Guest suzanne27 Posted 11 January , 2005 Share Posted 11 January , 2005 Hello Does anyone know anything about the Royal Defence Corps, am I right in believing they were the WW1 equiv of the Home Guard. Does anyone know if they would hold records of service at the PRO for serving men? many thanks if anyone can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted 11 January , 2005 Share Posted 11 January , 2005 The Royal Defence Corps was formed in August 1917 from the Home Service Garrison Battalions of 18 Regiments. It was made up of old soldiers who were beyond the age set for combatant service, or those who were not fit for duty overseas, sometimes as the result of wounds received on active service. The Corps was similar in some ways to the Home Guard of the Second World War. Its job was to guard railways, tunnels, roads and ports, thus relieving other troops for front line service. Regards William Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wienand Drenth Posted 11 January , 2005 Share Posted 11 January , 2005 Just to add to William's posting, the Great War equivalent of the Home Guard was the Volunteer Force. I think the main difference was that the battalions of the Royal Defence Corps could be posted throughout the nation, but that Volunteer Force was strictly a local defence organisation. Regards, Wienand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 11 January , 2005 Share Posted 11 January , 2005 The Volunteer Force also wore the General Service cap badge whilstr the RDC had their own cap badge, infact it was changed in 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tintin1689 Posted 11 January , 2005 Share Posted 11 January , 2005 The main difference is that the RDC was whole time service in wartime and the volunteers were part time. The RDC grew out of the National Reserve which formed supernumerary companies to Territorial units. The Home Guard was therefore the volunteers successors, the RDC returned to the Regiments in WW2 and formed the 30th Bn of most line Regiments. In the inter war period they were renamed the National Defence Companies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPotter Posted 11 January , 2005 Share Posted 11 January , 2005 Gents, There was very interesting article in 'Stand To!', the magazine of the Western Front Association a short while back. I don't have access to it at present, being at work, but it is well worth a read for anyone with an interest in this area. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest suzanne27 Posted 11 January , 2005 Share Posted 11 January , 2005 Hello Many thanks to you all fro your replies which I read with interest, the fact that some men who were unfit to return to active being transferred to the RDC was a big help! once again thank you for your trouble Kind regards Suzanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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