Home Guard

And just to confuse matters they all have tams... lol.

And just to confuse matters they all have tams... lol.

Lol - I wasn't going to mention that .....................

Stonehouse Home Guard (not a million miles away from our location)

Glasgow Home Guard - Oct 1940
(note complete absence of arm badges other than the odd Home Guard arm band
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=25986

Nice pic

Tam for me then !

And if you've lost your thistle (it's an age thing ! ) - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THISTLE-TOURIE-PO ... _500wt_715

Whilst doing some background research I found this clip, amongst others, of what appears to be Glasgow HG, 1941-42 >
http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=3349

They look like a bunch of airsofters! We will be so authentic

As I'm struggling to find a suitably large enough period greatcoat, would a gas cape/groundsheet be appropriate 'outerwear', and a 1950's 'green' ok over (more expensive) '40's khaki version ?

Well it is 1940, so you wouldn't expect the HG badges... I think they came in during 1st half 1941, so could be around for our event.

Heh, the anklets in that parade are a shambles! Some are HG leather, some 37 pat, some soldiers don't have any at all! lol

The marching is good though!

Headgear seems to be a mix of tams and fs caps. I guess as usual with the HG if you could get a tam you used it... if you could get an fs cap you used that... no uniformity at all.

Oh and not everyone has a cap badge either.

it is all BD though! No denims...

Whilst doing some background research I found this clip, amongst others, of what appears to be Glasgow HG, 1941-42 >
http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=3349

They look like a bunch of airsofters! We will be so authentic

LOL - I'm struggling to identify the need to throw the rubber chicken over the bonnet of the 'tank' @ 0.36-0.37 - unless it's to confuse the enemy, but you'd think that they would be short of rubber !!

As I'm struggling to find a suitably large enough period greatcoat, would a gas cape/groundsheet be appropriate 'outerwear', and a 1950's 'green' ok over (more expensive) '40's khaki version ?

Heh, HG actually had their own special rain cape... not sure they got the standard groundsheet...

Why do you need outer wear? Just wear a jumper under your BD and add a nice long scarf...

Edit: WPG do large size repro breatcoats.

Well it is 1940, so you wouldn't expect the HG badges... I think they came in during 1st half 1941, so could be around for our event.

I think my point is that unless you can prove the Busby group had arm badges on this date in May 1941 then it may reduce authenticity to have them, not increase it. And given that the badges will never be used again and that it looks great without (as seen in the film) then don't bother with the things. On the other hand Home Guard armbands clearly were used and will be useful for future events as well, so if you need to adorn your BD then slap on an armband. Looks iconic too!

Heh, HG actually had their own special rain cape... not sure they got the standard groundsheet...

Why do you need outer wear? Just wear a jumper under your BD and add a nice long scarf...

Edit: WPG do large size repro breatcoats.

Having been up in Hay/The Brecons when it's been 'inclement', 'outerwear' is a good option. It's unlikely that I'll have a serge BD; I was looking to try to 'mock-up a denim bd jacket, which will be thinner. I'd already been looking at jumpers, either a fairisle or an arran 'fisherman's type (and yes, I know that I'm being picky )

I'd thought that the cape, if used/necessary, would cover any obvious discrepancies in kit, and whilst WPG do do XL greatcoats, it would work out £100+ to get one over here.

Another option would be part-BD/part civvy > maybe boots, anklets (or puttees as I have some), denim trousers, arran jumper, dark jacket, '37 webbing, and cap/tam ............ ??

Well it is 1940, so you wouldn't expect the HG badges... I think they came in during 1st half 1941, so could be around for our event.

I think my point is that unless you can prove the Busby group had arm badges on this date in May 1941 then it may reduce authenticity to have them, not increase it. And given that the badges will never be used again and that it looks great without (as seen in the film) then don't bother with the things. On the other hand Home Guard armbands clearly were used and will be useful for future events as well, so if you need to adorn your BD then slap on an armband. Looks iconic too!

You could be right... Only reference I have so far is that 24 million of the area insignia were produced by August '41... I will research further!

Of course a more detailed version of this pic would help!

It's of the Home Guard next to Hess's crashed plane...

You can see a helmet, a tam and a FS cap... but there's not enough detail to make out the insignia.

Also see this thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.ph ... msg2558313-- attachment is not available --

Well it is 1940, so you wouldn't expect the HG badges... I think they came in during 1st half 1941, so could be around for our event.

I think my point is that unless you can prove the Busby group had arm badges on this date in May 1941 then it may reduce authenticity to have them, not increase it. And given that the badges will never be used again and that it looks great without (as seen in the film) then don't bother with the things. On the other hand Home Guard armbands clearly were used and will be useful for future events as well, so if you need to adorn your BD then slap on an armband. Looks iconic too!

You could be right... Only reference I have so far is that 24 million of the area insignia were produced by August '41... I will research further!

Imvho, it's another 'nice if you can afford it / want to afford it' but by no means vital to the overall scheme of things. I'm being a little picky as it may well be the only event that I can get to next year, so I want to make the most of it, for me. However, I'm not going to spend a fortune on what may be 'one-off' kit. I'm going to try to make a rifle/shotgun, 'mock-up' some kit, buy a few, reasonably-priced authentic bits in to give a good effect and then join in, have a good time with like-minded souls and remember why duff knees and hills are a bad mix !!

Makes sense to me Joker!

If that's the way you're going then a standard raincape/groundsheet isn't that different in looks from the HG rain cape so if it's wet and your in denims I'd certainly think it's a good idea!

Oh... just saw that aparently from "January 1941 regimental shoulder flashes began to appear"...
http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer ... Guard.html

So May '41 is still a grey area, lol.

Oh... just saw that aparently from "January 1941 regimental shoulder flashes began to appear"...
http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer ... Guard.html

So May '41 is still a grey area, lol.

Like this ................. ??

-- attachment is not available --

Well she's got a tommy gun... sort of..

Now I know I'm getting old, my first thought was "She'll catch her death of cold dressed like that! Put a jumper on for goodness sakes"

Yes, that webbing looks very inadequate, where is her spare ammo, grenades, comms gear, field dressing, rations and water? Get some cam cream on all that bare skin as well.

Cheers
Martin