June has been a busy month so far for the Redline Home Guard, with two events giving us the chance to get out into the community, enjoy the sunshine, and share the story of the Home Guard with the public – all while keeping a watchful eye on the skies, of course.
Stoke Row Steam Rally – 8th June
Sgt Quigley and Pte Gleave (Snr) once again made their traditional deployment to the Stoke Row Steam Rally by bicycle, pedalling down from Cray’s Pond to the showground. As in previous years, we joined the military vehicle parade around the arena — and while our “vehicles” were perhaps the least powerful, they were by far the most agile. We managed to lap several slower-moving convoys, proving that sometimes the old ways are the best.
The weather was glorious, the engines roared (albeit not ours), and it was another enjoyable outing among classic machines, comrades, and curious visitors keen to learn more about wartime Britain.
Abingdon Air & Country Show – 14th June
The following weekend, Redline was back on parade at the Abingdon Air and Country Show. After a fantastic reception at last year’s event, we were honoured to be invited again and made sure to deliver a full Home Guard presence.
On arrival, we were immediately called upon to assist in an unexpected task – helping with the construction of the event’s static Hurricane fighter. This may well be the first time a Home Guard platoon has assembled frontline air power, and we suspect the RAF will soon be calling…
Our display included multiple tents, a well-equipped field office, and a comprehensive spread of weaponry. Two Bren guns were positioned for anti-aircraft defence, while our Boys Anti-Tank Rifle kept an eye on the southern perimeter. The entire site was on war footing, just in case.
The day proved a great success. Though blustery at times, the weather stayed dry, and the skies above thrilled spectators with displays from the BBMF Lancaster, a Harvard, and even a B-17. We had many visitors throughout the day, some of whom shared touching stories of family members who served in the Home Guard. One gentleman mentioned a hut near Lambourn not listed on the official records – a mystery that may warrant further investigation by our ‘RATs’ archaeology team.
Thanks to all who visited and shared their memories. It’s an honour to keep the history of the Home Guard alive, one event at a time.
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