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 War Office 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 firearms 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 rifles-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 bayonet 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 rifle 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 bayonets, 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 Sten 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 Blacker Bombard, another weapon of the mortar type, was• Artillery men and ex-Naval gunners. They asked to man the local more favored. The E. Y. rifle, equipped to fire grenades, was also Coastal Defense batteries, and were welcomed by th~ local Qoastal distributed in quan.tity.