Page 219 - Redditch People

Redditch People

A REDDITCH author has written a book detailing the fascinating story of the town’s first
line of defence during the Second World War.

Mike Johnson’s book, The Redditch Home Guard 1940-1945, gives an insight into the role
and duties of the 9th Worcestershire (Redditch) Battalion Home Guard and recalls the
memories of some of those home guardsmen who served in it.

“I was born and bred in Redditch and always been interested in local and military history,”
said Mr Johnson.

“I became involved in recording the memories of people who had lived and worked in the
old town of Redditch and many of these life stories have been published in booklet form.

“I then decided to research the 9th Worcestershire (Redditch) Home Guard, interviewing
a number of those people who volunteered to help defend our country at the time of great
need, most now being in their 80s and 90s.”

The Redditch battalion was one of 12 Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) Home Guard
battalions in Worcestershire, totalling almost 20,000 men – the largest single body of men
under arms in the county at that time.

“Due to the strategic location of Redditch to the south of the industrial heartlands, it was
designated an anti-tank island and had to be defended at all costs so preventing enemy
armoured columns using the main roads through the town,” added Mr Johnson.

“It was the task of the Redditch battalion to provide this defence and their orders were to
defend their positions to the last man, the last round of ammunition and that their was to
be no retreat.”

The booklet, costing £8.85, is based on interviews that were carried out with a number of
the volunteers from those wartime years, and can be purchased from Forge Mill Museum,
Morris Mica in Headless Cross, A.S.A.P. Printers on Birchfield Road, Rutters Store in
Studley, The Convenience Store on Feckenham Road in Astwood Bank or directly from Mr
Johnson on 892228.

Source: The Redditch Advertiser Archives – Wednesday 22nd April 2009

© RLHS 2015 Page: 219