- Contributed byÌý
- British Schools Museum
- People in story:Ìý
- Betty Goble, nee Bentley, Charles Bentley.
- Location of story:Ìý
- Croydon, Surrey
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A4422980
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 10 July 2005
My father Charles Bentley standing at the far right of his Home Guard unit.
A4422980 Submitted by the British Schools Museum with the permission of the writer, Mrs Betty Goble.
In the early days of the war my father Charles Bentley was in the South Croydon Home Guard. They had to exercise with broom handles instead of guns. In due course father was issued with a Lee Enfield rifle which was kept standing up in the wardrobe of my parents’ bedroom.
One Sunday morning I went up the road to watch the men on exercise. I was very surprised to find my father lying on the footpath behind the pillar box pointing his gun and keeping guard.
My father enjoyed the comradeship of his fellow home Guards. This continued long after the end of the war, when they held a regular ‘club night’ every Tuesday evening. After the war they used to hold a Christmas party for all the families.
Other stories from Mrs Goble can be found at articles A4422917, A4423033, A7349259, A7349493, A7349808.
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