The Home Guard Auxiliaries

Vicky's Story

Vicky in 1943

In April 1943 women were 'officially' allowed to join the Home Guard although in a non-combatant role. No uniform was issued for these Home Guard Auxiliaries, but the official recognition was the issue of a brooch badge in a plastic material from July 1943.

Plastic Brooch issued July 1943

As can be seen from Vicky's story these rules were often bent, she appears in 'bluette' uniform with other members the Air Ministry Auxiliary Section (AMAS) and was taught the use of sten gun and rifle.

In 1943 Vicky, a Clerical Officer in the Air Ministry, became one of the female members of the Home Guard Auxiliaries:-

The older male Air Ministry Civil Servants had formed the Air Ministry Home Guard (AMHG) section. They requested the official presence of females and thus the Air Ministry Auxiliary Section was formed. I was asked by the Sergeant AMAS (Secretary to Major Campbell, AMHG) if I would be Corporal in charge of cooking dinner for the Home Guard on duty evenings. I was pleased to agree to the request made of me. The duty involved my being allocated a certain number of food points and cash to select a suitable menu of my own choice and buy the food accordingly. I bought the food from little shops in Drury Lane. On duty night I had to delegate the cooking preparations to the various members of my squad, My policy was that a "boss" should always work with her team and thus we all worked as equals to produce a good supper for our (25?) Home Guard men. My sole cooking experience of course was my years Cookery course at the Westminster Institute 1938-39. We slept at our HQ, Kingsway. To look really official we were issued with a uniform - a navy blue boiler suit, a badge and a navy hat similar in shape to the Army and Air Force Uniform.
Not only were we to be cooks but also to learn out drill to march well on parade (once through London) trying to keep in step and to become good marks women with guns. On Friday's at lunchtime we had musketry lessons at a nearby rifle range. I was a keen learner always trying to score a "bulls eye". We learned to use sten guns also. We were to be alert for German's being parachuted into the Kingsway. Fortunately the occasion never arose for us to use the sten gun officially. It was a treacherous weapon capable of mowing down a number of bodies and could easily become out of control, especially if manoeuvred by we enthusiastic A.M. Clerks. I attended lectures on street fighting.

Air Ministry Auxiliary Section on Parade, Circa 1943