photo courtesy of Christina Fowler
Left to right: Len Smith, Mr Kemp, Unknown, Bob Cooper, Vic Lawrence, Unknown, Mr Williams, Unknown.
photo courtesy of Christina Fowler.
1. George Harris 2. Clifford Swift 3. Jack Wells 5. Mr Holmes 11. Mr Cooper 12. Harry Gumley
14. Dennis Ettee 27. Mr Driver 28. Mr Fred Hughes 29) Ernie Smart 30. Ronald York 34) Bruce? (Liberty Rd shopkeeper) 38. Mr Green 40. Lennard Smith 41. Fred Hughes 45. Mr Lewin
Memories of Glenfield Home Guard –
F J Swan
As an underage member (graduating
from the Army Cadets aged 15) of No 1 platoon, 3rd (West Leicester) Battalion,
Home Guard, I vividly remember during our training sessions, being shown a road
block entry to the village which consisted of holes set across the road, into
which we had to insert upright lengths of tram track cut into about six foot
lengths. We were then shown how we should take one of these lengths, and ram it
into an enemy tank track. Another masterpiece which we were instructed to do,
was to use our Boyes anti tank rifle, which fired a half inch bore bullet, to
dent the rim of a German "Tiger" tank gun turret so that it could not
be traversed. The bullet itself was insufficient to penetrate the armour plate
of the tank.
We later had a "PIAT"
launcher issued to us. This had a missile loaded into a cradle and was fired
from on the shoulder like a bazooka. The missile itself looked like a small
bomb, with fins, but also it had a long point at the front. The principle was
that the charge would go down this point, after penetrating the armour, and
explode inside the tank. Fortunately, we never had need to try out these items
in real life. After D Day, a lot of Home Guard units were used, on a voluntary
basis, and at weekends, to pack various items of ordnance for use by the Army
in France .
Our particular task seemed to be make bundles of cross pieces for for the top
of signal posts to attach the wires to,like telegraph poles.
I was called up just 4 days before
Christmas in 1944, and went to Cameron Barracks in Inverness .
I was told to report in my Home Guard uniform.
14. Dennis Ettee 27. Mr Driver 28. Mr Fred Hughes 29) Ernie Smart 30. Ronald York 34) Bruce? (Liberty Rd shopkeeper) 38. Mr Green 40. Lennard Smith 41. Fred Hughes 45. Mr Lewin
A practise road block in Kirby Road outside Elm Tree Farm. This probably took place on a Sunday morning. The large building in the background was Mill House which was demolished in the 60's or 70's. The low building to the right still exists and was recently refurbished from a barn to a residential property.
A rare Leicestershire Home Guard Badge
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