Home Guard Battalion numbering query

[Peter Brydon]

Being used to WW2 Home Guard battalions being numbered within a County,I was surprised to see the press cutting ( attached ) referring to " The 5th Battalion, Liverpool Home Guard ".

I also have a National Defence Pocket Book which belonged to A.McDonald of Liverpool. He gives his Regiment as " B Comp. 4th Batt" in the box provided for details of the owner of the book but then on the next page in pencil he has written " 85th County of Lancaster H.G. B Comp 4th Batt........"

I wonder if there was a system of numbering Home Guard units before they became part of a County`s allocation or if there was also a separate numbering system for Battalions within a City ?

Any help in explaining the situation would be appreciated.

P.B.

[badjez]

Peter,

I've never quite clarified the situation itself as the numbering originated within the LDV.

Some counties had a numbered run of LDV units, which they then formed into battalions, or LDV Groups frequently 1,2 3 etc. These were usually based upon the local police divisional boundaries (as the police did the initial enrollments) so a county having numerous small police forces could have a confusion of 1st battalions etc. Often these battalions were large and difficult to administer.

Whilst the HG was formed by redesignation of the LDV in May 1940 all that happened was '8 Group LDV' became '8 Group HG' (frequently calling themselves by their local regiments name Bedfs & Herts etc). It wasn't until a few months later, when the TA Associatins became involved that the new titles began to emerge. I don't think the County numerals as we know them came into place until much later. Officially the term LDV wasn't replaced with 'Home Guard' until January 1942!

Stephen