Arthur Pascoe and the Home Guard

In 1943, in spite of working 12 hour shifts as a tool maker 6 days a week, Arthur Pasoce, my father, joined the Home Guard. Ever since the Great War, when he learned to play the fife and clarinet, he had played in a Territorial Army band or the GWR band where he was an excellent calrinet player. Now the Home Guard had their own Military Band, the Director of Music was Captain Campbell the music master of Harrow School.

Every Sunday morning they met for band practice and during the summer they played in a London park. One Sunday a bandsman dropped a cigarette end through the slats in the floor of the bandstand and set fire to the salvage stored below. They led the parades for War Weapons Weeks and Wings of Victory Days to raise money for the war effort.

After D-Day they had to do military duties, but it was not long before they were back to their musical role. When the Home Guard was stood down they led the parade through London and the nation said goodbye to these old men who did what they could for their country in its time of trouble.

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