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. This Home Guard unit was part of the 1st Warwickshire (Warwick) Battalion commanded by Lt.-Col. J.H. Alexander, DSO, MC. and was 16 Platoon in "D" Company.  The Platoon was commanded by the Works Defence Officer, Lt. F. M. Rogers. Below is an image of members of the Factory Platoon; it may only show officers and NCOs. Names of some of the men, of all ranks, known to have served in this Platoon are shown at the foot of this page.

During the war years there was published a regular newsletter/magazine entitled:

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

Four copies of this publication survive, Nos. 13 of 9th April 1942, 44 of an unknown date in October/November 1942, 116 of 6th April 1944 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. 44 of ?October/November 1942

No. 116 of 6th April 1944

 

No. 145 of 26th October 1944

Amongst those known to have served in this Platoon - and who may well appear in the Platoon photograph at the top of this page - are the following men: J. Ashfield, K. Baker, G. Barrett, L. Barton, W. Beeby, E. Bissell, A. Boraston, J. Brady, W. Brookes, W. Bull, Cpl. J. Bullimore, S. Bullimore, F. Bushell, R. Cane, L. Carling, F. Caswell, H Caswell, D. Chamberlain, E. Davies, S. Drabble, J. Elliott, W. Evans, C. George, D. Griffiths, A. Hodges, L. Holloway, A. John, W. Jones, R. Kane , C. Mills, P. Norman, Sgt. W. Parkes, R. Parsons, W. Payton, W. Pheasey (Snr.), W. Pheasey (Jnr.), A. Pratt, Cpl. A. Reading, F. Reading, Cpl. J. Redgrave, W. Redgrave, - Robertson, F.M. Rogers, J. Rouse, B. Smith, C. Smith, H. Spittles, G. Stickley, R. Talbot, J. Watkins, W. Wells, D. Wright. May they and their service be remembered

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Mick Ackrill, the owner of the originals of Nos. 13 and 145  who has kindly made copies available to staffshomeguard and permitted their publication; and similarly to DM for Nos. 44 and 116 and for the factory Platoon image.