On Wednesday 20th March members of The Redline Home Guard gave support to ‘Doing Their Bit’ at their talk on the Upper Thames Patrol (Home Guard Navy) to the Warborough and Shillingford Society. As well as forming a door guard, we gave demonstrations of basic kit and answering questions regarding Home Guard equipment and activities. It was a great success all seemed to enjoy it and we had a lot of compliments about the evening. If you missed it they have two more bookings for the talk, see their website https://doingtheirbit.co.uk/talks-for-adults for details.
Short potted history of the UTP
The UTP (Upper Thames Patrol) was the Home Guard Navy. Jokingly known as Up The Pub, probably as many of their local HQs were based in a pub.
The UTP was started in September 1939 in Abingdon by Sir Ralph Glyn, to patrol and protect the Thames (a strategic barrier) from invasion. It quickly progressed to cover from Lechlade to Teddington. This was before Local Defence Volunteers and Home Guard. By 1942 it had 116 boats under its command made up of slipper launches and cruisers. At its height they were 6,000 strong formed both of men and women.
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