WW2 Home Guard Part 8: The Secret Weapons Hidden Behind Britain’s Defences

WW2 Home Guard Part 8: The Secret Weapons Hidden Behind Britain’s Defences

 

Today I want to continue my series on the Home Guard. I want to look at something many people do not realise even existed, the secret weapons that had been prepared in case Germany invaded Britain. When we think of the Home Guard we think of the lack of weapons and equipment. We think of men with rifles, shotguns, or even broom handles during the early days. But behind the scenes, Britain was developing hidden weapons and secret defensive plans that many volunteers knew very little about.

 

By the summer of 1940, Britain was as we know in a dangerous position. For some time they had been living under the fear of invasion. France had fallen, and invasion felt like a very real possibility. Many people were worried that German troops could land in Britain at any moment. The Home Guard had already been formed to help defend the country, but there was a major problem. There simply were not enough modern weapons to go around. After the evacuation of Dunkirk, huge amounts of military equipment had been left behind in France.

 

Because of this, Britain had to be creative and quick. Strange and secret weapons had begun to appear. Some were designed for direct combat, but others were hidden in the countryside, waiting for the worst-case scenario.

 

One of the most unusual weapons was the Blacker Bombard. This was an anti-tank weapon designed by Stewart Blacker. It looked rather odd and was not especially easy to use, but it could fire powerful bombs that would have been capable of damaging enemy vehicles. Many Home Guard units trained with these weapons, even though some volunteers joked that they looked more frightening to the user than to the enemy.

 

Another secret weapon was the sticky bomb, officially called the No. 74 grenade. It was exactly what it sounds like, it was an explosive covered in strong adhesive. The idea was that it would stick to enemy tanks before exploding. In theory, it sounded clever. In reality, many of the men disliked it because the sticky surface could cling to clothing or hands if it was handled badly. It may seem quite amusing but for the men this must have been concerning.

 

Britain also prepared hidden explosives across roads, bridges, and key routes. If German forces managed to break through, the Home Guard could trigger  demolitions to slow them down. Bridges could be destroyed, roads could be blocked, and access routes could be cut off. These  ordinary men, who in their regular lives were shopkeepers, clerks, labourers, fathers, and grandfathers, were being trusted with highly dangerous defensive responsibilities.

 

Perhaps the most secret preparations were the hidden guerrilla units known as the Auxiliary Units. These were not part of the Home Guard, but some Auxiliary Unit recruits had previously served with the Home Guard. They were specially trained to operate in secret if an invasion happened. They would effectively have been our own resistance force. Hidden underground bases were built in rural areas, they were stocked with weapons, food, and explosives. Their job would have been incredibly dangerous, they were tasked with sabotage, ambushes, and attacks behind enemy lines. Many understood that if they took part in the unit, it would most likely be fatal.

 

For the Home Guard, these secret weapons brought them both reassurance and anxiety. They showed Britain was preparing for every possibility.  But they were a clear reminder of just how real the invasion threat must have felt in 1940. These men were preparing to fight, and if necessary, fight to the end. They were going to defend Britain against the threat that many feared might soon come.

 

Thankfully, the invasion never happened. Many of these secret weapons were never used in battle. But they tell us something about wartime Britain. It shows us the determination, improvisation, and the refusal to give up, even if the worse case scenario happened.

 

If invasion had happened, do you think these secret weapons would have made a difference?