CHAIRMAN Brian Idoine welcomed 65 members and 63 visitors and explained that due to the limited space (due to renovations to the centre) there would be no raffle.

Brian then welcomed Ray Sturdy whose talk was entitled The Real Dad’s Army. He explained how the Home Guard had originated in the aftermath of the Nazi conquest of France and the Low Countries. The army rescued from Dunkirk had to be reorganised and re-equipped and the threat of invasion appeared very real.

In these dire circumstances an appeal was made for volunteers from men over – and under – age for military service to join the LDV (Local Defence Volunteers) as the Home Guard was first called and 200,000, drawn from the whole social spectrum, responded in the first week.

Issued only with armbands at the start, their arms had to be improvised and their training was very much a local initiative.

Ray traced the background of the war, and especially the Home Front; evacuees; the Blitz; Anderson shelters; rationing; the Women’s Land Army; Make Do and Mend – and so on. The Home Guard was an essential part and their activities, particularly initially, were predictably bizarre – hence the basis for the humour of the TV series. Brian thanked Ray for a most informative and, at times, amusing evening – bringing back memories for many of the audience. The next meeting will take place in the Community Centre, Wordsley Green on November 14 at 7.30pm when Andrew Lound’s subject is Beginning of Time. New members always welcome.