Dad’s Army

With the threat of invasion from Hitler's forces looming large in 1940, British men of all ages and backgrounds assembled under the banner of the Home Guard. At its height, this voluntary force, much later nicknamed ‘Dad’s Army’, was made up of almost two million volunteers prepared to defend every corner of the kingdom.

In Dad’s Army, Sunday Times bestselling author Sinclair McKay tells the remarkable story of these courageous, highly trained and often pioneering volunteers through original archival research, vivid storytelling and insights into the beloved television comedy that has shaped the national memory of the Home Guard.

Far from the stereotype of charming incompetence, McKay shows that many of the Home Guard had fought in the First World War and their duties included on rifle and mortar training, night-time patrols and manning anti-aircraft guns. Radical veterans from the Spanish Civil War even taught them new techniques in lethal guerilla fighting,

Rich in character, nostalgia, and fascinating sources, Dad's Army brings to life the extraordinary true story of the Home Guard and the men and women who stood ready to defend Britain during World War II.