The local Home Guard met on Wednesday
evening at the Parish Institute,
using Denham Quarry for rifle practice
and having a machine gun emplacement
on top of Hough Hill. They comprised
of local men from Brindle and Whittle-le-Woods
mostly on reserved occupations
(such as farmers), those too young
or not fit for active service or
those who saw service during the
First World War (some 22 years before).
Lt. Leonard Charles
RYDER
They were part of the 12th County
of Lancaster (Leyland) Battalion,
with the Brindle and Whittle Platoon
commanded by Lt. Leonard Charles
Ryder. He saw active service during
World War One and lived at Eagles
Nest in Brindle from 1937 until
after the War; he was also recorded
as being the Clerk to Brindle Parish
Council in 1944.
The Battalion came under the
auspices of East Lancashire No.
2 Zone, commanded by Lt. Col. A.W.W.
Simpson OBE, TD (Major [Retired]
T.A.). Originally created in May
1940 as the LDV (Local Defence Volunteers),
Winston Churchill created them the
Home Guard in July 1940; military
ranks were first used from February
1941.
Harold ECCLES
Members of the Platoon included
the site authors Father-in-Law,
Harold Eccles from Fern Bank on
Holt Lane in Brindle (1913 1978).
There was also Jack Cranshaw from
Denham Farm, who was given the rank
of Sergeant and two men from Waterhouse
Green in Whittle-le-Woods Harry
Nightingale and James Griffiths.
If you can add any names or details
to this section, do get in touch.
Additional information
supplied by the Lancashire Record
Office, Preston.
