Seeking help from buses to battalions

2:29pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

IF any readers can help I'm in the process of collecting information about my father, Wilfred Henry Moore, and the Home Guard in Redditch from July 26, 1942 to anuary 12, 1944, when he was transferred to Stourport Battalion Home Guard.

I was interested to read recently in the Defence of Worcestershire a section about Redditch.

Your newspaper dated April 24, 1943, reported on a exercise that was held between the Home Guard and the regular Armed Forces to test the defences of Redditch in the even of an invasion.

Most interesting for the time.

My request - if possible - is to get hold of this report and especially any pictures of this period of time between 1942 and 1944 on the Home Guard in Redditch.

My father served in the 9th Worcestershire (Redditch) Battalion, No 7 Platoon of B Company and transferred to 9th Bn Headquarters based in the Drill Hall in Church Road, Redditch the same year.

David Moore, 20 Houseman Walk, Offmore Farm Estate, Kidderminster

This appeal includes former members of the Merchant Navy, NAFFI, Red Cross and WRVS.

Any interested veteran should contact me at the address shown below. A SAE would be much appreciated for return correspondence.

Brian House, 11 Wardle Brook Walk, Hattersley, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 3JG

Their garage was next to JA Fairest's the toy shop (which is worth a story in itself - wonderful place!) Regent Motorways later moved to larger premises in the Slough, on the outskirts of the town.

My interest in them stems from the fact that my late father was a driver for the company for many years.

My mother has recently unearthed around 80 35mm slides of their coaches, people etc, which are fascinating, Including a great shot of the Warwick Arms Hotel, which was behind the compound where the coaches were kept.

I do wonder if there is anyone in Redditch still alive who was connected with the company?

If so I would love to hear from them or from anyone else who thinks they might be able to assist my research.

My intention is to write a history of the company, and I have already gathered quite a bit of information, including the names of many of the drivers etc.

Any information would be much appreciated and this can be sent to me at MBandSB@talktalk.net.

Mike Butler, Cheltenham, Glos