AA Home Guard
 

AA home guard patrolman photograph, note the holster and HOME GUARD arm patch. Obtained this photograph along with a pre-war AA patrolmans cap badge and thought it may be of interest.

Nice - and never has road side assistance looked so threatening.

It's good to know that he's keeping people from coming East out my way.

What can you tell me about this AA badge please. I found it at a toy fair in Maidstone, Kent many years ago.
Jerry

Jerry, Done a quick google and came up with an auction item. The image is no longer their so cannot compare though it does describe the auction lot as a lapel badge. Might be a similar design though the description seems to cover who used it.

Cheers Dave

H&H Auctioneers
Lot 80 (Automobilia Auction Online, 8th September 2019)
AA Automobile Association WWI Voluntary Service Lapel Badge
As issued to members of the AA voluntary service corps; members of the public would volunteer to help the AA in World War I, driving their vehicles in aid of the war effort. Manufactured from patinated brass. Good condition and very unusual.
Sold for £28
(including buyers premium)

Thanks Dave.
Jerry

I believe these are modern fakes, there seems to be an interesting story with the AA in wartime but I can only find bits of information, something about them forming a Military Cyclist unit in WW1 and numbers being drafted into the Corps of Military Police in WW2 for traffic control duties. I wonder if there is a good book on the subject?

Rob

Hi Rob

I can’t comment on the previous posts other than to say that they are interesting. I do, however, have “A History of 163 (Ports) Provost Company RMP (V) and the AA’s Involvement with the Military Police 1938-1988” (see attached).

Graham

Hi Graham

That looks interesting, does it go into much detail?

Cheers
Rob

Hi Rob

It consists of 24 pages illustrated in black and white. It records that the first Secretary of the AA, Stenson Cook, was a TF Officer in the 8th Bn., the Essex Regiment, from 1908, and persuaded a number of AA staff to join prior to, and during, WWI. In 1937 he introduced 14 days paid leave (in addition to the annual holiday) for staff volunteering for service training. In 1938 a Supplementary AA Reserve of the Military Police, to consist of 500 men, was authorised by the Army Council.

“A History of 163 (Ports) Provost Company RMP (V) and the AA’s Involvement with the Military Police 1938-1988” by Lt Col R.J. Wyatt MBE TD and Major D.A. Kyd TD RMP (V), 1988, Published by the AA.

All the best

Graham

Cannot comment on the badges, but I find the coat he is wearing interesting as it has a large collar and cuffs in some facing color. Too bad it's not in color! Very interesting.

Terry

Old AA advert showing uniform and a photo dated 2012 .

A vague recollection - wasn't the colour of cuffs and collar dark brown?

I remember them as being dressed in khaki with black cuffs and collars edged in yellow, the same colours as the roadside phone boxes were painted. AA Inspectors had maroon backed AA badges and collars. The RAC on the other hand wore RAF blue uniforms with navy blue collars and cuffs. I remember them being very common in the 1950s/1960s, riding their motorbikes and saluting the cars of members.

Yes - distant memories of the old AA boxes and pictures of men and motorcycles in "I Spy" books.

Those were the days, when you could fix a car with the bit of foil from a fag packet, now you need a computer and a degree in engineering. regards John