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HOME GUARD MEMORIES AND INFORMATION - WARWICKSHIRE, BIRMINGHAM

37th WARWICKSHIRE (B'HAM) BATTN.
SMALL HEATH

CAPTAIN H. W. WEBB
MAGNIFIED IMAGES

Capt. Herbert William "Bert" Webb (1892-1960) was a member of the 37th Warwickshire (Birmingham) Battalion under the command of Lt.-Col. A. L. Paterson, M.C. This Battalion was responsible for the Small Heath area of the city.

An associated page of this website is dedicated to Bert Webb who commanded the HQ Company of the Battalion, responsible for Signals, Transport, Ammunition, Intelligence, Gas Defence, Pioneers, Weapons Training, Catering and Liaison.  This page contains magnified versions of the images contained on the main page.


(Further information about this Battalion contained within this website is listed here).



This image shows all ranks of the Battalion HQ Company.  Bert Webb is front row, centre stage and clearly in command. The officer to his right appears to be in Regular Army uniform: perhaps he is the Battalion Adjutant, a Training Officer or even a distinguished visitor to the Battalion.
(Click on image to return to main page) 

The next image shows Bert, in command and photographed with his brother officers in HQ Coy. On the reverse of the image he has written names and functions:

     Back Row
Kibbler (Signals) - Williams (Q.M.) -
Newey (Ammunition) - Shuttleworth (Pioneer) - Davies (Gas) - Chew (Intelligence) - Knowles (Signals)
     Front Row
Crudge (Transport) - Ironmonger (Intelligence) - Lackenby (Liaison) - Webb (O.C.) - Brown (Weapons Training) - Bourne (Signals) - Hubbard (Catering)

It is dated 20th November 1944, a Monday (surprisingly - but perhaps this is an error and it was really the previous, more likely day, Sunday 19th).

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This shows the Signals Section, commanded by Lt. Bourne, in the centre of the front row. Capt. Bert Webb is to his left, present as his superior officer and in overall command of the Company of which this section is a part.
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The period was not without humour and like most units there would have been the odd incident, improved with the retelling, which would have been worthy of inclusion in "Dad's Army". And also satirical references to the duties of Home Guards. One of the latter survives within Bert Webb's papers.
(Click on image to return to main page) 
 

In Memory of

 Capt. H. W. "Bert" Webb

and
all his comrades in the

37th Warwickshire (Birmingham) Battalion


in Small Heath

Grateful acknowledgement
is made to Adrian Wills for the information about his grandfather and his generous permission for its publication in this website.


Images © Adrian Wills 2017

(Further information about this Battalion contained within this website is listed here under "Birmingham - Small Heath").