STORY OF THE FIRST BERKSHIRE (ABINGDON) BATTALION HOME GUARD

The Home Guard, familiar to us all from the antics of Dad’s Army on the TV, in fact performed a deadly serious role – guarding infrastructure and communications, and releasing the regular Army for more front-line work. This is one of the Home Guard’s Unit histories, giving a detailed account of their history – from the Government’s first appeal for volunteers onwards. The Home Guard’s history stretched from the early anxious days in the summer of 1940 when a German invasion was hourly expected to the preparations for D-Day when the boot was on the Allied foot. It is a story of amateurism transformed into increasing sophistication and better weaponry; and a professional and patriotic dedication to often humdrum duty that united Great War veterans with youths awaiting the call-up to the regular forces. When they were finally disbanded in November 1944 the Home Guard deserved the thanks of a grateful nation that they had truly served and helped to save.