LDV (Home Guard) shoot civliians?

[RSwank]

Off topic but an "incident" involving Americans in the Home Guard:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9968...herald-leader/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99687861/the-times/



There were many captures of Luftwaffe airmen by Home Guards.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9968...western-times/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9968...-evening-mail/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9968...ewe-chronicle/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9968...rmingham-post/

A German Spy:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9968...-morning-news/

Escaped POWs

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99686373/daily-record/

[Tim O.]

Not civilians, but in a related incident on the night of 14-15 July 1942 the crew of Halifax bomber W7761 TL-N of No. 35 Squadron baled out of their damaged aircraft near Harrogate when returning from a raid on Duisburg. As they descended by parachute, they were fired on by members of the local LDV. Luckily the bullets missed and all of the crew landed safely. Allegedly, the LDV men received a severe dressing down by their officers after this event - for not hitting their targets!

[Leendert]

Derby Evening Telegraph of 6 Sep 1940 reports that a Home Guard Commander was shot dead the previous night in a lonely lane after having failed to answer the challenge of two soldiers near RAF Burnaston, Derbyshire. He was George Locker.

Another case of 'friendly fire' may have been Czech P/O Miroslav Vejražka of No. 311 Squadron who with other crew had abandoned stricken Wellington N2773 over Nottingshamshire on 17 Oct 1940. Reportedly shot dead by a soldier of the Home Guard who mistook the airman for a German parachutist.
But here open for discussion for officially he died due to his parachute not opening.

Regards,
Leendert

[BrianC]

Hi guys

I can only repeat my gratitude for the excellent (and previously unknown to me) information regarding the numbers of incidents.

Please keep contributing any similar 'finds'


Many thanks, stay safe
Brian

[RSwank]

Leendert,

Something odd about the Miroslav Vejražka story. If you look at the description of the loss here (search for 2773):
https://www.baaa-acro.com/operator/r...e-raf?page=182

"The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Bremen, Germany. While approaching the target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. All six crewmen decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field. Five crewmen were taken POW while the sixth was killed as his parachute did not open."

Five crewmen taken POW seems to imply they "all" bailed out over axis territory, yet Vejražka is buried in England (Row C Grave 5 Honington Churchyard).

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...slav-vejrazka/

[Leendert]

Rolland,
Re your remark about the Czech airman: a what appears detailed story here https://fcafa.com/2015/07/30/311-sqn...omment-page-1/

Look for his name.

In the meantime another Home Guard incident, from the Birmingham Daily Gazette of 25 Sep 1940:
Home Guard Killed Ex-Schoolfellow Challenge not heard. Before a verdict of “Death from misadventure” was returned by a Wolverhampton jury yesterday at inquest on a 15-year-old deaf cyclist, Alan Chadwick, of Stafford-road, Wolverhampton, the 17-year-old ...

This was on 19 Sep 1940. See https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...alan-chadwick/

Please note that among Home Guard volunteers there have been quite of number of accidental deaths (traffic, mishandling gun, discharge while cleaning etc.) and also some newspaper reports that a volunteer had committed suicide with the weapon they had been provided.



Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

Alan Chadwick story:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9973...rmingham-post/


https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99735975/citizen/

This next article also mentions some of the Home Guard Instructions and Procedures:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9973...ngham-gazette/

George Locker story:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9973...ing-telegraph/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9973...rmingham-mail/

Case Dismissed: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9973...ing-telegraph/

[Leendert]

A final entry by me: on 18 Sep 1940 Home Guard Volunteer Thomas Harris shot and killed James Barnard and Herbert Nicholls.
Harris was later put on trial for double murder and served 7 months in jail.
Numerous newspapers articles, but have no access to full content.

According this website Harris thought the men were Germans: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Barnard-7421

Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

Thomas Harris story:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9978...sex-chronicle/


Trial:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9963...sex-chronicle/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9963...sex-chronicle/

[BrianC]

Many, many thanks guys

Some excellent research and revelations.

Hope there's more down the line!

Stay safe
Brian