MS 138 Tannadice and District Home Guard Battle Plan
Tannadice and District Home Guard Battle Plan
The Home Guard was formed in 1940. There purpose was to delay a German invasion force for as long as possible if they reached British soil. The aim was to give the Government and regular army time to form a front line. The Home Guard were not well equipped in the early days of World War Two and were expected to hold back a well trained and equipped German army with old hunting rifles, shotguns, bayonets and other ill assorted equipment. As the war progressd their equipment and training improved.
The Tannadice Home Guard was made up of 5 units, 2 battle platoons and 3 static platoons. Most of the personnel were farm servants, farmers, or other rural workers. The operational role of the 2 battle platoons was to locate and attack invading enemy parachute or air borne landings with the “greatest possible speed”, to harass the flank and rear of the enemy and to harass and destroy the enemy in every possible way. The role of the 2 static platoons was to delay and destroy the enemy at roadblocks and to maintain harassing operations “to the utmost of their power”. The third static platoon had a specific role to play. They were assigned to keep watch on reservoirs in Forfar and Arbroath to prevent sabotage to them. They also played a similar role at the Fern telephone exchange. In addition, they too were expected to participate in harassing an invading enemy.
The Tannadice Home Guard engaged in exercises to test their battle plans. One such exercise centred on the presence of an enemy convoy of 4 trucks and 45 enemy soldiers halting at the Finavon Hotel, where the emergency petrol pump was located. The exercise was to be a “tip and run” raid, which involved the platoon attacking in the middle of the night and causing the maximum amount of damage in the shortest possible time.
The battle plan never became operational, but the Home Guard were prepared for any eventuality.
MS 138 Tannadice and District Platoon Home Guard papers 1940-1944 in Angus Archives
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