Not Dad's Army - Northern Ireland's Home Guard

Northern Ireland had a Home Guard during the Second World War – but they were no Dad’s Army. Worried about the dangers of inadvertently training Irish Republicans, the authorities opted to place it under the command of the ‘B’ Specials. They might have been viewed by Churchill as the only properly armed and disciplined force left to defend UK from a backdoor German invasion but Catholics were deeply suspicious of the Ulster outfit and didn't join up. Chris Capper tells the story of the controversial Ulster Home Guard.

ULSTER HOME GUARD TRAINING VIDEO

This clip taken from “The Story of the Ulster Home Guard” in 1945 shows local volunteers training and preparing in the eventuality of a German invasion. Used with permission from the Public Records Office Northern Ireland.

RECRUITMENT VIDEO

Major General V.H.B Majendie, commanding officer for Northern Ireland, appeals for support for the Ulster Home Guard in this recruitment video from 1942.

Used with permission from the Police Museum of Northern Ireland.

Presenter: Chris Capper

Producer: Peter Coulter

Exec Producer: Adam Smyth