Based on contemporary archive materials and personal accounts, Brian Osborne examines the human story of the Home Guard in Scotland and the impact that this remarkable organisation had on society and on those that became involved with it. The Home Guard, and its forerunner the Local Defence Volunteers, was genuinely a 'people's army' with its own ethos, character and political influence. At its peak nearly 2 million men were enrolled, trained and served without pay in their own time and, usually, after a full day's work at the civilian occupation. The Home Guard played a vital part in the defence of the country from 1940-1944, but despite its significance the story of the Home Guard in Scotland has never before been fully told - from Shetland to Galloway, Scottish Home Guardsmen fulfilled a wide range of roles far beyond the popular image of the 'Dad's Army' of general service infantry battalions. Horseback patrols in the Borders, armoured trains, anti-aircraft gunners at factories throughout Scotland, anti-aircraft rocket batteries from Aberdeen to Greenock all saw the Home Guard actively engaged in the national struggle.
- ISBN13 9781843410430
- Publish Date 23 June 2009
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 8 May 2012
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Birlinn General
- Imprint Birlinn Ltd
- Format Paperback
- Pages 144
- Language English