The Unofficial Women’s Home Guard.

 The Unofficial Women’s Home Guard.





With the call for men to join the Local Defence Volunteers, later The Home Guard many women attempted to join. 


As you can imagine their applications were declined and they were encouraged to join the ARP, First Aid teams and the Fire Watchers. Rifle clubs, especially in the south noted a huge increase of females joining to learn to shoot. 


The matter was strenuously raised in the house by the prominent MP Dr. Edith Summerskill and was bitterly opposed by the War Office.  Due to this other groups sprang into existence such as the Amazon Defence Corps headed by Venetia Foster in London.  Miss Watson-Williams formed the Women’s Defence Corps in Bristol.


In an attempt at changing the government’s mind these different groups were brought together under the title of  Women’s Home Defence and appeals were made to allow the training of its members in the handling and use of firearms, this was flatly rejected.


Despite the government’s attitude many women joined the home guard in an ‘unofficial’ capacity mainly carrying out administrative tasks, first aid training, cooking, typing and similar. Finally in 1943 the authorities backed down and gave official permission for women to become members of the Home Guard.  There was a stipulation however; the women were to be recruited solely in non-combatant roles.  On the enrolment form candidates were asked to select from being a driver, a typist, a telephonist or a cook. 


Additionally no uniform was to be granted to the WHGA only a plastic/bakelite badge.


In the dark days of 1940, women attended Home Guard meetings and in many places were trained in rifle drill and knife fighting. These training sessions were photographed and used for propaganda.

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