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This is no joke...

From:  The Community Press
          Eastern Edition
          July 29th, 2005
          Ontario, Canada
          Page 6
          "Words from Wayback" by Mark Niblett

          "Where are you, George Orwell?"

         
This is our local newspaper published once a week in our small community and here is an article I thought you might be interested in.  It is not the whole article but a small part of it.

Quote:

We of the ex-British tradition tend to face a lot of the "nanny state" approach, where we are assured that the government knows best and is on top of whatever problem arises.  Forty years ago an appeal to this kind of authority rang true with a large number of Canadians, and it has been one of the more gratifying developments of my lifetime to see this attitude seriously eroded.

Probably the classic example of a government determined to survive at any cost was that of England during World War 11.  Winston Churchill was all for handing out any weapons available to individual citizens so they might be able to put up some kind of fight against a Germain invasion.  Home Guard units were actually given weapons, even if they got junk like the Ross rifle or the oddball Northover Projector.

Few people found out at the time-and fewer still seem to know it now-but the Home Guard couldn't have fought off an invasion of rabbits: almost none of the units received any live ammunition.  That they could be gulled into dragging around locked boxes of rocks at a time when it was perfectly possible for German troops to start wading ashore is a measure to keep control  of their citizens at all costs.  Clearly, the senior bureaucrats who implemented this deception had decided that it would be better for Hitler to occupy the country than to allow citizens to have weapons.  Even 65 years later, the black treachery of it is breathtaking.

Thats an extreme example, but the trend runs continuously through our laws to this day.  Until relatively recently, there was a criminal offence known as "unlawfully drilling": any citizens who trained themselves in military skills could be "named" by a kind of executive writ and prosecuted.

This article was published in the local newspaper, I have done no research on it as the paper was just obtained to-day,

I found the article interesting and wanted to share it with you.  Your comments are most welcome as always

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Watch some episodes of Dads Army

I think 'Dad's Army' is probably pretty close to the truth.

I suspect those comments on the Home Guard are just another conspiracy theory, although I've never heard that one before. From what I've read there simply weren't enough weapons or ammo available when the LDV (later the Home Guard) was first formed so they used whatever they had. Amazing how ingenious you can be when the need arises. They drilled with broom handles or farm implements like pitchforks, scythes & even wooden rifles. It's doubful whether they would have been very effective even after being properly armed but at least it made them feel they were 'doing their bit'. I'm sure they would have fought to the death if need be. Morale is very important in wartime which Churchill was well aware of.
[quote]How many men were in the HG?

Hi Doug

Do you remember what the oddball Northover projector was?

Not sure we can get Dads Army here or not.  Will certainly try though.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

You mean this?  :)

Lookie Here...  :)

Thanks Kevin

I wonder how accurate that was...Would they have seen action?

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

That Northover Projector is not the most oddball weapon I've seen by a long chalk. All sorts of weird & wonderful ideas were suggested by madcap inventors. Some were actually built, like the rocket-propelled anti-tank weapon - or was it for clearing mines? Looked like a cross between a cable drum & giant catherine wheel that went out of control on a beach when they tested it & almost killed the unfortunate chap filming it for posterity.

I doubt any were used in anger as there was no invasion. Some might have been very effective for all I know. The 'Molotov Cocktail' was originally intended for use against tanks & armoured vehicles. I've seen newreel footage which shows just how horrifyingly effective the simplest weapon can be in the right hands.

PS. Excellent article showing how close 'Dad's Army' was to reality. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/dads_army_01.shtml