More Memories of Homeguard

My grandfather Charles Edward Smith who lived at Monks House and who served in the tank regiment in world war 1 was an officer in the Spalding home guard unit. They were stationed around the concrete pill box just a few yards down monks house lane from the Bourne road including up in the large tree across the lane adjacent to the entrance into monks house.

Anthony Fell I see you know David Exton- I know Jan and Dave very well!!!

Looking at his autobiography he has written a few pages about his time in the Home Guard. From this he write , ” our duties were to attack any airborne or other kind of enemy troop landings., everything was geared up to a fast and mobile battle platoon under one Officer.There was a limited quantity of ammunition which resulted in loss of live ammo training. ” His book is treasure trove if information.

My wife’s grandad Cyril Stevens was in the home guard in Surfleet during WW2.

Unfortunately we don’t have any other information.

Would love to hear more about Surfleet home guard.

I have a booklet that was published in 1944 entitled the History of 3rd Holland (East Elloe) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment Home Guard. The booklet was written in the main by the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Reeves, who died of natural causes just before the end of the war. The booklet was completed by Captain James Bullen. As I understand it there were three Battalions in Holland division of Lincolnshire. The 1st was Boston. The 2nd was West Elloe, (Spalding) The 3rd was East Elloe (Holbeach). 3rd Headquarters was Mattmore House, Holbeach. The 3rd Battalion was divided into 5 Companies, HQ and 4 others. D company was Whaplode Drove under the command of the local Coal Merchant Major Frank Buttery, with seven Lieutenants and 4 Second Lieutenants. Looking at one of the photos it would seem that Mr Buttery was a first war veteran as he wears a number of medal ribbons. The account given suggests that the battalions main responsibilities were the risk of invasion by paratroops and seaborne by the wash. The booklet includes an account of a planned invasion that was detailed in Nazi documents recovered in France which suggest that an invasion from the was would move inland to take Peterborough form there they would move south towards London creating a pincer with other forces landing in Kent and Sussex. As I say this is the account of the 3rd East Elloe Battalion, but I would imagine that the 2nd West Elloe Battalion would have similar responsibilities.

The booklet contains a nominal roll of all those who volunteered for the Home Guard in East Elloe approximately 2000. If the Nazi’s plans detailed in the captured documents had come to fruition our forbears would have been in the front line and may well have followed the example of Hereward the Wake who was such a thorn in the side of the last invaders of England, the Normans.

Unfortunately I don’t have any information but my grandfather , George Adderson was in the Spalding home guards.

Yes, my Father always said he was assigned the ‘pill box’ on Monks House Lane and he had to stand guard in there. He was in the first batch of Home Guard when they were still the LDV (Local Defence Volunteers) or Look, Duck & Vanish! He was called up to the RAF  so he didn’t spend long with the Home Guard. Might be that your GF was called up also. I’ve attached a picture of Dad in his uniform with ‘LDV’ armband just visible on right arm.

My father Horace Stacey was in the home guard. I know he laughed about the fact they had one rifle between them and somebody shot the station clock!

I am led to believe my Grandfather William (Bill) Albert Thompson was in the Home Guard at Peakhill, cowbit. He was a farmer I don’t know of any pictures or dates I am afraid.

My grandfather, Albert Smith was Regimental Sergeant Major

for the 2nd Holland Battalion Home Guard. This photo was taken some time after the war, Albert is on the right.

My grandad , Bert Andrew was in the Spalding home guard

My father, Thomas Stanley was in the spalding home guard

This is a,photo of Spalding Home Gaurd my Grandfather 3rd from right on back row. Thomas Greensmith and he lived down Alexandra Road

My father in law, Ron Bearcock was in the Home Guard.. he was an Officer.  My son has his ‘stick’.  He was in the front row on the Lincs video of the Home Guard.  Sadly I don’t  have any pics or anything.

Yes he was in the Pinchbeck Home Guard and was on duty on the approach when Spalding was bombed on 11th May 1941.

My father in law, Ron Bearcock was in the Home Guard.. he was an Officer.  My son has his ‘stick’.  He was in the front row on the Lincs video of the Home Guard.  Sadly I don’t  have any pics or anything.

My father was in the Spalding H G but do not have any photo’s, he had a machine gun in the corner of our front room but never had any amunition at home.

My Father R Seaton a L/Cpl was in the Spalding Home Guard in 1940’s, never seen a photo of him in uniform but remember him coming home from parades on his old racing cycle on Sunday’s.

I was in the (re-instated) Home Guard going to meetings at this Drill Hall  with my friend Cynthia Bland. 1955.

Little story from my dad guarding the Weston water tower. One dark night. They heard strange sounds.

“Give me the gun” dad shouts. They were armed with one twelve bore shotgun! And dad was blind as a bat.

The noise? Cattle in a nearby field.

Roy Manton I still have the shotgun that was requisitioned from my wife’s uncle to the Home guard ,he was from Whaplode.

Great picture. Whats forgotten is that these men bravely put themselves forward to fight with very little equipment against the military superpower of the time threatening to invade. Most had fulltime jobs, six days of 12 hour shifts a week as well. Unfortunately Dads Army tended to make a laughing stock of what was a serious undertaking. In my home town three were killed arming hand grenades and others injured capturing German flyers near downed aircraft from ammunition explosions etc.

My father Fred King was a Captain in the Whaplode Drove Home Guard. We had a hut on the farm full of their gear. I will look in his book for more information. I do remember him in his uniform after the war.