DON’T panic – these are not real soldiers but Dad’s Army style re-enactors celebrating the release of the British war comedy film.

The Oxfordshire Home Guard Living History Group, based in Bicester, is gearing up for a town march in full uniform and equipment to celebrate the Dad’s Army film that is released tomorrow.

It follows a starring role on the One Show on BBC One on Wednesday last week, where the group were invited to open the TV show in celebration of the film release.

Platoon commander Brian Tegg said: “I was very impressed with what they did and it was certainly in keeping with what we wanted to portray as a remembrance of the Home Guard.”

About 13,500 men served in the Oxfordshire Home Guard across a number of Battalions, including 1,670 men in Bicester.

They formed part of the country’s defence against invasion during the Second World War.

During their TV appearance, the uniform-clad, rifle-wielding, Oxfordshire Home Guard met stars of the film including Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Gambon as well as members of the Home Guard.

Celebrating the film release in Bicester, about 20 members will meet at The Bell Inn on Saturday, before bringing history to life by marching through the town to the Vue Cinema for the showing.

Mr Tegg added: “The guys will march with weapons and start at The Bell Inn, as this used to be the headquarters for the Home Guard.

“It was one of the last headquarters in the area.

“It shows people what the Home Guard looked like and shows the weapons and equipment they would have used.

“We also demonstrate to people about rations and show people what a week’s ration would have been.”

According to the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum there were headquarters for the Home Guard in Bicester, Banbury, Chipping Norton, Oxford, Oxford University, Bullingdon and Henley.

Saturday’s march will include the group in full Second World War Home Guard uniform as they perform drills.

The Bicester re-enactors group will also put on a display at the cinema in Pioneer Square ahead of watching the film.

The movie – based on the BBC television sitcom Dad’s Army – is set in 1944, after the events of the TV series, and sees a journalist sent to report on the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon – before a German spy is detected in the town.

Member Roger Gledhill said: “It is in memory of the Home Guard – they did a lot and are often unsung heroes. We have learned an awful lot about how they survived.

“I have always been intrigued about what my father did in the Home Guard. He never talked about it. He didn’t lay his life on the line or anything but many people were killed.”

There are currently 37 members as part of the Oxfordshire Home Guard Living History Group and they perform at about 20 events each year.

THE OXFORDSHIRE HOME GUARD 1940

Bicester Advertiser:

The Oxfordshire Home Guard was originally commanded by Brigadier-General A.Courage, but in November 1940 General Courage retired and was replaced by Captain the Hon. B.Mitford RN.

There were, by this time, seven Oxfordshire Home Guard companies with headquarters in Banbury, Bicester, Chipping Norton, Bullingdon, Henley, Oxford and Oxford University. 

Following the publication of Army Council Instruction 653 in June 1940, these units were subsequently organised into 11 battalions.

The larger units such as the 1st (Banbury) and 2nd (Bicester) battalions boasted more than 1,500 men and 1,600 men respectively.

Meanwhile the 3rd (Chipping Norton) Battalion had 60 officers and 2,191 men. 

There was also an anti-aircraft battery, while the 6th (Oxford City) Battalion was later asked to form a “Rocket Battery” at Cowley.

Oxfordshire Home Guardsmen were affiliated to the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and, as such, they wore the familiar stringed bugle horn cap badge.

THE OXFORDSHIRE HOME GUARD 2016

Bicester Advertiser:

  • Peter Salcombe and Peter Copeland

The Oxfordshire Home Guard started off the year with displays at the Bicester Heritage Scramble, the BBC One Show and a celebration of the Dad’s Army film release.

This poses a hard act to follow but the group have a multitude of spring and summer events lined up including:

* Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20, a display at Launton Village Weekend in a bid to help raise funds for a new hall roof.
* Sunday, April 10, a performance at the Wyevale Bicester Avenue garden centre in Oxford Road.
* Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8, the group will attend the Upton House VE day celebrations.
* An always popular performance will be staged a Bicester Carnival on Saturday, June 25.