Overview

During World War Two, up to 50,000 men and women served in the Leicestershire and Rutland Home Guard, ready to defend their families, friends and fellow citizens from a ruthless invader. Yet today their stories and sacrifices are practically forgotten - until now. Using a wide variety of sources, the author reveals the true story behind the Home Guard. Apart from their well-know infantry role, Home Guards manned anti-aircraft guns and rockets, formed bomb disposal squads and helped train Special Forces units. Women Auxiliaries and boy cadets also served in the force. Over 50 of the last Home Guards tell first hand of the many events, both serious and humorous, that occurred while they defended the Home Front. Also published for the first time are: details of secret defence schemes, showing how the two counties would have been defended to the last round; how three secret local resistance organisations would have carried on fighting after Nazi occupation; how the Leicestershire Home Guard helped capture downed German airmen and escaped prisoners of war, while their Rutland counterparts had less success; the stories behind the tragic deaths of 18 Leicestershire Home Guards; and, previously unseen dramatic photographs from the Leicester Mercury archives, together with rare documents and memorabilia, that give an insight into the Home Guard's uniforms, insignia and weaponry. To the Last Round is a moving and candid tribute to the Leicestershire and Rutland Home Guard and will provide a welcome addition to the subject at both local and national level.

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9781859835593

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Austin J. Ruddy has studied and collected the social and military history of the Second World War for most of his life. He regularly appears on radio and television talking about the subject and writes for magazines, newspapers, journals and websites. He currently works in the Editorial department of the Leicester Mercury. This is his second book.

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