ON May 14 the War Office announced that a new Home Front force was being formed, to be known as the "Local Defence Volunteers" whose duty it would be to deal with possible landings of enemy parachute troops in Britain.
Within two hours harassed officials all over the country were trying to cope with the thousands of men and youths, who rushed to enroll, thankful that at last there was a form of national defence they could undertake from which neither their age nor their occupation need exclude them. Eight weeks later, on July 8, it was stated that the L.D.V’s, or, in Winston Churchill's happy phrase, the “Home Guard” numbered 1,060,000.

L.C.C park keepers, many of whom are ex-service men are training as Local Defence Volunteers. Here are three at aiming practice with a Sergeant showing how to check up on rifle sights.



July 1940