WW2 Home Guard Part 4: Training the Home Guard for a Possible Invasion

WW2 Home Guard Part 4: Training the Home Guard for a  Possible Invasion

Today I want to continue my series on the Home Guard. I want to look at how the volunteers trained after they joined up. In the early days and months of the Home Guard, there was huge enthusiasm, but like we discussed yesterday, equipment was often in short supply.

When the Home Guard was first formed in 1940, many volunteers had little to no military experience. Some had already served in the First World War, but others had never worn a uniform before. They came from all walks of life. There were shopkeepers, farmers, teachers, factory workers and even men that had retired.

Training usually started with the basics. They learned how to march, follow commands and work together as a unit. At first, the lack of weapons created obvious difficulties. Some men were made to practise with wooden rifles, broom handles or other improvised equipment while they waited for supplies. This sometimes led to jokes in newspapers and cartoons, but most of the volunteers understood the seriousness of what they were preparing for. Behind the jokes was a genuine fear that Britain could be invaded.

As more equipment gradually became available, training became increasingly realistic. Volunteers learned how to handle rifles, use machine guns and throw grenades. Instructors taught them how to spot enemy aircraft, recognise military vehicles and report suspicious activity. They practised setting up roadblocks, defending key locations and protecting important buildings like bridges, railway lines and factories.

Exercises were mostly carried out in the evenings and on the weekends because most volunteers still had full-time jobs. After a long day of work, they would attend drills, lectures and field exercises. It must have been exhausting, but they knew the possible cost of not being prepared. They knew that their families, neighbours and communities might depend on them if the worst actually happened.

The volunteers crawled through muddy fields, learned fieldcraft and practised moving  across difficult terrain. They took part in mock battles to test their skills and to improve their coordination. Over time, many of the volunteers became far more capable than critics had expected.

Training was not only about weapons and tactics. It also created friendships and a sense of belonging. Men who might never otherwise have met found themselves working together towards a common goal. The Home Guard offered many volunteers a feeling that they were actively contributing to Britain’s defence rather than simply waiting for events to unfold.

As the threat of invasion gradually decreased, training remained important. The Home Guard became a more organised and effective force, ready to respond if needed.

Today we can look back in the knowledge that no invasion happened, but these men didn’t know that and they were willing to put themselves on the line to protect the country and their families and communities. They may have been seen as unorganised and somewhat of a joke, but they trained with the thought they might be Britain’s last line of defence. A truly amazing generation.

 

Do you think you would have shown the same determination and commitment if you had been in their position?