Dad's Army: The Home Guard 1939-1945

The Home Guard was formed during May 1940, when the dark clouds of war rolled over Britain and the nation stood alone, threatened with a Nazi invasion. Within six weeks of a radio appeal for a new civilian army to guard the Home Front, a staggering 1.5 million men had enrolled for service, covering every city, town and village in the country. Despite initial deficiencies in the provision of training and equipment, the Home Guard later developed into a cohesive force and one of impressive diversity. Aimed at the general reader rather than the military historian, this is a comprehensive objective account of the Home Guard in its many activities and guises in World War II - from the early disorganized days of May 1940 until "stand down" at the close of 1944, by which time they had become a force to be reckoned with. David Carroll draws on personal accounts of those men and women who served. He examines the Home Guard's contribution to the war effort and reflects the divided opinion that surrounded its existence at the time and which - even today - continues to dog its reputation.