Help please

[pazz12345]

Hi dose anyone know anything about
B coy 101 Group (NDC)
5th Lancs fus
6th Lancs fus
6th (HD) East Lancs Regiment
this is taken from my grandfathers ww2 records and has place of enlistment Rochdale Lancashire
he also injured his elbow when a toilet door fell of its hinges in windy weather happened in Haywood Lancs

[genechaser]

Hi

Try the Fusiliers museum.

http://www.fusiliermuseum.com/

[pazz12345]

Hi thanks for the info I have emailed them waiting for a reply thanks again simon

[pazz12345]

Hi not much help at museum anyone else have any info was he home guard?

[Spikey68]

The National Defence Corps (NDC) was formed in 1936. It took men, aged between 45-55, who were either members of the TA or who had previous military experience. Unlike the Home Guard, the NDC were recruited for official duties in Britain (in theory) such as guard duty at camps and airfields. However, when war was imminent, in 1939, a series of laws were passed to cover national service, registration etc. The NDC "contract" was changed so they could be sent overseas, though in what capacity was uncertain at the beginning. This caused quite a few questions to be asked in Parliament as many men had signed up for the NDC under the understanding that they would be used in their local areas.

The NDC was made up Battalions and Groups. Sadly, the NDC isn't very well researched, but they were definitely more official than the home guard.

[pazz12345]

Thanks Spikey68
He was 54 when joined Bcoy 101st group in August 1939 and was discharged in 1940 for being to old (60) he was East lancs attached to the 5th and 6th lancashire fusiliers but then has the 6th(HD) East lancashire regiment written on his service records could this be home guard?

[Spikey68]

No he wasn't in the Home Guard. A Home Defence Battalion was one that was made up of reservists too old to serve overseas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defence_Companies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Service_Battalions

It is a complicated system, because by 1940 (especially post Dunkirk) Britain was desperate for trained men. There was still use for experienced older men though. The Home Guard was indeed made up of elderly men, and those too young to enlist, plus many who had jobs in reserved occupations. They, literally, were part-time soldiers, whose aim was to protect their very local areas, undertook training part time, and had limited supply of weapons (think Dad's Army). Home Defence (Home Service) soldiers were full time soldiers.

Though I can't find any info on the 6th East Lancs online, this link shows you the structure and duties of another HD battalion:

http://raf-marks-castle-and-raf-sennen.co.uk/archie-easton-30th-battalion-dcli.html

As you can see, the earlier conditions of service, namely that those in HD battalions only serve at home (the UK) had been changed and some did indeed serve abroad. However, I believe every soldier was allowed to chose if he wanted to go abroad, unlike soldiers of regular soldiers who went wherever ordered.

[pazz12345]

Thanks again Spikey68
What great information it gives a good in site into what he was up to thank you very much.