The Home Guard, up and down the country, were ready to do their best to repel any invasion which might have taken place. They were alert for any possible problems that might drop in from above, even in a place like Market Lavington which is well away from the coast.
Many men in the Home Guard were former regular soldiers. Some were men in reserved occupations who may have wished to be in the regular forces but were not allowed. Others might have had some slight medical defect which caused them to be deemed unsuitable for the tough life of a soldier at the front. All were willing to serve and willing to pay with their life if it came to it.
And all received a certificate of thanks at the end of hostilities. We have one such item at Market Lavington Museum.
Certificate awarded to William Ivor Maslen of Market Lavington for service in the Home Guard
This one, we can see, was issued to William Ivor Maslen. We believe he was born in 1913. William married Market Lavington born Marjorie Oram in 1936. The 1954 directory lists the head of house of a Northbrook home as being William Maslen. Certainly by 1964, the couple were living in Marjorie’s childhood home of Jubilee Cottage on Northbrook.
William died in 1983. Marjorie joined him in Market Lavington churchyard a year later.
Tags: Home Guard, Market Lavington, Military, Museum, world war 2
Market Lavington Museum 
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