Parashots - The Welsh Resistance

The Right Hon. Anthony Eden
14th May 1940

“The Government has received countless enquiries from all over the kingdom from men of all ages who wish to do something for the defence of their country. Well, now is your opportunity. We want large numbers of such men …….between the ages of seventeen and sixty-five to come forward now……….The name of the new force which is now to be raised will be the Local Defence Volunteers. …..You will not be paid but you will receive uniforms and will be armed………..give your name at your local police station………”

On this day 1940 ( 14/05/40) saw the formation of the Local Defence Volunteers . Later to become the Home Guard.

4-6 May 2024 we attended 1940s, DDay 80th event at Bishopston / Murton village, Gower.

Great news,
Following my recent talks, and coin donations from the public at the the recent Bishopston 1940s event and a fantastic donation by Paul and Catherine Jenkins of Northway garage
The total being £315

The total is now £1,515. The future of the memorial to the 15th Battalion continues.

A huge thank you to all who have donated up till now.

Onwards and upwards

Help raise £5000 to Help fund a memorial to the 15th Battalion ( Gower) Welch Regiment Home Guard Weʼre raising money to Help fund a memorial to the 15th Battalion ( Gower) Welch Regiment Home Guard. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

Not Glamorgan HG alas, but Dorking HG late 1940.

Note the uniforms and various weapons. Including Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) Great War spec, Vickers machine gun, 1928 Thompson ( drum version) and mk1 Bren gun.. these are similar to those supplied to the 15th..

Photos obtained from another FB page..

Gang,
I have been tasked to sort out reenactment and military vehicles.

Please see the now official poster for the event BH weekend 4th-6th May.

PLEASE SHARE AWAY

A big thank you to the South and East Wales MVT for their support with the event.

As well as to the Welsh Tommies reenactment group and Parashots reenactment group for their support and attendance.

A WW2 military convoy will now start from the community centre car park at 1100hrs both 5th and 6th May , where the vehicles are displayed. Then round Robin around two villages ( Bishopston and Murton) and return to the starting point.

For those not wishing to camp / caravan.
Gower Hotel in Church Lane has vacancies from 5th with various air bnb in Bishopston.

There will be limited Parking / camping at rear and forecourt of Northway garage for exhibitors

Beer tent Sunday Monday . Marquee on the green with a band and 1940s music.

So far possible ×10 period vehicles!!

Local schools have been asked to dress up as evacuees. As well as the villagers

Please feel free to dress up as 1940s if attending.

Please come along to Gower's only formal commemorative event for DDAY 80TH.

What a great night last night. Giving my first public talk in Mumbles. 40 persons were present making it my biggest talk yet.

There was alot of positive feedback and it clearly went down well with the audience.

It resulted an huge applause at the end.

I am really happy with the outcome.

Bearing in mind what.an awful wet night it was I was amazed by the turn out.

On a personal note I'd like to thank Michael Hodgson for turning up to support me in his Home Guard uniform too. It was much appreciated .

Hopefully I'll have some photos of the evening soon.

Onwards and Upwards

Members of the group will be attending this year's show

Some members of the group will be displaying at the HUT 9 event 13/14 April, 29/30 June 2024. We will be allowed space to put on a display

The Parashots have entered our first event for 2024. Onwards and Upwards

for https://www.facebook.com/V4VCardiff

Vintage For Victory - Vintage Festival Wales VINTAGE FOR VICTORY - Vintage Festival Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
11/12/13/14th July 2024
Tickets On Sale NOW

Found on another FB page.

Note the lads standing in guilli suits , with the spigot and camouflage

Today, I had a very productive day.
Due to my next talk on Gower stop line, I walked the stop line from Killay to Gowerton.

I met up with Stephen Evans later in the day.
We both continued to locate new defences around Dunvant.

I located a searchlight position, x3 further spigot mortar mounts. X2 of which are on private property and a revist of old child hood haunts with the pill boxes.

Looking forward to my new topic..

Here are the photos

Lovely cartoon of the Home Guard practising drill.

Found via another FB page

Found on another FB page. 3 in 1 oil for the HG. This oil still goes strong today.

With the lads from parashots, the Welsh Resistance, and the 15th Battalion Gower Home Guard.

I would like to wish all friends and fellow followers of this site a happy and prosperous Christmas.

Looking forward to 2024 with new events to attend, research to carry out and public talks to complete.

Thank you Morgan Owen for allowing us to use the picture and Chris Woffenden who drew it

Members of the Para shots and the Welsh tommies are at Swansea bus museum today taking part in the military vehicle event at Swansea bus museum. If about please pop in to see the great vehicle displays

Just noticed Ruthie made SWP Neath / Port Talbot Twitter account...

Just to keep you all in the loop. No we have not disappeared. Only we are are now drawing nearer the dark winter months and the show season has ended for another year. We will be looking to hold more local displays in 2024 with all monies raised going to the memorial. I am still available on give talks on the 15th Battalion with donations going to.the memorial.

Help raise £5000 to Help fund a memorial to the 15th Battalion ( Gower) Welch Regiment Home Guard Weʼre raising money to Help fund a memorial to the 15th Battalion ( Gower) Welch Regiment Home Guard. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

Members of the group were invited to take part in the poppy appeal opening ceremony at Aberavon shopping centre, PortTalbot near the Town Council buildings.

I have never driven in that sort of rain this morning on the way there. There was no road or motorway only a river and deep water!!

We met the high sherrif, deputy lord lieutenant, Lord mayor and Stephen Kinnok MP.

They even had a photo taken with Ruthie the Bedford.

Loads of interest by public and charities alike.

One of the team is really exicited to have been asked to give a talk in Mumbles in February 2024.
And it's open to public

Spigot Mortar fits in lovely in the rear with Ruthie the MW.

A great addition to the Parashots - the Welsh resistance re enactment group.. and some public talks

A big thank you to Russell Pitt of Rustys replicas

One of our members are now the proud owner of original paperwork from the 3rd Battalion ( Bridgend) Glamorgan HG.

It is a great addition to next years possible display..

https://youtu.be/p9Bbu34_Nd8?si=5kZsEJv1rdpwIwox

"Parashots" Enrol (1940) Full title reads: "'Parashots' Enrol"CU War Minister Anthony Eden sitting in front of microphone at his desk - not speaking. VS Shots from library of German ...

On this day 1939

A new addition to the group collection for display in the new year.
no 17 wireless. perfect for HG display. As used by AA batteries staffed by the HG. Also as contact within the Stop lines..

One of our group members has made a short film in the first person text of the Home Guard in Gower 1940. We hope you all enjoy

Private D Coy Reynoldston Gower Home Guard Private D Coy Reynoldston Gower Home Guard.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/philip-barrow-1?utm_term=XjnJ9aN73

Help raise £5000 to Help fund a memorial to the 15th Battalion ( Gower) Welch Regiment Home Guard Weʼre raising money to Help fund a memorial to the 15th Battalion ( Gower) Welch Regiment Home Guard. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

On 12th -13th August 2023 the Parashots - The Welsh Resistance took part in our first ever display.

I would like to thank all my friends who attended to give support and take part in the Home Guard display at Gower heritage centre.

I would like to thank other friends who didnt display but turned up to give their support to us. It was very much appreciated by myself and the group.

Alot of public were in attendance and good interaction..

Over Saturday and Sunday we raised £173 for the fund to erect a memorial to Gower Home Guard ( 15th Battalion).

A huge thank to you goes the the staff and owner of the Gower heritage centre for all their support and help. The para shots look forward to further events at this lovely location..

Welcome to the home page of Parashots - The Welsh Resistance.

Our group is made up of a number of passionate living historians whose mission is to proudly and respectfully represent the Welsh members of Britain's Home Guard during The Second World War through public displays and talks.

When we hear the words 'Home Guard' today, many people automatically think of the legendary satirical comedy series 'Dad's Army' and it could be said that without this series, far fewer of us would have heard of such an organisation. But one must remember it is a post war comedy.

For the men who served in Britain's Home Guard in WW2 it was no joke, the threat to our nation was very real, and an invasion imminent!

Join us at one of our many planned events to hear the incredible story of how in May 1940 our nation called for volunteers for a 'Local Defense Force', and by June had 750,000 volunteers!

We look forward to meeting you all.