D Day 80- The Home Guard

The Home Guard were volunteers who were armed and trained to defend their villages and towns if the German forces  landed. It was operational from 1940 until 1944 and composed of 1.5 million local volunteers.

Boys under 18, and men between the ages of 41 and 65 were eligible for service. These were usually men not passed  medically fit to join the forces, or those in reserved occupations such as farmers

The Lyonshall  Home Guard met at Marston View, Marston, home of farmer Milwyn Morris. (2nd row 2nd from left).

While recuperating from an illness Mr Morris wrote a poem about his comrades in the Home Guard, we have reproduced an extract  here with permission of Mrs G Smith and Mrs J Locke  

Mrs J Locke collection

No 3 Platoon

Our Platoon Commander, whom we always call Joe

Is not very big but is “all there” you know.

Very fluent in speech, and shrewd in his ways

A marvellous strategist with virtues that daze.

You have not had the privilege to hear of this man

Till he swings into action his great master plan.

Under Field Marshall Joe we manoeuvre and train

The defence of our “ Gorsty” is of course our aim.

We have lectures and drill in the farmer’s old house,

From eight until ten without ever a grouse.

With the room full of smoke you can’t see our faces,

But he knows where we are when we’re all in our places.

Just like the fight in the Russian Ukraine,

The Weston House Guard will do just the same,

For this mobile platoon is Hush, Hush, Hush,

If Hitler could see us, I’m sure he would blush,

With the defence of this island held firm in his hand,

Old Joe and his men united will stand.

M E Morris