Home Guard

I just received my Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders cap badge...

Well it has to be the largest cap badge I've ever had! For instance it's twice the size of a RE one.

I must admit I'd not noticed that it was so large in the photos, but now I come to look at them again I see it's absolutely monster size is quite clear!

Check out the photos:
http://www.staffshomeguard.co.uk/Dother ... wshire.htm

Tam and cap badge currently on e-bay (NC to seller) -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRITISH-ARMY-TAMM ... _500wt_715

The Gordon Highlanders / Aberdeen Home Guard definately had the Tam O ' Shanter ,and serge battledress fairly early on ,I'm led to believe this photo was my Grandfather in 1941 apparently they changed from armbands to unit insignia in July 1941.
On the subject of pouches ,it was fairly uncommon to have a pair of BAR pouches ,the photos of the period seem to back this up, most wore no pouches at all - after all they only had 5 rounds of ammo- and some used whatever was practical ,single cartridge carrier ( leather or web) even a lewis pouch if they had a drum mag for a thompson.My Grandfather carried his 12 bore cartridge bag.-- attachment is not available --

cracking pic Sandy

Nice one Sandy! That will save Yith's angst over badging - none needed.

So. for this game's purposes:
No insignia, HG armband is sufficient (if you want to go to the expense).
As for webbing, wear what is useful/appropriate to you in the field to store essentials, be it food, ammo, magazines or bits and bobs. Select from 37 pattern kit or random canvas bags.
Headgear can be Tam O' Shanter, side cap or helmet - we know all three are in use from contemporary photos.

Well, if nothing else it illustrated the difficultly of absolute certainty of historical events, even if recent.

Do you go by uncorroborated verbal claims to fame or contemporary written accounts? The details of the Hess'
enterprise are patchy, extraordinary and mysterious (and how we love a good mystery!).

Have you gone through the local paper's of those days? Surely the most sensational local event of the day warranted a few interviews (beyond the national filmed news of a stilted interview with the farmer) and details of who, what, where and when.

Anyway, this is slightly beyond the scope of this forum, I wish you well with your research.

does any one have pictures of the uniform

Just standard British battledress as Sandy's photo on the last page shows Marsha. But a uniform isn't a requirement to play Home Guard, period civvies (or just bits of uniform) is fine as you can have come directly off the fields to assist (check out all my info stickied at the top of the forum section).

oh right then ill just go as a farmhand and just put the armbands on ill go to my local
second hand shop and see what clothes i can get there

* dreams of landgirl dungarees *

Heh, lets see what we can come up with for you Marsha before you start shelling out...

Instant Home Guard denims! Includes insignia
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/360336639389?

Elasticated waist - nice. We were streets ahead of the Hun in terms of uniform innovation.

Elasticated waist - nice. We were streets ahead of the Hun in terms of uniform innovation.

My DDR strichtarn trousers have an elasticated waist, so they got there in the end

Cheers
Martin

Well I've just found my style inspiration

Gillie to the local Laird I think.-- attachment is not available --

Useful linky for the HG cape -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Home-Guard-Serge- ... _500wt_949

Not seen clear pics of these before ...............................

Not seen clear pics of these before ...............................

Wow! Me neither. I've only heard about them or seen period photos of them being worn. Nice find

YAY
gloat time
A distant aquaintance who knows that im going to this game as HG, just saw me today a sold to me for £20 a set of HG webbing.

leather belt, hg pouches, the slidy thing that goes on the belt and straps WOOOOO HOOOOO

Add to that a SOF battledress top with dads army decals on it I got last year at the WW2 weekend at Ingleton and trousers at a car boot (way too long but no matter) .................These i had honestly forgotten i had bought.............. I'm pretty sorted.

Im really looking forward to this my first game as a brit, and my kit is ace.

And to think I was happy to just tweed up with a HG armband

with the savings I've ,made here i just might go nuts and buy my russian kit now

see ya all soon

YAY
gloat time
A distant aquaintance who knows that im going to this game as HG, just saw me today a sold to me for £20 a set of HG webbing.

leather belt, hg pouches, the slidy thing that goes on the belt and straps WOOOOO HOOOOO

Add to that a SOF battledress top with dads army decals on it I got last year at the WW2 weekend at Ingleton and trousers at a car boot (way too long but no matter) .................These i had honestly forgotten i had bought.............. I'm pretty sorted.

Im really looking forward to this my first game as a brit, and my kit is ace.

And to think I was happy to just tweed up with a HG armband

with the savings I've ,made here i just might go nuts and buy my russian kit now

see ya all soon

Nice haul! Glad you feel all "set up" now

I know that the 'camp' isn't part of the game, so period detail doesn't matter quite so much but what about 'in game' - If we get chance to brew-up during the game, what sort of stove/brew-kit are people using/carrying ? I'm working on the basis HG would have whatever they could beg/borrow/acquire, particularly within the civilian camping ranges, so ............
Normally I'd use a small Coleman's cannister stove, stowed in a Trangia mini mess tin, with a metal mug, but I'm assuming that would be too 'modern' looking. I've got my brown enamel mug, brew drinking for the uses of, which would be with me anyway, but what would be deemed 'authentic' - hexy stove, standard mess tins, and a small aluminium Trangia-type kettle ?

I've tried searching for details/pics of personal kit as above but the only ones that I've found have been full camps with 'big pot over bigger fire'-type scenes ........................

You won't need to cook anything in-game - you are only out for eight hours so kit doesn't need to be extravagant. If you want a hot drink and you are away from base then a hexi burner or similar will do the job. Fill one of your pouches with tea bags - the other with a mag and ammo. I'll bring a gas burner that will stop at our base so returning HG/Signals can put a brew on.

Don't worry about a kettle... brew up in your mug... Brown enamel is of course better.

As CW says, it's a bit unnecessary. Though I do remember the envious looks as me and Lardy cooked our goulash at the break in the middle of play at Loop.

I'd bring my mini 1930s Primus stove to brew up on... if there was a chance in hell I'd actually be able to get it going! lol.