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Sussex and the Home Guard

online resource
posted on 2024-06-05, 19:46 authored by Their Finest Hour Project Team

Edgar Richardson was born near Manchester in 1905, grew up there and got a job in the timber industry, but in the great depression he was out of work and saw a job advertised for a foreman in a saw-mill, in Charlton, West Sussex. He applied for it, got the job and found lodgings in East Dean. He joined Chichester cycling club, and twice cycled back to Manchester to visit friends and family, as well as cycling around the local area. One day he stopped in Singleton for tea, and met the owner's daughter, in due course they got married.

The war then started and he was in a reserved occupation as the wood was needed for rifle butts. So he joined the Home Guard, he commented that the TV programme Dad's Army was a very true reflection! They didn't encounter many problems, there were a lot of Americans and Canadians in the area and some issues with drunken behaviour but nothing serious.

History

Item list and details

1. The Home Guard at West Dean house. Subject is back row right. 2. Left to right Lt Cdr Victor Southern brother to Dora Edgar Richardson, Edgar's mother Magaret Richardson and PO Harry Owen Dora's brother in law

Person the story/items relate to

Edgar Richardson

Person who shared the story/items

John Richardson

Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor

He is the person's son

Type of submission

Shared at West Meads Community Hall, West Sussex on 11 November 2023. The event was organised by Bognor Regis u3a.

Record ID

106689 | BOG058