The Real Dad's Armies

The Real Dad’s Armies: Britain’s Amateur Defenders

A History Talk in Aid of Cats Protection

The BBC series Dad’s Army made the Home Guard familiar to millions, but Britain’s tradition of amateur defenders stretches back far further than the Second World War. In this fascinating illustrated talk, Professor Ian Beckett explores the long and often overlooked history of Britain’s “auxiliary forces”.

From medieval militias and volunteer formations to yeomanry, territorials, and the Home Guard, the talk traces the development of Britain’s citizen soldiers up to 1945. Particular attention is given to the Volunteer Training Corps of the First World War, the Home Guard’s lesser-known predecessor, and to the remarkable continuities in how these amateur forces were organised, perceived, and supported by British society.

More than a military history, this talk examines the cultural legacy of Britain’s part-time defenders and their enduring relationship with the communities they served.

60% of  proceeds from this event will be donated to Cats Protection, supporting their vital work caring for and rehoming cats across the UK.

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Speaker: Professor Ian Beckett

Professor Ian Beckett retired in 2015 as Professor of Military History at the University of Kent. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he has held academic chairs in both the UK and the United States and is internationally recognised for his scholarship on the British Army in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as well as on the First World War.

He served as Chairman of the UK Army Records Society from 2000 to 2014 and is currently Secretary of the Buckinghamshire Military Museum Trust.

The Real Dad's Armies: Britain's Amateur Defenders

Thursday 16th April 2.30pm

Cost: £5

A £1 Poly Fund payment is added to each ticket sold. A 50p booking fee is also applied per ticket for online and telephone transactions.