This is a story from Britain's hour of greatest peril in 1940, drawn from original research using hitherto little-seen documents in the UK National Archives including recently declassified MI5 Files. It is about the million and a half men of the Home Guard, 'Dad's Army", who were prepared to put their lives on the line if Germany invaded Britain in the summer of 1940, but who desperately needed effective training and equipment. Thus was formed the Home Guard School No.1 at what is now a flagship property of the National Trust, Osterley Park. Even though it received no official support from the military authorities, the School opened on 10 July 1940 and was soon attracting several hundred students a week all completely unofficially. Students were taught field craft and to stalk and slit the throats of enemy sentries in silence. They dug trenches and bombing pits practised with Molotov cocktails and smoke brigades, and attacked armoured vehicles. Training for what was became the Home Guard became increasingly sophisticated as the war progressed and many of the techniques taught at Osterley would become commonplace by the end of the Second World War and used by such bodies as SOE and the Commandos. SELLING POINTS: ? The story of ?Dad's Army' drawn from original research using hitherto little seen-documents in the UK National Archives ? Includes recently declassified MI5 Files ? Reveals how many of the techniques taught there were later used by such bodies as SOE and the Commandos ? Explores the foundation of the school and its training, as well as the fascinating backgrounds of the remarkable individuals who taught there ? Insightful and little-known account of the early days of the Home Guard
