Home Guard collection
Including: Local Defence Volunteers in Mumbles and Swansea
by Grafton Maggs
Soon to be retitled- “The Home Guard”. This appeal on May 14th, 1940, was probably one of the most audacious and defiant gestures of the War! Seemingly (in polite form),
Mumbles
and
The beginning:
On the evening of May 14th, 1940,-
families huddled around their wireless sets to hear BBC announcer, , read the Nine o’ Clock News.
Then, before signing off, the rich toned Liddell made an unusual request to listeners,
“… please stay tuned in for an important announcement by the Secretary of State for War……..”.
The Right Hon. Anthony Eden spoke,
“The Government has received countless enquiries from all over the kingdom from men of all ages who wish to do something for the defence of their country. Well, now is your opportunity. We want large numbers of such men …….between the ages of seventeen and sixty-five to come forward now……….The name of the new force which is now to be raised will be the Local Defence Volunteers. …..You will not be paid but you will receive uniforms and will be armed………..give your name at your local police station………”
Eden, at that moment had publicly announced the birth of the “Local Defence Volunteers (LDV)”, soon to be retitled- “The Home Guard”.
A Video
During WW2, by Grafton Maggs
A video by Peter Hall
YouTube link https://youtu.be/Sx68HezliO0
Swansea
With the Personnel on Fire Picquet Duty at Central Hall on Friday 21 Feb 1941. A List of men who reported for duty during one night of the Swansea Blitz
The Anti-Aircraft Battery at Thistleboon on Mumbles Hill, comprised 76 men of the Royal Artillery and 33 Home Guard ...
The Coastal Gun Battery was defended by a double line of barbed-wire with trenches and pillboxes to provide cover for a platoon of thirty Home Guard troops armed with Lee Enfield rifles, grenades, Sten guns and mortars.
Mark Ridgewell shared this photo of number 7 section, Swansea Home Guard, who manned the Z Battery Rocket site at Ashleigh Road, Swansea. Private Peter ...
In about 1935 he left the garage and joined The Trinity House as a lighthouse ... Bill joined the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) later known as The Home Guard ...
At that time, Grafton Maggs was serving as a schoolboy-in-the-day and the Home Guard in the evenings. He was called out to play his part . . .
Peter Dover-Wade in 1965
An Anderson shelter was delivered to each house and I helped my dad dig ... he was a member of the Home Guard on the Rocket Launchers at Ashley Road, ...
VIDEO
The Home Guard demonstrates
the Northover Projector -
the real Dad's Army
The real Dad's Army. WR28 Battalion (Haworth) Home Guard demonstrates the Northover Projector in a training exercise. An instructional film in the style of a World War Two production.
Workington Home Guard. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~rwbarnes/defence/ hgcb.htm. This link will take you away from this site-. Workington Battery Contents gives much background information.
Renee and Fred Barrow
Can you please help?
Fred Barrow and his wife Irene (but known as Renee to the family). are pictured on the occasion of their marriage at Clyne Church 7th November 1942 .
His grandson, Phillip, who lives in Dunvant and who is also a living historian and re-enactor, is trying to find out if his grandfather was in either the Mumbles or Blackpill Home Guard.
Please: Contact the Editor
Lt. Stephens served in The Great War and The Second World War
STEPHENS, Sgt., Castle Ave., Later Lt. in command of 1 Platoon, WW1 veteran, Partner of coal Merchant firm, Merriman and Stephens.
NEWS - November 2021 - MUSEUM IS LOOKING FOR A NEW SITE
1940s Swansea Bay museum on Fabian Way, has closed while searching for a new site for its extensive collection.