Glamorgan Home Guard

Meet the Group

We are all individuals from many walks of life, bonded together by an interest in WW2, or the 1940's. Nearly everyone joined for different reasons, but what we do share is a passion to make our portrayals interesting, accurate and fun.

Every 'unit' in the Military has it's 'Characters', the Joker, the thinker, the barrack room lawyer and we are no exception. We even have nicknames earned, or chosen by others. In many ways when we are together as a unit, there very little difference between us and the Home Guard units of 69 years ago!

Cpl WARD (Barry Ward)

Barry Ward, whose nickname unsurprising is 'The Corporal', is the founder member of the group. He used to collect military badges and one day he was asked "why do you keep all this stuff and nobody ever sees it". From that moment on he decided that people would see memorabilia from the war and close up as well!!

Born in 1952 when the war was still fresh in peoples memories he remembers the story's told to him, by his parents and older members of the community. His own father was a Sgt. in the RAF and part of a Communications unit that landed on the beaches D-day+1.

Barry's passion is 1940 Civilian and he has several 'characters' in his repertoire. The Home Guard was chosen as a group identity, to honour those men who by and large are forgotten (other than that TV series).

Favourite expression: "I'm getting too old for all this"

THIS SECTION IS STILL WORK IN PROGRESS

L/Cpl Thomas (Steve Thomas)

Steve Thomas, Nicknamed Carper. The reason I joined The Glamorgan Home Guard was because I was in need of an escape from the modern era, was fed up with technology running / ruining both my work and home life. Stepping back into the 1940's is such a release! Kicking back with the lads and ladies is an excellent way to wind down and relax. It's not just that we are all members of a like minded hobby, it's more like we are family and for that, I can't thank them enough.

I was born in 1962 and still remember the days of the steam railways, being allowed to swim in the local river and such like. Today alas that sort of freedom is no more, I fear... health and safety 'fairy's' have put a stop to that.

Characters I portray are, Home Guard, Lovat Scout, Civilian, Volkssturm, 101st Airborne and a dodgy French resistance Fighter.

Favourite expression: !

Private Williams (Richard Williams)

Richard Williams, nickname Major Hazard, or Haz joined the group in June 2008, after Barry found him via his many websites on local wartime history, especially the history of the Royal Ordnance Factory and Island Farm POW, both located in Bridgend.

Richard has always collected anything to do with WW2, fed by a passion on the subject from his father. Island farm POW camp has always been his first interest, and he even caught the bus to the Imperial War museum in London when he was a teenager loaded with relics from the POW camp to show them off !

Richard's first portrayal was that of a panzergrenadier
of the 1st SS division. Richard's role as a Major in
Intelligence corp's of the British army enabled him to show the home guard what the enemy would look like if they came. His impressions now include WW2 civilian, RWF 53rd division and of course, Home Guard.

Favourite expression: "0h' Matron"

Private Gamble (James Gamble)

James Gamble, nickname Strange - I developed an interest in military history when I was young and read all the books and watched all the war films going. As I got older, I drifted away from it until a few years ago when I went to a multi period living history show and my interest was reignited with a vengeance!

This time, I wanted to do more that look and read about history, I wanted to live it. I met Barry and Steve at the 1940's Swansea Bay museum and volunteered my services for the Glamorgan Home Guard. I thought I knew a lot about WW2 but have learned so much more by being a part of this group, especially about the Home Front and the sacrifices that everyone in Britain made during this war - for the first time in this countries history, everyone was in the front line so to speak - When I did my first day as a Home Guard all I could really say was, "This is great, wish I'd done it sooner".

I also do impressions of Lovat Scouts and Military Police and I'm at present collecting gear to do a working class home front civilian as well a German soldier to represent the enemy that the Home Guard had to face.

My favourite Home Guard weapon is my bayonet "Cold steel, the answer to lots of life's little problems"

Another project I have is the re animation of dead tissue with regard to raising a company or legion of the undead to act a warriors in the cause of good - this may take some time but I think it could be worthwhile.

My favourite expression is "Classified"

Private Worner (Miles Worner)

Miles Worner,nicknamed Monty, joined the group in the late summer 2008, after taking picture's of the Home Guard, for a photographic Project. It was one of those right place, right time moments along with the question how do you get involved in all this, thus followed by a large order of uniform and it hasn't stopped since then.

Miles has always had an interest in WW2 and had taken a deep interest in school especially on the events leading up and post D-Day. He says, "Re-enacting is a great way to show the world what so many brave men and women did cause they were under threat of loosing the free world which they cherished, and its people like us that keep this memory alive."

His portrays, Home Guard, Civilian, Lovat Scout and 101st Airborne

Montys favourite expression: "Gotta See A Man About A Dog!"

Private Ward (Dan Ward)

Dan Ward, nickname Whippet, Has been involved with the group for some time, but because of his other passion, he is a 'rock drummer', he cannot attend all the events that he would like to.

Dan's Portrayals include, Home Guard, Lovat Scout, British Para and civilian.

Favourite expression: "You cant charlston to this!"