The British Home Guard Pocketbook

The British Home Guard Pocketbook cover

The British Home Guard Pocketbook

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Description

'The Home Guards are an attacking force lying in wait for, and ready to destroy, any enemy who dares to set foot on out shores.'

The Home Guard has been immortalised in British culture in the TV series Dad's Army. Formed by men not eligible for active service – too old, too young, in reserved occupations vital to the war effort – who were expected to resist a German invasion with any resources they had to hand, the Home Guard is the embodiment of plucky British resolve against the odds.

The British Home Guard Pocketbook evokes this spirit. Written by Brig-Gen Green, commanding 4th battalion, Sussex Home Guard and Training Adviser for the Sussex Zone, this book is based on his experience and, in his own words, 'is the result of my ransacking the dusty pigeon-holes of memory and the condensation of many books, official instructions and writings'.

Its tone is informal and colloquial: 'March discipline. Troops will always march off the parade ground at the Slope. As soon as this has been done the order "March at Ease" should be given. When marching at ease the rifle may be carried in any way a soldier fancies.'

Nevertheless, the book is full of sound advice on training, organisation and discipline, fire arms, reconnaissance and field engineering, the responsibilities of the Group Pigeon Officer, the proper position to adopt for surviving a dive bomb attack, and how to set a trap for an unwary advancing German cyclist!

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introductory Note

Introduction
I (a) Rôle, (B) Object, (C) Notes on Discipline
II Organization. (A) Higher, (B) The Battalion, (C) The Platoon
III (A) Training (General), (B) Leadership, (C) Orders
IV Rifles. (A) The Rifle, (B) Grenade Discharger, (C) Browning Automatic Rifle, (D) Firearm Certificates
V (A) Elementary Drill, (B) Platoon Training, (C) Battle Drill
VI (A) Musketry, (B) Notes, (C) Rifle and Range Discipline
VII Artillery. (A) Ordnance, (B) Indirect Fire
VIII Simple Tactics. (A) Reconnaissance, (B) Patrols, (C) Scouts, (D) Local Knowledge
IX (A) Maps, (B) The Compass
X Field Engineering. (A) Digging, (B) Sandbags, (C) Obstacles, (D) Defence of a Village
XI Ammunition and Explosives
XII Tanks, Dive Bombers and Parachutists
XIII “ATTACK”
XIV Communications
XV (A) Strategy and Tactics, (B) Tactical Exercises
XVI (A) Co-operation with Military, Police and Civil Defence Services, (B) Alarm by Church Bells, (C) Joint Action by Military, H.G., and Civil Authorities, (D) Combined Exercises
XVII Miscellaneous. (A) Office Work, (B) Enrolment, (C)Compensation, (D) Proficiency Tests, (E) H.G. Medical Organization, (F) Demolitions
XVIII Envoi

Index
Picture Credits

Product details

Published 22 Mar 2018
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 160
ISBN 9781472835581
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Dimensions 180 x 120 mm
Series General Military
Short code GNM
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

A.F.U. Green

Brigadier-General A.F.U. Green served during the S…

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