Local Defence Volunteers posts and road blocks

Category

Library Item

Item no

38376

Title

Local Defence Volunteers posts and road blocks

Description

A hand drawn map of the south of Edinburgh showing World War Two Local Defence Volunteer (Home Guard) posts and road blocks. The map covers Oxgangs, Fairmilehead, Swanston, Morton Hall, Braid Hills, Blackford Park and Craigmillar Golf Course. The City Hospital at Colinton Mains is also shown.

Artist / maker

Langdon, Ralph Thomas

Date

1940

Size

38.3 x 56.0 cm

Type

Map; Pen work

This map was donated by Marjory Langdon who discovered it hidden behind a pencil drawing of a woman. The map was drawn on 22nd July 1940 by Ralph Thomas Langdon, a member of the LDV. This was only two months after Sir Anthony Eden had announced the formation of a special home defence force and because of the early date is likely to have been a plan for the placement of the posts and road blocks.

During World War II many men and women were recruited to groups to form Britain's civil defence. These people included air raid wardens, nurses, the home guard and fire fighters. The aim was to ensure that Britain would be prepared in the event of an enemy attack.

The Local Defence Volunteers (later known as the Home Guard) were set up in May 1940 as a defence against German paratroopers attacking Britain. Men who were not eligible for military service and between the ages of 17 and 65 were called upon to volunteer their time to patrol their local area and fight off the enemy in case of attack. Thousands of men in Edinburgh became part of the Home Guard, initially signing up at their local police station and then being divided into districts and companies. The home guard in Edinburgh even manned anti-aircraft rocket batteries.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Military > Military facilities > Forts and fortifications

People > Military activities > Civil defence

Places > Edinburgh areas > Braid Hills

Places > Edinburgh areas > Oxgangs

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh