What was the homeguard in ww2?

The Home Guard was originally formed as the Local Defence Volunteers in 1940 and was responsible for guarding coastal areas and factories from invasion. It was disbanded in 1945. Most Home Guard records are still with the Ministry of Defence.

What was the role of the Home Guard?

The Home Guard defended key targets like factories, explosive stores, beaches and sea fronts. At night they patrolled fields in which the enemy gliders or paratroops might land. No one expected them to beat well-trained German soldiers. Their job was to slow them down until the army arrived.

Why was the Home Guard called Dad army?

This was originally called the Local Defence Volunteers but was later known as the Home Guard. It was sometimes nicknamed ‘Dad’s army’ because it was made up of volunteers who were too old to serve in the regular army. Hundreds of thousands of men joined the Home Guard in the summer of 1940 and served through the war.

Why was the Home Guard disbanded?

During the Second World War, the Home Guard would lose 1,200+ members while on duty. These members perished during air raids or died from the injuries they sustained. From this date, the Home Guard became an inactive reserve unit and was finally disbanded on 31st December 1945.

What age were the Home Guard in ww2?

The LDV was open to men aged between 17 and 65 who had fired a rifle and were ‘capable of free movement’. None of these qualifications were seriously tested. At first, uniforms and weapons were in short supply. There were only enough rifles for about a third of volunteers.

What were air raid precautions ww2?

APR Wardens during World War 2. ARP (air raid precaution) wardens supervised the Blackout. Air Raid Precautions (ARP) were organised by the national government and delivered by the local authorities. The aim was to protect civilians from the danger of air-raids.

Is Home Guard a government job?

Home Guard (India) The Indian Home Guard is an volunteer paramilitary force tasked as an auxiliary to the Indian Police. All citizens of India, in the age group of 18-50, are eligible. Checkout the recent employment oppurtunities for Home Guard in Government Sector. We have the latest jobs for Home Guard in India.

How big was the home guard army?

1.7 million men
The Home Guard was at first a rag-tag militia, with scarce and often make-do uniforms and weaponry. Yet it evolved into a well-equipped and well-trained army of 1.7 million men.

What rifles did the Home Guard use?

Some good craic about that too. The Home Guard had . 303 rifles, that was the standard equipment for everybody. They had the Sten guns, which was the small automatic weapons.

How old did you have to be in the Home Guard?

As the age limit for conscription into the normal army was 18 and the Home Guard was 17, in the latter half of the war conscription of 17 year olds into the Home Guard was seen as an ideal method of acclimatising youngsters into a military environment before they were called up for service in the regular army.

What did ARP mean in ww2?

Air Raid Precautions
Before the Second World War, British people feared that any future war would involve heavy aerial bombing of civilian areas. In December 1937, the British government passed the Air Raid Precautions (or ‘ARP’) Act, requiring local authorities to ready themselves in case of air attack.

What did the Home Guard do in World War 2?

The Home Guard (initially Local Defence Volunteers or LDV) was an armed citizen militia supporting the British Army during the Second World War.

Who were the Home Guards during the Civil War?

The Home Guard was any of several loosely organized militias in various states that were under the direction and authority of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

What was the Home Guard during the Civil War?

The Home Guard was any of several loosely organized militias in various states that were under the direction and authority of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War . Confederate Home Guard units worked in coordination with the Confederate Army , and were tasked with both the defense…