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Author Topic: Looking for a Home Guard Unit  (Read 3352 times)

Offline ChrisEM

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Re: Looking for a Home Guard Unit
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday 07 November 12 09:17 GMT (UK) »
Thank you, Sylvia.

Unfortunately your grandfather isn't listed as an officer in 1941.  This is not too surprising since:
a.  the chances were probably only around 5%
b.  if he was of the right age to be called up (but wasn't because he was in a reserved occupation) it's likely that he was too young to have served in the Great War - and the vast majority of officers in the early years of the HG had previous army experience.  The haphazard way in which village platoons were formed and their officers (and NCOs) appointed is nicely illustrated in this contemporary description: http://www.staffshomeguard.co.uk/HomeGuardingPages/29staffshg.htm

The fact of your grandfather working for BTH certainly raises the possibility of his serving in their factory unit. So...either Newbold village platoon or BTH factory platoon.

Please let me know if you make further progress.  I suppose there is no hope of any documentary evidence of his service still lurking in a family member's attic, is there?  At the very least he would have had a certificate of appreciation from George VIth at the end of his service.

Chris
The Home Guard of Great Britain - the story of units and individuals 1940-1944 - http://www.staffshomeguard.co.uk

Offline Squirrel69

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Re: Looking for a Home Guard Unit
« Reply #10 on: Wednesday 07 November 12 14:39 GMT (UK) »
Chris,
Thanks for looking him up, but I figured he wouldn't be an officer. He was too young to serve in WWI, he was born in 1907.
He did have a letter from the King; my Uncle remembers seeing it, but my family moved to America after the War, and then kept moving around, so my Grandmother claimed she lost everything....pictures and documents. Very frustrating. My aunt in Australia might have it, but she won't share anything, which has made lots of things hard. My head is very use to hitting brick walls!!
I will starting digging around in Newbold and BTH; I had found a site for BTH not too long ago. Turns out, I have looked at your site before, it is very informative!

Sylvia
Laybourn/Leybourne, Kearney, Wandlass, Stephenson, Chisholm, Dodson, Barkass, Forster, Wright, Martin, Hall<br /><br />Areas: Hartlepool, Southwick, Sunderland, Staindrop, and Stockton

Offline Sopwithde.

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Re: Looking for a Home Guard Unit
« Reply #11 on: Friday 18 January 13 16:38 GMT (UK) »
newbold home guard were manned from two villages mainly newbold on avon and harborough magna they consisted of one officer 5 sergeants and 2 corprals  plus approx other ranks in 1941 of30 to 35 men they were 2nd batt,  4th comp royal warks .i do not recall anyone by the name of leybourne but it is possible he joined after the batt was moved to rugby later on in the war
best of luck   sopwithde
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