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King's Own Royal Regiment Museum Lancaster |
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HOME Museum & Collections Soldiers of the Regiment Sales Donations Events Contact Us REGIMENTAL HISTORY 17th Century 18th Century 19th Century 20th Century First World War Second World War Actions & Movements Battle Honours FAMILY HISTORY Resources Further Reading PHOTO GALLERY ENQUIRIES FURTHER READING LINKS 
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Regimental History: Second World War The Home Guard and the Defence of Lancaster Home Guard Archives in the Museum's Collection Home Guard Objects in the Museum's Collection The unit in Lancaster was formed on 25th May 1940 in the Police Parade Room of Lancaster Town Hall. Another unit was established for Morecambe and Heysham. The local units were administered by the West Lancashire Territorial Army and Air Force Association, but came under the operational control of the East Lancashire Area. The LDV/Home Guard members all wore the cap badge of the King’s Own Royal Regiment - and wore identification marking as thus:
Map showing areas covered by the local Home Guard units. The importance of Lancaster lay in its crossings of the River Lune, which form a narrow bottle-neck in the north-south communications on the West of England. During the Second World War all trains had to pass over Carlisle Bridge and all motor traffic had to pass over Skerton Bridge. The first defensive positions to be established by the 3rd Battalion (Lancaster City) Home Guard from 24th June 1940 were:
Once the battalion became more organised it was realised that its operation and the defence of Lancaster should be undertaken on a proper military basis and a new approach was made. The plan comprised four key elements:
WAKE UP Invasion! Procedures for call out were established - church bells were to give the signal but this system proved slow and uncertain and did not cover the whole city. Arrangements were therefore made for knocking up each man by night and for assembly through place of work by day. From May 1940 telephone and knocking-up orderlies were maintained at both Battalion and Company Headquarters. Exercises showed all these means to be slow and imperfect and it was of general opinion that the only satisfactory way of getting the whole Battalion assembled rapidly would be by a central audible signal, as for air raid alarms. Home Guard Training In the summer of 1940 the thoroughness of elementary training had to be sacrificed to the need for general military training, nightly duties and construction of field works. Priority was directed at getting at least a basic fighting force together. From the Winter of 1940 weekly lectures by regular army officers were given and the Home Guard established a comprehensive training programme.
Home Guard Facts:
The Post Office Company The 3rd Battalion Lancaster also played host to D Company 59th Post Office Battalion, which was administered from Manchester. In all defence schemes the Post Office Company held the General Post Office area and the Repeater Station at Scotforth - which was vital to all telephone and telegraph communications. Between 18th December and 31st December 1940 the 3rd Battalion took over all night guard duties at the GPO to relieve the GPO Home Guard during the Christmas rush of the postal service. 3rd Battalion Receipt of Clothing, Arms and Equipment
Home Guard Memories: Harold Pye was in the Home Guard between May 1940 and February 1941 prior to his service with the RAF: “I joined after Anthony Eden made an appeal on the radio. I went along to the Town Hall to sign up....and went to Bowerham Barracks to be trained by soldiers who were just back from Dunkirk. Everybody believed the invasion would come. We made our own petrol bombs out of milk bottles - we practised throwing them at High Cross near the Moor Hospital. I was in a hut at the back of Castle Lane overlooking the River Lune. I was part of the guard on Carlisle Bridge, we watched for parachutists until 6am and then went home for breakfast and then off to work - I was a painter and decorator.” Tom Ferguson worked for Armisteads Bake House on Grasmere Road and at the age of 13 in 1940 can remember the Home Guard. “Captain English was in charge of the Home Guard Observation Post at the Ashton Memorial in the park. The post had to notify Barrow when planes flew over on their way to bomb Barrow. Captain English used to organise meat and potato pie suppers for the Home Guard and I used to take the pies up to the park and help give them out. I was also the street runner for the ARP Post on Grasmere Road. I would have to run down to the fire station and tell them where there was a fire - I never had to do it for real. I remember my brother and I going to see where the bombs had dropped near Bowerham Barracks. They were incendiary bombs, but only small and did not do much damage. There was not much to have a look at.” “I could stand at the end of Grasmere Road and see the barrage balloons at Barrow. At night we watched the flashes and bombing of Barrow. The wife came from Barrow and she remembers having to shelter when the bombs dropped. She used to collect the lead from the bomb damaged windows and make lead soldiers.”
Only a proportion of our collections are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of our collections which are held in store. |
