WW2 & Hooe – The Home Guard

Preamble

This is not a history lesson but, because I had to read and understand as much as I could on the formation and organization of the Home Guard, I didn′t want to throw away what I had learned, especially if it saved some other person, as curious as I am, from having to do all the research that I did.

I used the Internet, as well as books, but, while the Internet is useful, it should be borne in mind that the information given can never really be trusted. Too many sites copy each other without any checking of the facts – for instance, who had the idea, first, of a "Local Volunteer Force" Well, from various sites you have a choice of several people, so, I ignored that particular problem by giving what I understand happened, after the thought was born, and using information from books! I only hope, however, that this is accurate but I trust books more – my fingers are crossed!

The Idea, Creation, and Disbanding of the "Home Guard"

Once war had been declared, it was, generally, expected, that a massive German aerial bombardment, of London, and of Britain, would follow very shortly afterwards; the Germans′ "Blitzkrieg" on other countries was in everyone′s mind – including the minds of officialdom.

When no such attack took place, and we entered the "phoney war", the question of what the Germans intended to do had to be asked and the most–likely answer seemed to be a sea–borne invasion, which was supported by Secret Service Intelligence reports; these reports being seriously enough for the new War Cabinet to begin considering what action could, and should, be taken, urgently.

Some Cabinet Ministers, however, were sceptical of the dangers warned of in those reports, and even the Commander–in–Chief of the Home Forces, General Sir Walter Kirke, thought that the danger was greatly exaggerated.

A newly appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, however, was convinced that there was more than a possibility of German troops being landed on the south and east coasts of England and began to consider its defence.

He argued that a home defence force (originally known as "Local Defence Volunteer Force" – LDV, for short but later known as the "Home Guard") could be formed from those men who were not suitable, due to age or disability, for service in the regular army. He wrote to the Lord Privy Seal, Sir Samuel Hoare, on 8th October 1939:

"Why do we not form a Home Guard of half–a–million men over forty (if the like to volunteer) and put all our elder stars at the head and in the structure of these new formations? Let these five hundred thousand men come along and push the young and active out of all their home billets. If uniforms are lacking, a brassard would suffice, and I am assured that there are plenty of rifles at any rate."

While this was going on, in Essex, a self–styled, "League of Frontiersmen" had been, unofficially, formed, from men not liable for call–up and its success in obtaining volunteers and in its organisation helped to decide the matter in the minds of the War Cabinet and others.

On 14th May 1940, the Secretary of State for war, Anthony Eden, announced the formation of the "Home Guard" in a wireless broadcast to the Nation in which he said,

′We want large numbers of such men in Great Britain who are British subjects, between the ages of seventeen and sixty–five, to come forward now and offer their services in order to make assurance [that an invasion would be repelled] doubly sure. The name of the new force which is now to be raised will be the Local Defence Volunteers. This name describes its duties in three words. You will not be paid, but you will receive uniforms and will be armed. In order to volunteer, what you have to do is give your name at your local police station, and then, when we want you, we will let you know.′

The idea met with more than public approval – the people greeted the announcement with great enthusiasm. The Government had expected about 150,000 volunteers but, within the first twenty–four hours, over 250,000 had tried to sign up – by the end of the month the figure had reached 750,000. Furthermore, during the time that the "Home Guard" existed, the number never dropped below 1,000,000. Because of the large , unexpected number of volunteers, Churchill′s bold statement that, "I am assured that there are plenty of rifles at any rate", became far from the truth, and, by the end of June 1940, only one in ten of the volunteers were armed and most of these were with rifles from WW1, so the public were asked to give their shotguns and pistols to the "Home Guard".

The result was that about 20,000 weapons were handed in, but there was still a severe shortage and, so, many volunteers were given crowbars, pickaxes, coshes, spears, in fact anything that could be used as a weapon. Training was also given in sabotage, the making of "Molotov Cocktails" (for use against tanks – not popular at parties, though they did help them go with a bang – I just couldn′t resist that!) and the use of high explosives.

By the Autumn of 1940, "uniforms" (far from the correct word when you see what was given) began arriving but they were a mixed bag – some volunteers were given the khaki serge battledress while others only received "LDV" armbands (or brassards) to be worn around the upper arm. In time, they were issued with better gear including steel helmets, greatcoats, and waterproof capes.

When the time drew near for the "Home Guard" to be, finally, disbanded, the question of what each man would be allowed to keep of his uniform, etc, was raised in Parliament and the decision was made – battle dress, cap, gas cape, anklets, boots and greatcoat.

"Hooe Home Guard"

There were several references to the Hooe Home Guard, in the "Bexhill Observer", from 1940–1944, and the photocopies were sufficiently clear that I decided to add them to the website instead of transcribing them, however, I have transcribed the people′s names so that a simple search can be done for any relative or ancestor and then, if wanted, the report can be read – if a larger image is needed, just click on the one you want.

Though there may have been other reports, which I missed (but I don′t think so), the first one that mentioned Hooe, specifically, was dated 16th November 1940 and was a Remembrance Service, held on the previous Sunday, at Hooe.

People mentioned, in this report, are:

A. Lennard (Hooe); Creasey (Ninfield); Martin (Catsfield); Rev. E. G. O. Edwards; S. Mepham (Bexhill); A. D. Hellier (Hooe)

[Bexhill Observer – 16th November 1940 – "Remembrance Service"]

On 22nd July, 1942, my grandfather, as Clerk to the Parish Council, wrote a letter concerning the insurance claim he had be making regarding the loss of the Hooe Band Instruments, which it seems had been kept in a cupboard in the Village Hall.

It seems that, for some reason (possibly from a bomb dropping nearby, which did happen), the Hall had received some "blast damage" and the instruments were thought to have been lost in the blast. It′s not clear exactly what happened but the instruments turned up again with the explanation that they had been removed by the bandsmen who had not, apparently, told anyone!

The main point of interest in this letter, as far as the Hooe Home Guard is concerned, is that it goes on to add that, "the Hooe Band instruments were removed months ago – when the Hall was used as a dormitory by the Home Guard". So we know that, up until mid Spring, the Home Guard′s dormitory was at the Village Hall but where was their new one – assuming that a dormitory was necessary?

I′ve included a copy of the letter, just for interest. I took a photograph at Lewes Record Office, during the short period when the use of digital camera was allowed.

[Letter from J.J. Newport to the Insurers – 22nd July 1942]

On the 29th May 1943, the newspaper gave a report of a "Church Service of Thanksgiving", held the previous Sunday, attended by the Home Guard, at Hooe Church, for "Victory in Africa", when, some time after El Alamein, the Axis powers were, in Africa, finally defeated and troops, both German and Italian, surrendered.

People mentioned, in this report, are:

Commanding Officer – Lieut. Arthur S. Sargent; Vicar – Rev. E. J. O. Edwards; Organist – A. D. Hellier

[Church Service Of Thanksgiving – 29th May 1943]

A "Demonstration" was held in Hooe, at a Red Cross Fete on Saturday, 4th September, 1943, and reported in the Bexhill Observer, on 11th. This was, however, a "demonstration" in the old meaning of the word, and not what it has come to mean, over the past few decades!

At the end of the article, there is a photograph of a young child and the caption says, "A charming competitor in the Hooe Baby Show". The child is surrounded by admiring ladies and a nurse who is either, for some reason, prodding the infant in the mid–riff or holding its hand – it′s difficult to say! – on the other hand, some of the ladies don′t look and, perhaps, weren′t so admiring because they thought that their child was far more charming"

Just another thought – I wonder who the child was?

To help those who may be searching for names of relatives, ancestors or whatever, I have produced a list, in tabular form, of the names of the people who are mentioned in the report but, as the article doesn′t give any idea as to where the people came from I′ve been unable to, which is a pity.

[Demonstration at Red Cross Fete – 11th September 1943]

[A Charming Competitor at the Hooe Baby Show – 11th September 1943]

The next cutting, from the Bexhill Observer of 1st January 1944

NINFIELD HOME GUARD

CHRISTMAS COMPETITION WINNERS

The winners of the Christmas Competition, run by the, Ninfield Home Guard Social Club, were:–.

Sgt. Reynolds, Hooe Home Guard: (one dozen eggs); Mrs. Inky, Ninfield (goose); Miss Whitelaw, Bexhill (duck); Mr. E, Taylor, Hooe (duck); Mr. D. Apps, Lunsford Cross (bottle of whisky); Mr., F. B. Duke., Ninfield (bottle of gin); Mrs. Vitler, Ashburnham (bottle of, sherry); Captain; Holder, Highwood Golf Club (two bantams); Mr. T. O. Brunger, Ninfield, (one cwt. coal) ; Mrs.: Piper, Ninfield (one cwt. potatoes) ; Mr. A, Martin, St. Leonards (one dozen eggs), Mr. Charles Harmer, Catsfield (crate of beer) Mr. Reg Keeley, Ashburnham (two bags of wood): Lieut. A. H. Sargent; Hooe Home Guard (pot of jam); Mr.. W. Hayler, Ninfield, (brace of rabbits); Gnr. P. Croft. Bexhill (brace of rabbits) Mr. E. Toon, Ninfield (brace of rabbits) Mr. D. Taylor, Hooe (wild game): "Jumbo," Bexhill (50 cigarettes): Mrs. A, Forsyth, Ninfield (one cwt. potatoes).

The competition and the dances and whist drives, which preceded it, were arranged for the committee by Mr. H. O. Smith and Mr. Coussens and altogether the series has raised for charities some £40.

[Christmas Competition Winners – 1st January 1944]

In the "Bexhill Observer" of 18th November 1944, there appeared a general article on the "Home Guard" and the "Return of Equipment" – no particular reference to Hooe but just a list of what the men could keep in the way of clothing and equipment.

[Home Guard – Return of Equipment – 18th November 1944]

A reunion, the first of what was hoped would be an annual affair, took place at the Village Hall, on Saturday, the 2nd of February 1946 and reported in the "Bexhill Observer" on the following Saturday (9th February)

People mentioned: –

Lieut. Colonel Wreford Brown, Major J. R. Bickersteth, ("E" Company Commander), Platoon Commanders Lieut. Broadly, Lieut. Cousins, Lieut. Duke

[Home Guard Reunion – 2nd February 1946]

The following picture was sent to me by Peter Hayward, of Hooe, and he believes it to be a group photograph of Hooe Home Guard, taken in September 1942. It′s quite possible that it includes men from Ninfield Home Guard because it appears to have been taken in front of the Sparke Pavilion, on the Ninfield recreation ground.

Some men have been identified but there are many more that are, as yet, unknown.

Back row : – 5th from right – Ernie Baker
Middle row (from the left) : – 5th – Gerald Taylor, 7th – Donald Taylor, 8th – Edgar Taylor
Front row (from left) : – 2nd – Cecil Clifton, (from Dewbys Farm); 6th (middle of the row) – Arthur Sargent.

If anyone has any idea who the rest are, I would be grateful for the information.

[Photograph of Hooe (and Ninfield?) Home Guard – about September 1942]