Last month, Midsomer Norton South Station held a special Home Guard weekend, which included wartime re-enactment and entertainment with the Berkeley Bluebird Singers.

It was also the culmination of over two years’ research by a number of people into the membership of the Midsomer Norton Company of the Home Guard during the Second World War, the photograph of which was printed in The Journal.

A framed Midsomer Norton Home Guard membership list was unveiled at the station, showing the names of the men who served. Whilst research is ongoing, the list will be amended, but once it has been completed, it is hoped a brass plaque can be made in commemoration.

Alan Readhead, who has worked tirelessly to track down the rest of the Home Guard, said: “I have suggested that we make one more effort before we cut metal, as there are still one or two names that may be inaccurate or incomplete.

“Perhaps the best example of this is ‘Sticky’ Bairstow. We know he was known as ‘Sticky’. We don’t know his

(actual) first name. We believe his surname was Bairstow or perhaps Bristow. We know he was a Sergeant and a biker (because he was the despatch rider). However, he has not yet been properly identified, as nobody has yet come forward to tell us who he was.

“The list is unofficial, because no official records survive, and, despite the best efforts of many people, it may not include every name.

“This research was only made possible with the generous and much appreciated help of many local people, especially Gerry Roberts.

“Gerry believed he was the last surviving member of the Midsomer Norton Home Guard and provided invaluable information before he died in 2014.”

During the weekend, Mr Readhead and his family, who now live in Suffolk, were able to visit all of those who have helped find out the information. There are currently 52 men on the list – in three cases, there are only parts of a name and in eight cases, there is a face with no name.

If anyone can help or has memories they would like to share of Midsomer Norton Home Guard, email: [email protected] or call: 01394 386047.