London Transport’s Dad’s Army in 10 objects
Introduction
During the Second World War in 1940, Britain was threatened with the prospect of invasion. In response, Britain formed the Home Guard, a secondary defence force in support of the Army. It was made up of men in reserved occupations or those too young or old for the regular forces. Around 1.5 million men volunteered to serve part-time, often alongside their civilian role. The Home Guard’s composition, and its famous depiction in a 1970s BBC sitcom, led to it being dubbed ‘Dad’s Army’.
The Home Guard was organised by local area, with many units formed in London. London Transport (LT) played a significant role, forming a total of seven battalions, which at their height consisted of nearly 30,000 men.
As the threat of invasion diminished, the Home Guard was stood down in 1944. Here we look at London Transport’s Home Guard through ten objects from the Museum’s collection.
The Home Guard was first formed in May 1940, initially called the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV). This photograph shows LT Chairman Lord Ashfield adjusting the LDV armband presented to him at an inspection of the newly-formed organisation held at Osterley in July. He is surrounded by staff in their LT uniforms, some wearing First World War medals that reflected the mature years of many Home Guard troops.
While some members of the Home Guard had military experience, all its volunteers required training. This photo shows a trolleybus at Wembley Park riddled with bullet holes. London Transport Home Guard units used many of its large sites around the capital for training purposes. There was even a rifle range at Baker Street. However, it was some time before the Home Guard had a reliable supply of weapons and equipment.
Weapons training was vital if the Home Guard was to fulfil its potential purpose. This certificate was awarded to Private Edgar Line in 1943, denoting he was now trained to act as an instructor in using the Thompson sub-machine gun. Edgar Line was a member of the 44th London (London Passenger Transport Board) Battalion of the Home Guard from 1941 to 1944.
After training, one of the main roles of London Transport’s Home Guard was to provide security to LT stations, power stations, depots and works against potential attack or infiltration by the enemy. In this photo, four members of LT’s Home Guard patrol Chiswick Works in 1941, the year in which the Home Guard were armed and given Army uniform.
London Transport Home Guard troops were also sometimes used for guard duty at other sites in the capital. This team of seven men of 21 Platoon of LT Home Guard, standing to attention on the roof terrace of LT headquarters 55 Broadway, were selected for guard duty at Buckingham Palace.
A regular feature of home front life were war weapons weeks, when British and captured enemy weaponry were displayed to the public to boost morale. Here members of the LT Home Guard display a stall at Parsons Green Works in 1941, including a sub-machine gun on the left, field telephones in the centre and a Vickers machine gun on the right.
Many London Transport staff demonstrated bravery during the war, both in their civilian and military roles. The George Cross and George Medal were introduced in 1940 to recognise acts of bravery not carried out in the face of the enemy. This photo shows the first LT recipients of the George Medal at Buckingham Palace. Rail worker G Grimwood is on the left, wearing his Home Guard uniform, with bus worker E Price in his LT uniform on the right.
Embroidered badges like this one were issued to members of the London Transport Home Guard from 1943, being sewn onto the shoulders of their uniform. By this point in the war, the LT Home Guard was more professional, having found a balance between the training needed for its members and the responsibilities of their civilian jobs.
In 1944, the threat of invasion diminished. On 3 December 1944, the Home Guard was stood down and was completely disbanded in 1945. This lapel badge was awarded to Mr J Limming, who worked for Central Buses, to commemorate his service in the LT Home Guard. It bears a griffin associated with London Transport over a Maltese cross, the text ‘LTHG 46’ denoting that Limming had served with 46th Battalion, LT Home Guard.
This commemorative publication marked the history and service of the seven battalions that made up London Transport’s Home Guard. The cover bears the griffin symbol, roundel and LT Home Guard embroidered badge, as well as the Maltese cross badge of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, the British Army regiment that the LT Home Guard was affiliated to.
Many of the stories and objects here can be seen within the London’s transport at war gallery at the Museum.
