The Home Guard was formed in May 1940 after the Secretary of State for War, Anthony Eden, made a speech asking for volunteers. Within 24 hours of the speech being broadcast 250,000 men had signed up, which rose to 1.8 million by March 1943. The organisation was originally known as the Local Defence Volunteers, but the name was changed in July 1940 as it was felt that it was not sufficiently inspirational. Members of the Home Guard were either in reserved occupations, deemed essential to the war effort or too young or old to serve in the normal army, but the official age limit of 17 to 65 was not always strictly enforced. The Home Guard was disbanded in December 1945.
This section was compiled using information provided on the Home Guard web site http://www.home-guard.org.uk .
From the guide to the Home Guard Pamphlets, 1941-1943, (Bangor University)
