LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Hi guys

Slightly off topic, but can anyone provide details of fatal shootings by LVD, in particular, on the night of 2/3 June 1940, when four people were killed in separate incidents? And, were there other such incidents?

Stay safe
Take care
Brian

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Some info here:

https://michellecooper-writer.com/bl...he-home-guard/

“. . . on the night of 2/3 June 1940, LDVs shot and killed four motorists at separate locations; on 22nd June it was reported that two motorcyclists and their passengers had been killed and wounded in the north of England and in Scotland; on 26 June an ARP [Air Raid Precautions] warden was shot dead when he ignored (or maybe didn’t hear) an LDV challenge; and in Romford in Essex a car exhaust backfiring prevented the driver hearing the command to stop: four passengers were shot dead and a fifth seriously wounded.”1

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Hi Rolland

Thanks once again. I've ordered a copy of the book.

Much appreciated.
Take care, stay safe
Brian

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Sad stories. Remind me of the "fifth column" in France in May-June 1940, no one will ever know how much people were killed as "nazi spies".

From a quick check, the civilians killed by the Home Guard are apparently not commemorated by the CWGC.

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Hi Laurent

Good to hear from you and trust that you are well.

Thanks for the comment. I was about to make inquiries as to whether the identities of those unfortunate victims of war were recorded/commemorated somewhere! Obviously not CWGC, then.

We know from the report indicated by Rolland that at least ten civilians were killed in such circumstances in June 1940, alone. What about subsequent months?

Take care, stay safe
Brian

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

For those who have access to the British Newspaper Archives (I don't): there's an article in the Daily News (London) of 6 June 1940 that reads:

".. Sentry Was Right To Shoot: A verdict of justifiable homicide was recorded at Romford yesterday on a motorist, Joseph Henry Vaughan (20), of Roman Road. Bethnal Green, who was shot by a sentry after failing to stop when challenged. The coroner (Mr L. F ..."

And in the Dundee Courier of 3 June 1940:

.. SENTRY'S SHOT KILLS DRIVER A motorist, Joseph Henry Vaughan (20), Whitman House, Bethnal Green, died in hospital at Romford, Essex, yesterday, having been shot by a sentry when he did not answer a signal to stop. A passengrcr. Albert Turner (26), Sewardstone ...


Another (in case not included in above posts) victim was Air Raid Warden Miss Cassandra Gylby from Kidderminster who was killed at an L.D.V. post at Gloucester on 25 June 1940. It appears on later inquest that her hearing was bad and had recently taken to earphones....

Mr. D.B. Calder from Leuchars, Fife, was shot dead by an L.D.V. sentry on 30 June 1940 after failing to stop his car (Birmingham Daily Post, 1 July 1940).

And finally from the Dundee Evening Telegraph of 2 July 1940: "SWING RED LIGHT. It was time that the War Office issued its new instruction to sentries and L.D.V. that they should swing a red light when challenging wayfarers. There has been a disturbing increase in casualties ..."

It appears that Volunteer George Westbury was (accidentally?) fatally shot by his own L.D.V. colleagues on 3 July 1940.


Perhaps more names and/or instances can be found in the 1940 newspapers.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Some more on Vaughan from findagrave.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...-henry-vaughan

"According to the contemporary newspaper reports of the day, Joseph and four other men were traveling in a car near Passingford Bridge which is near Stapleford Abbotts, Abridge in Essex when they were ordered to stop by a sentry but failed to do so. The car was fired upon and Joseph and another man Albert Turner were seriously injured. They were taken to Oldchurch Hospital where Joseph died of his wounds. An inquest revealed that Joseph had died of "heart failure, shock and haemorrhage caused by wounds to the back" and a verdict of Justifiable Homicide was recorded."

"He was accepted as a Civilian War Casualty by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the 3rd June 2015"

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Cassandra Gylby and Calder on findagrave as well. Leendert

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Leendert,

Cassandra Gylby story:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9953...ngham-gazette/


https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9954...chronicle-and/


She was added to the Civilian War Dead Rolls in 2015.

Re: LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?
 

Leendert & Rolland

Many thanks indeed. Excellent!

I'm still keen to find out whether there were any such incidents recorded, in particular, during August 1940. Not sure where to look, but I know of guys who do!!

Stay safe
Brian