Keeping calm and carrying on!
On May 14th, 1940, the British Secretary of State for War, the Rt Hon. Anthony Eden made a speech which was broadcast nationwide on BBC radio.
The country had its back to the wall.
Across the Channel the BEF were in full retreat in the face of the relentless German advance through the low countries and northern France.
Mr. Eden went on to give a brief overview of the parlous situation and then said the following:
"Now is your opportunity. We want large numbers of such men in Great Britain who are British subjects, between the ages of 17 and 65, to come forward now and offer their service in order to make assurance doubly sure. The name of the new force which is now to be raised will be the "Local Defence Volunteers". This name, Local Defence Volunteers, describes its duties in three words. It must be understood that this is, so to speak, a spare-time job, so there will be no need for any volunteer to abandon his present occupation."
Within 24 hrs many thousands of men answered the call and volunteered their services in the defence of their country.
Here we see a line of such men waiting to sign up to "do their bit" at their local Police Station in May 1940.
The "LDV" as they were initially called, soon became better known as the "Home Guard", a title suggested by PM Churchill himself.
At first there were few weapons to arm them nor uniforms to dress them, so improvisation was the name of the game, but gradually they were supplied with rifles such as the M1917 "American Enfield", M1928 Thompsons and .303 Lewis guns etc.
They were organised along military lines and provided with either denim or serge battledress uniforms and of course "tin hats"!
The "Home Guard" is fondly remembered in Great Britain and was immortalised in the famous BBC sitcom "Dad's Army" which followed the trials and tribulations of a HG platoon. It first aired back in the late 60s and is still regulary repeated today!
(LIFE / Vandivert)
