Home Guard memories marching on

The picture was sent by 92-year-old reader Mrs Dorothy Warren whose late husband, Jack, is pictured sixth from the left in the back row.

Mrs Warren thought the picture of the World War Two volunteer homeland defenders was taken just up the road from where she lives in Knowsley Road, Wilpshire -- in Clayton-le-Dale at now-gone Clayton Grange, which was then the home of Blackburn cotton mill boss Alex Porter-Hargreaves.

But it was taken at nearby Clayton Manor, a still-standing large Victorian house which was divided into flats in the 1960s.

For among those pictured -- the fifth person up from the front on the far right -- is 77-year-old Feniscowles reader, Dennis Noblett, then a 15-year-old member of the Mellor Company. He not only recalls the location, but the precise date the photograph was taken -- Sunday, July 13, 1941.

The Mellor and Wilpshire companies were part of the Home Guard's 9th (Blackburn County) Battalion whose headquarters, Dennis says, were at Clayton Manor. "Sunday was the main day for parades because during the week everyone was working," he adds.

Among those Dennis identifies in the group is the officer sitting, cross-legged at the centre of the front row. He was Blackburn tea merchant Harold Hindle, of Holker House, Wilpshire, who, with the rank of major, had been appointed second-in-command of the battalion in May, 1941.

The previous May, when the Home Guard -- originally known until June 23 that year as Local Defence Volunteers -- was formed amid fears of imminent German invasion, Major Hindle had been appointed second-in-command of the LDV's Blackburn Lower Division, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Sydney Burton, of Knowsley Road, Wilpshire, who became Commanding Officer of the 9th Battalion.

Others in the picture whom Dennis recognises include Tom Kay, the general manager of Thwaites Brewery in Blackburn. Seated second from the right on the front row behind the group on the grass, he was Quartermaster Sergeant, of the battalion's Mellor-based "E" Company. Next but one to him is well-known Blackburn solicitor Frank Farley.

Dennis says that the men of the Mellor company occupy the right of the group while members of the Wilpshire company are on the left. Among the Wilpshire group are two of this newspaper's former journalists -- Dennis Ditchfield, eighth from the left in the row next to the back, who was news editor for 14 years during a 51-year career with the Telegraph, and Ron Coulthard, third left, back row, who served for 45 years and was deputy news editor.

The day before the picture was taken members of the battalion had taken part in a military and sports pageant held in the grounds of Troy, the now-gone mansion off Preston New Road at Billinge that was built in 1856 by John Thwaites, of the Blackburn brewing family and is now the site of Beardwood High School.

Featuring displays by the Army, the Home Guard, the Auxiliary Fire Service and rescue and medical services, the event -- in aid of the National Air Raid Relief Fund -- was preceded by a parade from the town centre, watched by large crowds.

"Because of the 'Dad's Army' comedy series on TV, a lot of people think the Home Guard was a joke, but we took it seriously in those days -- the parades, drill and weapons training," says Dennis.

"Sundays were also when battle exercises were held. I can only remember two. One was against the Blackburn Borough Home Guard, who were the 10th Battalion. The Mellor company started at Meins Road at Billinge and had to try to get to the town centre without being detected."

"The other was against the Army and this took place at Ribchester. The idea was to stop them from crossing the River Ribble -- the best place for which was at the gravel beds at Salewheel and our company was placed there.

He adds: "Officers from the Army and Home Guard acted as umpires and judged which side had defeated the other.

Blank ammunition was used and also bags containing Dolly Blue washing whitener were thrown to represent hand grenades.

"If one of them burst near a group, they were considered killed or wounded and the umpires sent them back to HQ."

On that day, the HQ for the exercise was the De Tabley Arms near Ribchester Bridge -- seen left in this view from the early 1900s. And Dennis reveals: "When it got to opening time around 11 am, a lot made sure they got killed or wounded as the De Tabley was full of 'dead and wounded' knocking pints back like mad!"

Dennis recalls that the Mellor Home Guard met at the former Pack Horse Inn at Mellor Brook and were commanded by Captain Robert Eddleston.

He is trying to collect the names of all the men who served in E Company and so far has gathered around two-thirds of them, but would be happy to hear from readers who can help him list the remainder. Call him on 01254-201612.

When the Home Guard was stood down on December 3, 1944, the 9th Battalion was formally dismissed by Lieutenant Colonel Burton in Darwen town centre after they had sung Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem.