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The Home Guard on the World War Two home front

The Home Guard was Britain’s the last line of defence against Nazi invasion in WW2. This page is compiled from interviews with men who were once home guardsmen. It describes how the Home Guards grew out of the Civil Defence, their role, duties, training, exercises and camaraderie. A feature is the detailed descriptions and illustrations of their uniform and kit.

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By the webmaster based on firsthand recollections of former home guards, discussions at re-enactment events and additional research

Formation of the Home Guard

During the World War Two every able-bodied adult was under pressure to do something to help the war effort and almost all of them were only too keen to do so.

In particular, in response to an urgent broadcast on Tuesday 14 May 1940, men who for various reasons could not join the regular army volunteered to join groups which were then known as the Local Defence Volunteers. The Government expected 150,000 men to volunteer but within 24 hours 250,000 had put down their names. By the end of May the number had risen to between 300,000 and 400,000 and by the end of June to just under 1½ million. The number peaked at 1.8 million in March 1943 and never fell below 1 million until the Home Guard was disbanded after the war.

From Civil Defence Volunteers to Home Guard

Initially, the volunteers were called the Civil Defence, but only two months after their formation, at the end of July 1940 the name was changed to The Home Guard.

The Civil Defence Volunteers were organised so rapidly that they had no uniform. The following photo shows the next best thing - an armband.

WW2 Civil defence armband

As soon as it could be arranged, though, members of the Home Guard were issued with their own uniform and kit - see below.

The role of the home guard

The role of the home guard was specifically defence, and they were normally all men. The original remit was to defend the British coastline in the event of an invasion by Germany, although this was expanded to watch over secure establishments like air-fields and factories inland. The work was wide-ranging and included training, exercises and attending meetings in association with regular soldiers. In practice, though, home guards would turn their hands to anything necessary to help the war effort.

This role was different from that of ARP wardens.

Membership of the Home Guards

The Home Guard drew its membership from several sources: men who were too old for the regular army, men in reserved occupations and young men of 17 to 18 who were waiting to be called up into the regular military.

They were all volunteers, ie not conscripted, but there was no shortage of members.

Women were not included, but some platoons were supported in an administrative capacity by women from what was known as the Women's Home Guard Auxiliaries.

A home guard platoon. Note their ages because most of them were too old for the military, waiting to be called up or in a reserved occupation.

The older men had generally served in WW1 and they headed the training with occasional support from the regular army. Indeed once the 17 year-olds became 18 and were called up into the regular army, they had already been well-prepared by being in the Home Guard. Newly 17 year-olds joined and so kept up numbers.

The Home Guard uniform

As items of home guard uniform were produced, priorities went to the platoons around the coast as they were the first line of defence. Eventually all Home Guards were given full uniform.

Home Guard uniform from three angles also showing the full kit. Details below.

The Home Guard uniform was modelled on that of regular soldiers. The above photos show a genuine uniform (not a re-enactment version) at a re-enactment event. The fabric of the trousers, jacket and cap was a hard-wearing khaki coloured serge. The trousers were tucked inside leather gaiters for protection; there was a leather belt and pockets and ties for various purposes. The badge in the cap was that of the regiment and a Home Guard badge was sewn onto the right sleeve.

There was also an overcoat, known in those days as a 'great coat'. It could often be seen on men after the war, long after the Home Guard had been disbanded because Churchill decreed that Home Guardsmen could be keep their uniforms. These coats were heavy because they were so thick and made of relatively solid wool. Light-weight padded coats of man-made fabrics were decades into the future.

The Women's Home Guard Auxiliaries did not wear a uniform, although they did have a circular Bakelite brooch badge about 2" in diameter with HG in the centre, as shown in the above photo.

The Home Guard kit

In the early days, kit and weapons were in short supply, and the men had to improvise, using anything from old WW1 weapons to garden implements.

Eventually, the full kit of a Home Guardsman was considerable, as can be seen from the photos, and it was very heavy.

The rifle was carried in the hand and a bayonet was hung from the belt.

Gun as used by Home Guards

There were two small bags at the front, attached to shoulder straps; they were for ammunition.

Two larger bags were carried over each shoulder. One was for food. A Home Guardsman was required to bring his own food for the first 24 hours when away on manoeuvres and this was invariably sandwiches with perhaps an apple when in season.

A water bottle hung from the belt on the man's right. It was made of enamel in a thick fabric case which, at the time of filling was soaked in water to keep the contents cool by evaporation.

The other bag was for a gas mask which it was compulsory to carry.

Also slung over a shoulder was a hard hat to protect against fallout. It was covered in net so that twigs and leaves could be poked through for camouflage.

The regular duties of the Home Guard

Because the role of the home guard was defence, they had to become proficient in military matters such as use of weapons, fighting tactics and support of regular soldiers.

Each platoon of Guardsmen was allocated its own meeting point so that as soon as the need arose every man knew where he had to go and what he had to do.

It was not unusual for Guardsmen do a day's work followed by a night's duty followed by another day's work which meant around 36 hours without sleep.

Training and exercises in the home guard

Initially training took place almost every evening and at weekends, and many weekends were entirely taken up by exercises - sometimes with other Home Guard units, sometimes with members of the regular army.

Where the Home Guard met

Individual local platoons of Home Guard met wherever there was space to accommodate them. Typically this was in church halls and back rooms of pubs.

Camaraderie in the Home Guard

If you can add anything to this page or provide a photo, I would be pleased if you would contact me.

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