Dad's Army WW2

Question

We rightly honour those who were in the armed services in WW1 and 2, but what of those heroes who couldn't go (too old, too young, ill health, reserved occupations) who, nevertheless contributed to the war effort.

My Kiwi grandfather, Arthur Cox, was a railway engineer and it was a reserved occupation, so he couldn't go.

My Aussie grandfather, Vivian Roy Trenerry, had diabetes. So he joined the Home Guard. At night, he used to sit on top of the Department of Education Building in Kippax St Sydney, noting the Japanese aeroplanes that came over.

Who else has relatives of "Dad's Army" who they would like to honour?

Answer 1

That's a great question Susan, I am sure that we will find many relatives among us that were "the forgotten army". Let us also not forget the Land Army Girls. Traditionally these young women were sent to work in the farmers' fields and did the work of the farm labourers. My dear mum was a land army girl, she told me they did everything from ploughing and sowing to reaping and bailing hay and mucking out. Part of her "pay" was a lunchtime sandwich, delivered in the fields to her by the farmer. Some farmers were quite inhospitable and other less sanitary that you would like. To that end they always checked the filling of their sandwiches.

Answer 2

My father was in a reserved section of the Commonwealth Bank in Sydney and couldn't go. He was a Warden for our neighbourhood checking that the blackout curtains were in place, among other things.

Answer 3

I My grandfather had a small farm so was in a reserved occupation, growing food was important.  I've been told he was a fire watcher. The local paper for 1943 reported that my mother (then 14) was secretary of the school 'pig' club. The children's families clubbed together to buy 6 pigs which were kept and fattened in the school grounds. When it was time to kill them, three were sold to 'the ministry' , the other 3 were butchered and the meat divided between the families.