Redline Home Guard Visits Wallingford Army Cadets

Last night, members of the Redline Home Guard had the privilege of visiting the Wallingford Detachment of the Oxfordshire Army Cadet Force, offering an immersive and engaging look into the history of Britain’s wartime defences.

The evening was somewhat of a homecoming for the group. Wallingford ACF’s home is in the Old TA Centre in Thames Street, former home of The Royal Berkshire Rifle Volunteers. During ww2 the 1st Berkshire (Abingdon) Battalion E Company (Wallingford) No 21 Platoon Home Guard had its HQ within the Centre. For the evening we really were stepping back into our history. It was also somewhat of a homecoming for our Sgt Quigley, who spent many a year with the detachment as a cadet instructor.

After an initial parade and inspection, we began the evening with a presentation on the Home Guard and the defensive stop lines of WWII, highlighting the crucial role these civilian soldiers played in protecting Britain from potential invasion. The cadets listened intently, eager to learn about the tactics and resilience of those who stood ready to defend their country.

Following the presentation, the cadets had a hands-on opportunity to interact with historical equipment and weapons used by the Home Guard. Displays included:

• Early Home Guard (LDV) equipment, featuring Molotov cocktails and shotguns—the improvised weapons of Britain’s first line of defence.
• A collection of army radios, demonstrating how communications were maintained during wartime.
• A wide range of period weapons, from rifles, Sten submachine guns, and Bren light machine guns to Vickers machine guns and a PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank). The display even featured captured German weapons, allowing cadets to compare both sides’ arsenals.

The evening concluded with a formal parade, where the AUO Wez Green of the Wallingford Army Cadets presented 2/Lt Chambers of the Redline Home Guard with a commemorative coin in appreciation of the engaging and informative session.

This visit was a fantastic opportunity to educate and inspire the next generation, giving them a tangible connection to Britain’s wartime past. Seeing the cadet’s enthusiasm and curiosity reinforced the importance of preserving and sharing this history.

The Redline Home Guard thank C/Sjt Ian Sweeney, Wallingford Detachment Commander, for the invitation to visit the unit and we are proud to have shared our passion for history. We look forward to future collaborations!