This is a page within the www.staffshomeguard.co.uk website. To see full contents, go to SITE MAP.

  containing
-  HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO THE HOME GUARD AND THE 32nd (ALDRIDGE) BATTN.
 - BACKGROUND TO THIS WEBSITE and THE BOOK "HOME GUARDING"
 - HOW TO FIND YOUR WAY AROUND WITHIN THE SITE  

   In the early summer of 1940 as the German Army poured out over its western borders the threat to Great Britain was increasing by the day and was plain for all to see. As Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg and France reeled under the onslaught it was becoming clear that in a matter of weeks if not days the country would be alone, the only nation in Europe still trying to oppose a miltary machine which appeared invincible. As the looming threat grew ever greater, so did the defiance of the British people and their eagerness to be doing something positive to meet the challenge. 

During the evening of Tuesday May 14th whilst desperate fighting was going on in Holland, Belgium and France, the Secretary of State for War, Anthony Eden, broadcast an appeal for men of 17 to 65 to form a new force, known as the Local Defence Volunteers. The details of this force's responsibilities remained vague in Eden's speech. But with the emphasis on the way in which the Germans had made their attack on Holland and Belgium, using mass landing by parachute troops, the inference was clear: the LDV's main function would be to counter this threat by the guarding of factories and strategic points like railways, canals and road junctions; and to act as the eyes and ears of the military in their area, by detecting the landing by sea or air of any units of German troops who might appear. Behind the scenes fierce debate raged about the precise scope of the new force's responsibilities and its relationship with the Regular Army and other agencies. These would evolve over the coming weeks, greatly influenced by the opinions of Churchill and effective lobbying by LDV members who saw themselves potentially as a more aggressive and heavily armed force than the War Office and others might prefer.

That day in May saw the birth of the 32nd (Aldridge) Battalion too, or at least the formations from which it quickly evolved.  The history of the Battalion's active service which would last almost to the end of the war in Europe is a reflection of that of the Home Guard as a whole and to relate either story here in this Introduction would be to anticipate much of what is contained elsewhere in the website. (The Battalion's history is well covered by the book "Home Guarding" which is mentioned below. And key dates in the life of the Home Guard are listed on the TIMELINE page).

After four-and-a-half years of continuous activity an announcement was made in November 1944 that the Home Guard as a whole was to be "stood down" since all risk of invasion and incursion had finally disappeared.  By that time two George Crosses had been won and 13 George Medals; and 1206 members had been killed whilst on active service with a further 557 seriously injured. The Home Guard had indeed been a serious affair.

When it all came to an end, members of the 32nd Battalion immediately resolved to write a record of their activities over the preceding years and to publish it in a booklet for posterity.   The job of compiling and editing the various individual efforts fell to Captain Frank H. Timings who also provided a number of delightful sketches.  The booklet was entitled:

Home Guarding
      by The 32^nd (Aldridge) Battalion South Staffordshire Home Guard

and was published in 1945 and printed by Walsall Lithographic Co., Ltd., Midland Road, Walsall.

A copy of this publication now resides in the Imperial War Museum and there are no doubt others still tucked away in bookcases in the area and beyond, as is the Webmaster's own.

The booklet was the inspiration for this website and it is reproduced here in its entirety. The story it tells is that of this battalion with its local preoccupations; but equally it is the story of many such units up and down the country, information on which has been added to the site as it evolves. And so, whilst it is likely to be of the most interest to those living in the area concerned and knowing the places and perhaps even some of the individuals or their families, it may also offer something to others who are interested in the Home Guard as a whole and in what it was like to live in those tumultuous times.

There is a lot of text which requires some patience and perseverance to absorb; but the visitor may well find the effort worthwhile. Here is some guidance on:

FINDING SURNAMES AND PLACE NAMES

An INDEX of surnames and place names is included which lists all those references both within "Home Guarding" and in other sections of the site which relate to the 32nd Battalion. Some BIOGRAPHICAL information is also recorded elsewhere on the site, again specific to the Battalion. And there is a complete LIST OF OFFICERS serving with the Battalion in February 1941.

THE "HOME GUARDING" BOOK (32nd Battalion)

• The "HOME GUARDING" - CONTENTS  page guides you to the various articles in the book.. Go back to this (or the overall Site Map page) if you lose your way within the site.
• THE GROUND WE DEFEND specifies the area in which the Battalion operated.
• A REVIEW BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER describes much about how the Battalion and its Companies were organised and operated; and mentions many individuals and places.
• A HOME GUARD PLATOON relates how a typical platoon (a real one, based in Little Aston and Streetly) was formed and how it functioned throughout its life.
• Further aspects of the Battalion's activities are covered in 
  A SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION   
  BATTALION SPORTS  
  REMINISCENCES OF A WEAPONS TRAINING OFFICER
  AUXILIARY WOMEN   
  STAND-DOWN PARADE
• Descriptions of life in a more light-hearted vein occur in 
  A PAGE FROM THE A.A.'s BLOTTER
  ALARMS AND EXCURSIONS 
  THAT EXERCISE CALLED "CAT"
  BULLSEYES AND BEEFSTEAK
  SPOTLIGHT ON INTELLIGENCE
• A 1943 picture of the battalion officers appears in
  32nd BATTALION OFFICERS

MEMORIES and INFORMATION
Go to this section for memories and further information concerning the Battalion and life in the area at that time.

 

OTHER HOME GUARD UNITS PAGES

     - units in individual West Midlands counties (Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire        and Worcestershire)
     - units in many other counties and regions throughout the United Kingdom
    

The MEMORIES and INFORMATION sections include information generously provided by visitors to the site. The Webmaster is regularly expanding them and would welcome further information, especially about the 32nd (Aldridge) Battalion and its individual members, but also relating to any other HG unit - from visitors’ personal experience, knowledge and records.

You may have information you feel might be of interest to others. You may wish to take the opportunity of commemorating a father, an uncle or a grandfather............  If so, please contact us.

In such a case, or if you wish to comment confidentially about the site for any other reason, please use FEEDBACK.  Nothing will appear on the site without your further, explicit approval. Previously published VISITORS' MESSAGES can be viewed here.

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Thank you for reading this introduction.  Now please enjoy the rest of the site and join the Webmaster in humble admiration at the energy, determination, bravery, skill, humour, patriotism, team spirit and sheer bloody-minded defiance of those who in the face of a terrifying threat helped to defend this and every other area throughout the country - our very own Dad’s Army.

Please now go either to the overall Site Map or to the Contents page of the "Home Guarding" book.