Just like 'DAD'S ARMY':
The Home Guard in Wolverton

The Home Guard was formed on 14th May 1940. It was originally called The Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) but the name was changed to Home Guard (HG) in July 1940 as it was more catchy than LDV.This was in response to the threat of invasion by Germany and to provide various services of a defensive nature. Units were formed on a local basis organised by town councils or certain industries. The Post Office and railways had their own Home Guard. The Home Guard comprised of unpaid volunteers from reserved occupations and those too old or too young (17) for military service. In Wolverton there was the town Home Guard based at the Victoria Hotel and one at the railway works. The Drill Hall was also used. Reserved occupations were those jobs considered important to the war effort. Such jobs were all those on the railway and in munitions factories. Wolverton works was a railway facility that made gliders, amongst other things during the war. It had its own HG unit. The gentleman on the right is dressed in his Home Guard uniform. Below is a pictorial map of Wolverton. Explore it and find stories of the Home Guard. There are 6 of them. Acknowledgements: Sources: Home Guard FAQ & Living Archive Images: Photo: Tracey Brown, Illustrations: Jenny Linn-Cole.

Back to Bletchley, Wolverton and Coffee Hall