How would you clear a stoppage on a Bren Gun while in action? What is the most effective way to clear a wood of enemy forces? How best could you counter a landing by enemy airborne forces in your area? What measure can you take to help ensure accurate rifle fire at night? What qualities should you look for when selecting a patrol commander?

Just a few of the practical questions posed - and answered - in the selection of publications included in The Home Guard Training Pocket Manual. A number of manuals and training pamphlets were privately published during World War II to supplement the slim official Home Guard manual produced by the War Office. Covering everything from patrolling, night fighting, drill and small arms proficiency to the legal powers of the Home Guard, these manuals were welcomed by the men of local Home Guard units keen to do everything possible to prepare for possible invasion - when they would be the first line of defence. This pocket manual collates a selection of material from these fascinating publications, often written by serving soldiers and reprinted multiple times due to demand.

About the Author
Lee Johnson worked for 15 years in military publishing, including a number of years as Managing Editor of Osprey Publishing's military list before moving into the education sector. He has worked in state education for the past 14 years, the last four as a Deputy Headteacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator in a West London primary school.

Reviews
Lee Johnson has done us a service with this little 'pocket manual', which is effectively an edited selection or anthology, drawing on the work of Langdon-Davies and Brophy, supplemented with material from Barlow and Johnson on small arms, and Kerr on night fighting. The result is a much more readable and enjoyable text, giving us the essentials of the war-that-never-was. * Military History Matters (Editor) 08/08/2019 *
... gives a fantastic insight into the training methods for what was an extremely large proportion of the military in WW2. * Army Rumour Service 05/07/2019 *



Book Information
ISBN 9781612007670
Author Lee Johnson
Format Hardback
Page Count 160
Imprint Casemate Publishers
Publisher Casemate Publishers