The Home Guard: Britain's Last Line of Defence

When Anthony Eden broadcast his appeal for Local Defence Volunteers on 14 May 1940, the response was overwhelming. Within 24 hours, 250,000 men had volunteered. By July, the force — renamed the Home Guard — numbered over one million.

The Home Guard's popular image, shaped by the beloved television series "Dad's Army," obscures a more serious reality. In the summer of 1940, with the fall of France and the threat of German invasion, the Home Guard represented the last line of defence for a nation whose professional army had lost most of its equipment at Dunkirk.

Organisation and Equipment

Initially armed with little more than shotguns, pitchforks, and improvised weapons, the Home Guard gradually received proper military equipment. By 1942, units had rifles, Sten guns, anti-tank weapons, and even armoured vehicles. Training became increasingly professional, with exercises simulating German paratroop landings and coastal assaults.

Real Contributions

The Home Guard's contributions were more substantial than often recognised. They manned anti-aircraft batteries, guarded coastal defences, protected vital infrastructure, and provided a reserve that freed regular troops for overseas service. Several Home Guard units saw action during air raids, and members were killed and wounded in the line of duty.

Legacy

The Home Guard was stood down on 3 December 1944. Over 1,200 members had been killed on duty during the war. Their service represents the determination of ordinary citizens to defend their country, regardless of age or circumstance.