How to search Home Guard Second World War records

Formed in May 1940, the Home Guard was initially called the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV). Within weeks, hundreds of thousands had signed up – postmen, miners, teachers, clerks, and retired soldiers alike. By the time it disbanded in December 1945, around 1.7 million men had served. 

Though often portrayed humorously, their duties were serious. Home Guard units manned anti-aircraft batteries, patrolled at night, and even prepared for the possibility of invasion. Service was voluntary, but the commitment was real – many trained after long workdays and faced the same dangers as regular troops. 

While official Home Guard service records are still held by the Ministry of Defence (the originals sit in The National Archives in London), Findmypast hosts several record sets that can reveal valuable details about your ancestor’s wartime role and local unit. These include: 

• Home Guard Officers 1939–1945: Lists commissioned officers by county and battalion, often including rank, regiment, and appointment dates. 
• England & Wales, Home Guard Enrolment Forms 1939–1945 (selected counties): Contain names, addresses, birth dates, occupations, and signatures of those who volunteered. 
• World War Two Casualty Lists: Reveal if a Home Guard member was wounded or killed in service, often listing the unit and date of incident. 
• Historical newspapers: In collaboration with the British Library, Findmypast has published an extensive bank of digitised old newspapers. Local papers frequently reported on Home Guard parades, training exercises, and honours, sometimes even including photographs. 

Together, these records help you trace not just a name, but a story of civilian courage and community spirit. 

Start with what you know 

Begin by searching Findmypast’s military records using your relative’s full name, approximate age, and county of residence during the war. Once you've completed a simple search, adding terms like 'Home Guard' or 'LDV' in the keyword box can further narrow your results and help you locate the personnel records you're looking for. 

Go local 

If you know where they lived, it's a good idea to check local enrolment forms or officer lists for that county. Comparing addresses, occupations, and battalion names will help confirm you've found the right person. 

For example, a 45-year-old clerk from Kent listed in the Home Guard Enrolment Forms may also appear in a newspaper article about a local battalion parade - a perfect way to connect official records with personal stories. 

Cross-reference with other records 

Once you've located your ancestor's Home Guard record, you can use other valuable genealogy records to build a full picture of their life story. Censuses can help you to trace their movements from decade to decade, while birth, marriage and death records will illuminate key milestones. 

Even if you can't find a complete service record, the Home Guard left traces across multiple sources, from medal rolls and casualty lists to local archives and newspapers. Pairing these discoveries with stories, letters, and medals passed down through generations can help you build a vivid portrait of your ancestor's contribution to the war effort. 

While the Home Guard's part-time soldiers didn't see active fighting, they made immense sacrifices and kept the nation going during a time of immense hardship. Their legacy endures, and with digitised record collections and online tools, it's never been easier to trace their experiences.