Dad's Army
The Local Defence Volunteers was the original name of the Home Guard but was changed in July 1940 on the instructions of Winston Churchill as he felt that the original name was uninspiring. However like many other organisations it gained its own name, the one the people gave it and was nicknamed Dad's army. The Home Guard was stood down was on 3rd December 1944 and became an inactive reserve unit. It was disbanded on 31st December 1945 and ceased to exist. Members of the Home Guard were either in reserved occupations, too young (under 18) or too old or too unfit to serve in the forces. Often they put in a full day's work and then spent their evenings and nights on Home Guard duty.
According to Ernest Hollingworth:-
B Company operated out of Parkin's House at the end of Worry Goose Lane from formation toSept 1940 when it moved to the Stag (what a wise move!)
These memories thanks to Eric Beckett:-
The Stag public house was the base of B Company of the 58th West Riding (Rotherham) of the Borough Home Guard. The A Company operated from the Hind, and C Company from the Foljambe Arms. The D Company operated from the Temperance Hall on Wellgate (poor things), whilst E Company operated out of the Pavilion on Herringthorpe Playing Fields (also dry).
The building at the rear of the Stag still has a big sign on it saying 'Borough Home Guard'. The present landlord of the pub is keen to put the building to use and host memorabilia and recollections of the Dad's Army Days. To this end he had been in touch with the Advertiser and staged a Home Guard Re-enactment event.
Stag Home Guard Re-enactment
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Stag Home Guard Re-enactment
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Stag Home Guard Re-enactment
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George Hargreaves original Stag Home Guard 
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If you have any Home Guard memorabilia or recollections you would like to donate or share please contact the landlord at the Stag.