Figure 1.--Britain formed the Home Guard in the wake of the German Western Offensive. It was for youths and adults ages 17-65 years. The Home Guard was primarily for men too old for active military service, but also helped prepare young men for military service beginning at age 18 years. The boys here are children who had just been been reevacuated as many who had been evacuated when the war began in 1939 returned home by Christmas. This photograph was taken about September 1940. The boys formed this group, of course in a play situation. They were armed just as the adults were at the yime with wooden rifles. The boy who is the NCO cracks me up. He is inspecting his unit just as an adult word. He has the stripes, the gloves, the jacket, helmet, and swagger strip. Good role playing. We are not sure where the photograph was taken, but the boys no doubt had seen the local Home Guard drilling.

Britain formed the Home Guard in the wake of the German Western Offensive. It was for youths and adults ages 17-65 years. The Home Guard was primarily for men too old for active military service, but also helped prepare young men for military service beginning at age 18 years. The boys here are children who had just been been reevacuated as many who had been evacuated when the war began in 1939 returned home by Christmas. This photograph was probably taken about September 1940. The boys formed this group, of course in a play situation. They were armed just as the adults were at the yime with wooden rifles. The boy who is the NCO cracks me up. He is inspecting his unit just as an adult word. He has the stripes, the gloves, the jacket, helmet, and swagger strip. Good role playing. We are not sure where the photograph was taken, but the boys no doubt had seen the local Home Guard drilling.

A British reader writes, "Nice picture. The boy inspecting the platoon appears to have sergent's stripes. Senior NCO's and Officers had them. Even I as a medic, I had one. When in civilian clothes, Officers had to wear trilby hats so they would be recognised by other ranks in uniform. Anyone wearing a trilby hat was given a salute! I and most of my colleagues were rebels and tended not to wear hats. We were in a garrison town. If one wore a hat one was continually doffing it in return for the salute. It is called 'Tradition' WOW!"

Created: 9:53 PM 3/2/2011
Last updated: 9:53 PM 3/2/2011