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Home Guard (‘Dad's Army’)
Home Guard (‘Dad's Army’) (UK) Originally formed as the Local Defence Volunteers on 14 May 1940, in response to the German invasion of the Low Countries. It was principally raised to combat possible German parachute landings. Over a quarter of a million men had volunteered by 15 May, and local units were formed immediately. It was renamed the Home Guard in July 1940, and equipped with khaki uniforms. Initially dress was varied and in the absence of guns, its members equipped themselves with old swords, pikes, and pitchforks. Known as ‘Dad's Army’, most of its members were men who were too old to serve in the forces, together with boys of 17 and 18. In 1942 compulsory enrolment was introduced, and by the summer of 1943 its numbers reached two million. It was disbanded in December 1944. Despite considerable doubts as to its effectiveness, it made a very positive impact upon British morale in the early years of the war.
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JAN PALMOWSKI. "Home Guard (‘Dad's Army’)." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAN PALMOWSKI. "Home Guard (‘Dad's Army’)." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-HomeGuardDadsArmy.html JAN PALMOWSKI. "Home Guard (‘Dad's Army’)." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-HomeGuardDadsArmy.html |
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Home Guard
Home Guard. A volunteer organization founded by Anthony Eden, the secretary of state for war, in May 1940. Originally called the Local Defence Volunteers, its task was to assist in the defence of Britain against a possible German invasion. When this threat had diminished, it manned anti-aircraft guns and coastal defences. By 1943 over 2 million men served in the Home Guard in their spare time. It was composed of civilians exempt from military service because of their age or occupation. During their first year in operation they possessed few weapons, often parading with broom handles instead of rifles. Nevertheless they acted as a boost to British morale. The Home Guard was disbanded on 31 December 1944 but was immortalized in the television series Dad's Army.
Richard A. Smith |
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Home Guard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Home Guard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-HomeGuard.html JOHN CANNON. "Home Guard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-HomeGuard.html |
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Home Guard
Home Guard A World War II military force raised in Britain. In 1908 the Territorial Force, a home defence organization, had been created, which became the Territorial Army in 1921. The Home Guard, known originally as the Local Defence Volunteers, existed from 1940 to 1944. In 1942 enrolment in the force became compulsory for sections of the civilian population. About a million men served in their spare time, and in its first vital year it possessed considerably more men than firearms. It never went into battle, but it did relieve the army of some duties and it boosted morale, especially from 1940 to 1942.
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Cite this article
" Home Guard." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. " Home Guard." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-HomeGuard.html " Home Guard." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-HomeGuard.html |
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Home Guard
Home Guard A volunteer organization founded by Anthony Eden, the secretary of state for war, in May 1940. Originally called the Local Defence Volunteers, its task was to assist in the defence of Britain against a possible German invasion. By 1943 over 2 million men served in the Home Guard in their spare time. The Home Guard was disbanded on 31 December 1944 but was immortalized in the television series Dad's Army.
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Home Guard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Home Guard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-HomeGuard.html JOHN CANNON. "Home Guard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-HomeGuard.html |
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home guard
home guard
1. a local defense militia. 2. Home Guard British militia created in July 1940 from the Local Defence Volunteers and intended to augment Britain's defenses against invasion by German forces. |
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Cite this article
"home guard." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "home guard." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-homeguard.html "home guard." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-homeguard.html |
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Home Guard
Home Guard, see UK, 6.
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Cite this article
I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Home Guard." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Home Guard." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-HomeGuard.html I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Home Guard." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-HomeGuard.html |
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