Home Guard 1940

A well-disciplined Home Guard unit with dummy rifles marches around the yard of a Summerstown factory under the watchful eye of army officers

This 1940 amateur film captures the early days of the Home Guard, when both uniforms and weapons were in short supply. That's why the few dozen men marching around and standing to attention are clothed in their everyday attire, kitted out with just dummy rifles. Closely inspected by army officers, this training exercise takes place on the premises of a Hugh Stevenson & Sons factory in Summerstown, filmed by a fellow employee.

As an established box-making business (with a highly flammable product), Hugh Stevenson & Sons had its own Home Guard unit on site. This was not uncommon, as factories were considered a priority for defence. Despite the initial makeshift uniforms and weaponry, over the course of World War 2, the Home Guard evolved into a respected, well-equipped and well-trained army of 1.7 million men. This film is from the collection of Merton Heritage and Local Studies Centre