大象传媒

This story was submitted by Tom Worsfold, Dan Carless and Steph Binks on behalf of Mr T G Eats

I was part of the LDV (Local Defence Volunteers).

Uniform and Weapons
At first the uniform was bland as it only had LDV and an armband. The first uniform was very uncomfortable. We had to wear American leggings which were itchy and irritating. We had no weapons but the local riffle club let us borrow some riffles but they weren't much use. We eventually were given 2 Lewis guns. These and the riffles, as well as the uniform, were extremely difficult to clean. It's remarkable that we were allowed to take the guns home. I didn't like throwing hand grenades. The riffles were very heavy. When we stood down we were allowed to keep the uniform, I later used the boots for gardening. When wearing the uniform I felt proud.
My role in the Home Guard
My job was security duties in the factory. I then, after training, became gas officer. I did 2 courses in a gas school as part of training. They put mustard gas on my hand; it left a mark for years. They also made us smell some of the gases so that we know what they smelt like, one smelt like geraniums.
I took on a job in a platoon; I had training with the regular army in local barracks. I attended a church parade in Elstowe. On the field where we were trained, we used a lawn mower as target practice. The owner of the lawn mower was not pleased.

Another major issue during the war was the rations. My father had an allotment so we never went hungry. But I still don't like to see food wasted. My Aunt kept pigeons which also helped with the food shortage.

When war was declared, I knew it was inevitable. When the war ended I was relieved. In an air raid, if a siren went off we all had to go down to the shelters in the underground. We had to black out our house but it wasn't my job to make sure that everyone did.

Sometimes we were a nuisance as at one stage we had to ask people for ID.

On 14th July the name changed to the home guard. The numbers were going down due to the fact that survivors from WW1 were already old at this point so many didn't see the end of WW2.

In June 1942 we were visited in Bedford by King Peter and Queen Mary of Yugoslavia. I took part in the march, I was 23. I was lucky that I managed to get photos.

It was ironic, I met more people through the home guard than through the factory I worked in, although I lost contact with most of my friends, which now have died.

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