“Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Hitler?”: Northumberland’s Dad’s Army

“Well, men I’ve got some good news for you… Oh you mean our rifles have come? … No, but the ammunition has!”

On this day, 14 May 1940,  Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for War addressed the nation on the formation of the Local Defence Volunteers [LDV],  later called the Home Guard.  They wanted men aged between 17 and 65 who were not already engaged in military service to enlist. They were to assist in the defence of the county in case of an enemy invasion.

“You will not been paid, but you will get a uniform and will be armed. In order to volunteer you need to give your name and address to your local police station”.  As a big fan of ‘Dads Army’ I can visualise them all squashed in the police station and Mr Mainwaring taking control!

The Blyth News and Ashington Post wrote on 23 May 1940, that the local police stations had been busy and the latest figures of applications were:- 

Blyth – 1000

Ashington – 1350

Bedlington – 1080

Seaton Delaval – 500

Newbiggin – 400

Although, there was a good number of applicants under the age of 20, most were ex-servicemen and many were Boer War veterans like Corporal Jones from the show. Several men were over the age limit of 65, but were attesting they were 64! That reminds me of the episode when Jones, Frazer and Godfrey dye their hair and enrich their skin, Sergeant Wilson wears  a “gentleman’s abdominal support” even  Captain Mainwaring dons a toupee  to look young. At the end, it starts to rain and the hair dye and make up begin to run down their faces!

The Newcastle Journal reported on 16 May that the first recruit to sign up in Berwick was a 17-year-old wagon driver. On 24 May, an announcement of the Officers in charge of the Berwick Police District was released. Captain the Honourable Claude Lambton was the Group Commander, his second-in-command was Colonel The Honourable H.E. Joicey and there were 600 – 700 volunteers.

We also hold the diaries of Major R. Miller, Company Commander of Alnwick Home Guard [Ref NRO 1110] and these are like reading episodes of Dad’s Army. Mention is made of making Molotoff cocktails [improvised petrol bombs], setting up road blocks, bayonet fighting, Home Guard cars, training exercises and acting as German paratroopers. The only thing missing is the Novelty Rock Emporium!