Sorry for the brief hiatus, folks – been a bit busy at work and last night I was so tired I fell asleep at the computer… anyway, back to it 🙂
Here’s a great bit of local history from Reg ‘Arereg’ Fullelove who’s been as generous as ever with his collection of local ephemera, memories and time – Reg really is a joy to have contributing to the blog.
Last week, the young David Evans spent an afternoon of tea, cake and conversation with Reg, who remembers his father David Fullelove being a member of the Local Defence Volunteers. The LDV later evolved into the Home Guard.
Whilst it’s easy to think of these volunteers as being somewhat comical in light of Dad’s Army (and indeed, I borrow from the wonderful Croft and Perry for the title), this was a deathly serious force that we were only a hair’s breadth from relying on to protect us.
These were dedicated men who selflessly answered the call and were ready to come to the aid of their community and fight if necessary.
Material on the local home guard is notoriously thin, but the great site for the Staffordshire and Aldridge Home Guard remains a treasure trove of material. Reg has kindly donated the following photos, and hopes we can fill in the blanks.
You know what to do folks: please help if you can! Comment here, or BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
Huge gratitude as ever to David and Reg, without whom this rambling enterprise really wouldn’t be what it is.
David wrote:
Over a cup of tea and a chat with local legend Reg Fullelove, who kindly donated the marvellous film of the 1934 Brownhills Carnaval , I was shown this image…
A fine group of men. Image kindly supplied by Reg Fullelove, via David vans.
These good men are the Brownhills Local Defence Volunteers, the precursor of the Brownhills Home Guard.
Reg was able to name some of the people:
Front row from the left – Mr. Maddox, Mr. Mason, Len Sadler, Norman Wayne [Possibly Norman Waine, the Councillor? – Bob], Fred Bowen, Mr. Yewall and one other gentleman.
Second row – second from the left is Reg’s father, David Fullelove (connected with the memorial Hall in Lichfield Road for many years).
Back row, from the left – Edgar Pritchard, third from the left is Jack Brewe and fourth from the left is Fred Heath.
Reg even has his father’s arm bands..
I wonder if readers can help to name the other members of the 1939 Brownhills Home Guard platoon, please?
The mark of safety. Image generously supplied by Reg Fullelove via David Evans.
I would like to thank Reg Fullelove BEM, for his generosity and help in preserving another part of our local history in this way.