The firm of Sidney Flavel & Co. Ltd. had had a factory in Leamington since 1803 and been a major employer in the area, as a manufacturer of gas appliances. In the 21st century it retains an important presence there, operating under the name Rangemaster and claiming to be the oldest cooking appliance manufacturer in the world.

In the years of WW2 the factory was big and important enough to justify its own Home Guard platoon as well as other factory defence personnel. The Home Guard unit was part of the 1st Warwickshire (Warwick) Battalion commanded by Lt.-Col. J.H. Alexander, DSO, MC. In that period there was published a regular newsletter/magazine entitled:

EAGLE NEWS A.R.P. and Defence Bulletin of Sidney Flavel & Co. Ltd. Eagle Foundry Leamington.

Two copies of this publication survive, Nos. 13 of 9th April 1942 and 145 of 26th October 1944 when clearly the Home Guard was very much winding down. They are reproduced below.

No. 13 of 9th April 1942

 

No. 145 of 26th October 1944

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Mick Ackrill, the owner of the originals who has kindly made copies available to staffshomeguard and permitted their publication.