My father-in-law H. G. Robson was a member of the Home Guard during WW2. He lived in North Shields and there is a photograph of him in uniform with an arm band, on which is written Home Guard. No other insignia can be seen. I have no other information about his time in the Home Guard. I understand that the Tynemouth Battalion of the Home Guard had a number of companies covering Whitley Bay, North Shields, Percy Main etc. and the Commanding Officer was Lt. Col Stanley Holmes. According to local newspaper reports the battalion was stood down on Sunday 3rd. December 1944. I have read that from 16th. February 1942 enlistment and service in the Home Guard became compulsory for men between the ages of 18 and 50 and that volunteers were accepted between the ages of 17 and 65. Presumably these men were in reserved occupations such as shipyard workers. The local library has one photo. of members of an Ack Ack battery at Whitley Bay manned by the Home Guard and I would ask anyone who has photos of any other company in the Tynemouth Battalion or information regarding the names/numbers of men and length of service in the different local companies to get in touch. Thank you. Mildred Robson

Hi Mildred This may be of interest, from the National Archives research guides http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=147 Item No 7 Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > My father-in-law H. G. Robson was a member of the Home Guard during WW2. > He > lived in North Shields and there is a photograph of him in uniform with an > arm band, on which is written Home Guard. No other insignia can be seen. > I > have no other information about his time in the Home Guard. > I understand that the Tynemouth Battalion of the Home Guard had a number > of