Wiltshire Home Guard
living history group
“The Home Guard, or the Local Defence Volunteers as they were originally called, came into being when these islands were faced with a disaster which had already overwhelmed much of Europe, and when we were left alone to oppose the victorious enemy. At the hour in May 1940 when the call for a citizen defence force went out, there were some who felt that the response might not be as whole-hearted as the situation demanded. These pessimists were rapidly confounded. The appeal from the very first day met with an enthusiastic response throughout the length and breadth of the country. Nowhere was the response more enthusiastic than in the county of Wiltshire. Recruits poured in from both town and country, and the Home Guard soon proved itself to be the greatest and the most successful volunteer movement in our long history. In the early days the demands on the time and energy of the recruits were very heavy. The necessities of drill, musketry, field operations and even night duties were onerous and mostly fell on men who were already working full time, and often more, in their peace-time occupations. The demands were met with the maximum of enthusiasm and the minimum of grumbling. In consequence the efficiency of the volunteer force soon reached a high level. The age limit forced me to resign from the Home Guard before it was disbanded but I know and shall always be proud to remember, that I handed over to my successor a highly efficient body of men who bore a vital part in the defence schemes of the British Isles.” Wednesday, 23rd January 1946, Foreward by General The Hon. Sir Francis Gathorne-Hardy [1, p3] |
Welcome to the website of the Wiltshire Home Guard living history group
Our site is split into several sections:
- History:
You'll find details of each of the Wiltshire Home Guard Battalions on the history pages. We will be revamping these pages so that information will be easier to find. Once the revamp is complete we hope to provide you with:
- a chronological history of both the Home Guard from its inception in 1940 until its disbandment in 1945, and the Wiltshire Home Guard;
- in-depth information on the Wiltshire Home Guard battalions;
- uniform;
- weapons;
- activities;
- awards and mentioned in dispatches;
- abbreviations; and
- list of Wiltshire Home Guardsmen mentioned in this site.
Please note that we are a living history group and consequently do not hold records of ex-Home Guardsmen. We have provided details of where to obtain records in our Useful Information section.
- Living History:
- aim;
- where you can see us;
- group structure;
- portrayals, activities and exhibits;
- membership;
- members,
- annual James Bowles Cup shooting competition results;
- Gallery:
- images of the group at events we have attended over the years
- Fundraising:
- our charity of the year;
- past fundraising totals, and
- details of how to purchase our unique pictorial fundraising items
- Useful Information:
- our next meeting;
- potential contacts for Home Guard service records; and
- our preferred suppliers
- Contact Us:
- link to contact us, including if you can assist with information we are missing, to share information or images with us, if you would like to use one of our images, you would like us to attend your event or you would like us to do a talk or demonstration
- If you were in the Wiltshire Home Guard, or know someone who was, we would love to hear your/their stories and see your images, and with your permission use them on our website. Please contact us via the contact page
- Images on the website are copyrighted, as detailed on each page. Please contact us via the contact page if you wish to use any of our images
- All sources used in our research are referenced on each page, as is information received
Social Media:
Facebook: www.wiltshirehomeguard.co.uk
Instagram: @wiltshirehomeguardlhg
Sources
1: The History of the Wiltshire Home Guard 1940 - 1944, Major EA Mackay, TD, DL, JP, published 1946.