IT MAY have been wartime, but there was still time for fun and relaxation.

Members of the Home Guard took a break from their duties to enjoy an outing on a Salter’s steamer from Folly Bridge, Oxford, on the River Thames during the Second World War.

It doesn’t look as if it was exclusively for the Home Guard – wives were allowed to go, too.

The picture comes from Ann Heath, of Kidlington, whose parents were on board.

Her father, Charles Beeks, is standing in the centre of the picture, the last man in the back row. His wife, Novello, is in the light-coloured suit with the buttonhole just below.

Mr Beeks served in the First World War, firstly with the Shropshire Light Infantry.

He kept a diary describing the terrible conditions he and his comrades faced in the trenches in Flanders.

His ordeal there was shortlived, however – his boss, Captain Groves, transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and Private Beeks, his batman, went with him, joining him on operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Later, the then Aircraftman Beeks trained as an aerial gunner and was frequently in action over Palestine with 113 Squadron.

For his service, Mr Beeks was awarded the Mons Star, King Albert’s Belgian Cross and the Distinguished Flying Medal. A citation in the London Gazette described him as “uniting and efficient”.

In civilian life, he was manager of the London and Birmingham Furnishing Company in Cowley Road, Oxford, and later furnishing manager of Geddes in George Street.

Apart from serving in the Home Guard in the Second World War, Mr Beeks, who lived in Princes Street, East Oxford, and later in Oxford Road, Kidlington, was also chairman of the Oxford Old Contemptibles.

As we have recalled, the Home Guard began life as the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), a part-time force designed to help protect Britain from possible German invasion.

Within two months of a radio appeal by the Government in May 1940, more than a million volunteers had come forward.

They included farm workers, bakers, teachers, grocers, bank staff and railway workers, whose daytime jobs were essential to keep the country running, and those too young or too old to join the regular Army.

The name was changed to the Home Guard in July 1940 and its members went on to do valuable work defending their local communities.

No-one expected them to beat well-trained German soldiers – their task was to slow them down until the Army arrived.

The Home Guard was immortalised by Dad’s Army, the TV show about a platoon at the fictitious Walmington-on-Sea, starring Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn, episodes of which are still regularly shown on BBC2.

Do you recognise anyone else in the picture above?

 

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