Image Bank
Hartlepool
Home Guard Band
The Home Guard was formed in 1940, in order to defend Britain against the threat of invasion. Most of the young men were already away in the Armed Forces, so the Home Guard consisted of men who were too young or too old to enlist, or those who worked in reserved occupations (such as the shipyards).
The members of the West Hartlepool Old Operatic Band all volunteered to join their local Home Guard unit. They provided a ready-made band, which must have been very useful on parades and special occasions! The band’s conductor was Sgt. Major William H. Saunders, who is seated third from the left.