Home Guard & Home Front: Bringing history to life

Another day at the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum in Shrewsbury Castle with Churchill Warriors. Lots of great engagement, great questions and knowledge sharing with visitors from as far afield as Canada and The Netherlands.

Supporting the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum at Shrewsbury Castle this week with Churchill Warriors Living History Group.

Well that's that then!
About 9 months ago I volunteered to give a talk on the Home Guard to a U3A Military History group that I belong to. Being a smart arse I decided I would do it with a twist by dressing up as a HG member even though I had no kit.
So I went and bought a uniform and a rifle and put a post on Facebook seeking out a local group who may be able to help me with my research. That's how I became part of Churchill Warriors Living History Group and the rest is history, a passing interest has turned into a full on hobby and introduced me to some great people who share my interest.
Today was the day I delivered my talk to the Military History group and if I say so myself it went down very well indeed! An hour and twenty mins on my feet talking, followed by a good half hour answering questions and letting people handle all the guns, bombs and other kit I took along. Feedback was amazing, with the organiser saying it was one of the best talks they had ever had in the group. Chuffed to bits with the way it all went and I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me for your help, advice and friendship over the last 9 months. Can't wait to get stuck in this year now!

From the Daily Express Saturday 18th October 1941.
Terribly sad news, a real life RAF 'Saving Private Ryan' story without the happy ending.Concerning the family of Frank Barnwell, designer of the Blenheim and Beaufort, key allied aircraft of WW2

To coin a Rob Wilton catchphrase " the day war broke out "

Home Guard cartoon c.1941

Today I had the good fortune to be gifted around 40 original wartime newspapers in excellent condition. It's fascinating to read as news things that we only know about through history books.
The photo shows only a small part of the collection as I have only scanned them briefly so far, but I look forward to posting snippets as I get into them.

Home Guard Explosive Devices No.7
The No. 68 gr***de entered service with the British Army in November 1940.However, it proved to be not much better than the inadequate Boys anti-tank rifle and could not be improved as the size of the explosive charge was limited by the diameter of the discharger cup, It was introduced into service with the Home Guard in February 1941 and was retained until the force stood-down in 1944.

A British manual of 1942, reflecting experience gained in the field, stated that the effective range of the gr***de was 50 to 70 yards (45 to 65 metres) and would be best employed against the rear armour of enemy tanks after they had been allowed to pass.
Generally recognised as one of the first shaped-charge projectile.
Could also be fired from the Northover Projector but was not considered particulary effect in this role.

Home Guard Explosive Devices No.6
The No. 73 gr***de was first issued in the last months of 1940, but it was rarely used as an anti-tank gr***de; instead the fuze was usually removed and it was used as a demolition charge. It was withdrawn from service within a year, and reissued again in 1943 for the express purpose of being used for demolition work. On 27 May 1942, a modified version of the gr***de was used in the assassination of SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, when paratrooper Jan Kubiš threw it at Heydrich's car in Prague. The bomb used for this purpose had been shortened.

Home Guard Explosive devices No.5
Here we have the No.69 Gr***de. The shell of the No. 69 gr***de was composed entirely of the hard plastic, Bakelite, which shattered without producing fragments like a metal bodied gr***de. Metal fragmenting sleeves were available to increase the gr***de's lethality. Used by the Home Guard and regular army from 1942.