t?at moorland and agricultural land. It was in this area that Rudolf redundant units could and would be disbanded. At the same ~ime ,Hess' landed and was taken into custody by a unit of that battalion. . many factory Home Guard units were called upon to play a wider With the addition of the anti-aircraft duties to their regular part in the defense of the districts in which they were located, as work the Home Guard achie.ved success in another .field. In Decem­ it was realized that if the factory were put out of action they would ber, 1942, a Tyneside battery shot down the first bomber officially have no assigned. paJ't in the districts' defense. accredited to the Home Guard. About this time men from General Servic ~ battalions started to 'train on 3.7 A.A. guns. These units in particular played an important part in the defeat of the flying IV. THE LONG WATCH bombs in the summer of 1944, while the generBrl service units worked with the same efficiency that they had displayed in the 1940-41 Blitz. i. Counter-Invasion Role: the Garrison The invasion for which the Home Guard was primarily recruited never came. But that did not mean that the force served no useful V. THE HOME GUARD IS .STOOD , DOWN purpose. It made a notable contribution to the g~neral ,~ounter­ invasion plan providing one of the important factors in the defense i. 1:he Passing of Invasion Danger in depth" ad~pted to defeat any invading f<;>rce. Its. very. presenle With the progress of the Liberation armies in Europe the danger in support of the Regular Army was a warmng. that invasi<;>n W?U d 1 of invasion of Britain receded, and with the passing of this danger not be an easy job. It formed a network of interconnecting Imes the need for the Home Guard diminished. On September 4, 1944, across the country, fountled on the intimate knowle?ge of the . ~er- ·the War Office issued a letter to all Honie Guard units and formations, . rain of which its ·members were the masters. It provided .a garrison informing them that it was likely that the force coQld be stood down force which allowed regular troops to be sen.t to the fighting fronts, in the near future, and_that a plan was being prepared to put this important as early as March, 1941, when Lord Croft was able to say into effect. Two days later, Sir James Grigg, Secretary of State "it frees the mobile army to strike wherever necessa~y, fro~ · Lofo~e]l for War, broadcast to the force. He told it that the element of to Jijiga," and of paramount importanc~ when the Liber_~.bon armies compulsion was to be removed, and that as from September 11th embarked for their assault on the continent of Europ~. Some force ·the Government was going to rely on the loyalty and public spirit of had to· be left to defend the base from which the armies started out the men to volunteer for the work which still remained to be done. and it fell to the Home Guard to provide such a force. A month passed, and the Liberation armies were still pushing forward. On October 26th came the announcement that the Home ii. The Blitz , Guard wa~ no longer required for active duty. The force was not The Home Guard found plenty to do outside <;>f ~ts static defense to be disbanded, however, but from November 1st it was to be role and regular training. During the Battle of Britain several al~rms stood down and placed in reserve. Certificates of Service, with the were given of parachute attacks, ~o which the force responded. quickly King's signature, were to be given to every member, and the officers and efficiently. · They guarded the wreckage of planes whicJ: had were to be gra:ited honorary rank. crashed or were brought down, .and took prisoner any surv1v.ors. The dose liaison bet1¥een the Home Guard a.nd the_ Metropolitan ii. H. M. the King's Message Police proved invriluable during the heavy raids .on L~ndon. The Home Guard was able to- fill immediately one of its pr~mary r~les Final parades were held on December 3, 1944, and on this day; by assisting the police in cases of emergency. Each mght durrng the King, their Colonel-in-Chief, at whose request, on their first and the Blitz the Home Guard battalions held. large parades of men re~dy third anniversaries, they had taken over the guard at Buckingham to aid the police. Their chief duties consisted of rescue work, rop~ng Palace, broadcast a message of appreciation and thanks. He ,said: off and guarding the approaches to unexploded bombs, m<;>unting "Over four years ago, in May, 1940, our country was in mortal guard ~n damaged properties, diverti~g t~affic and evacuating the . danger. The most powerful army the world had ever seen had civil population from unsafe areas. This ~ight w?rk natura;lly ham­ forced its way to within a few miles of our coast. From day to pered training but its importance gave it a prior place in Home • day we were threatened with invasion. Guard arrang~ments. During t~e whole .winter of .1940-41 Home I . • . . ' Guard units played their part in the Bhtz. They .mcur:red i:nany "In those days our Army had been gravely weakened. A call casualties. With the introduction of compulsory. s~rvice on the sa~~ went out for men to enroll themselves in .a new citizen army, basis as f9r Civil Defense forces, and the tramm~ of some Civil the Local Defense Volunteers, ready to use whate~er weapons Defense personnel in the use ·of firearms, co-operabon between the could be found and to stand against the invader in every village and every town. Throughout Britain and Northern Ireland the two services increased. 10 11