The 9th Gloucestershire
Battalion(City of Bristol) Home Guard

Formed as 'A' Company Local Defence Volunteers in early June 1940 under Captain G.Talbot Plum with its HQ at 2 Beaufort Road, Clifton, to cover North Central Bristol (Central Civil Defence Area). The title LDV was officially changed to Home Guard on 30/7/40, by which time the company had been upgraded to a battalion. It was re-designated No.1 Battalion (City of Bristol) Home Guard in September 1940 and changed again on 1/2/41 when it was affiliated to the Gloucestershire Regiment, becoming the 9th Gloucestershire Battalion (City of Bristol) Home Guard, with its HQ at the Grammar School Ground, Kellaway Avenue. Lieutenant Colonel W. J. Barwell OBE took over as Officer Commanding on 15/11/41 and in early 1942 the Battalion HQ was listed at 99 Somerville Road, St.Andrew's.

The unit was primarily charged with the defence of Bristol Fort North. On 22/9/1941 the following works platoons, a total of 1270 men, were transferred from the 9th Gloucestershire Battalion (City of Bristol) Home Guard to the newly formed 16th Battalion which was to cover the Central Area of Bristol:- Bristol Gas Company (290), Bristol Tramways Co.Ltd (95), Evening World (30), Thrissell Engineering Co. (40), Government Training Centre (38), Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company's Motor Coach Platoon (attached to 9th Battalion) (156), Co-operative Wholesale Society (45), Bank of England (10), LMS Railway Company Ltd (105), William Butler & Co.Ltd (90), Christopher Thomas (87), Distillers Co.Ltd (84), Hovis (45) and John Lysaght's Ltd. (165)

Order of Battle 3/3/43

• 9th Gloucestershire Battalion (City of Bristol) Home Guard
  
  Battalion HQ - 99 Somerville Road, St.Andrew's Park - Lt/Col W.J.Barwell
  
  Small arms only kept at Somerville Road, Spigot Mortar bombs at Wallscourt Farm, Filton.
  
  
  • 'A' Company HQ - St.Matthew's Parish Hall, Kingsdown - Capt. J.Redmore.
    
    Battle HQ - 7 Filton Avenue.
    
    Explosives Stores at rear of Drill Hall, St.Michael's Hill.
    
    
    • Defended Locations
      
      1 Platoon - Ashley Hill - Sgt.A.J.Toogood
      
      2 Platoon - Muller Road (south) - Lt.A.R.Tomkins
      
      3 Platoon - Muller Road (north) - Lt.W.J.Beswetherick
  
  
  • 'B' Company HQ Bishopston Parish Hall, Horfield - Major V.P.Barrand
    
    Battle HQ - Lockleaze Farm
    
    Small arms and explosives stored at Bishopston Parish Hall; explosives stored in the Battery Reserve Dump (one bay) at Purdown Gun Site and small arms only at H.M.Prison, Horfield.
    
    
    • Defended Locations
      
      5 Platoon - Sims Hill, Stapleton - Lt. J.J.Morris (road block 8)
      
      7 Platoon - Purdown, Stapleton, - Lt. C.H.W.Rees
      
      8 Platoon - "Fellowship Inn", Filton Avenue - 2/Lt. C.A.L.Ellicott
      
      9 Platoon - Lockleaze - Sgt. P.Hayter
  
  
  • 'C' Company HQ - Grammar School Ground, Kellaway Avenue - Major H.C.Muir.
    
    Spigot Mortar bombs, S.I.P bombs, explosives and small arms all stored at the Grammar School Playing Field, Kellaway Avenue
    
    Observation Post at Grammar School Athletic Ground.
    
    
    • Defended Locations
      
      10 Platoon - Monk's Park - Lt. E.G.Chown
      
      11 Platoon - Kellaway Corner - Lt. G.E.T.Harmer
      
      12 Platoon - Lake Road, Henleaze - 2/Lt. F.S.Creswell (road blocks 77, 77a, 77b)
      
      13 Platoon - "Beehive" public house, Wellington Hill West - 2/Lt. H.T.Sharp
      
      14 Platoon - Grammar School Grounds - Sgt.E.J.Jackson
  
  
  • 'D' Company HQ Air Ministry Depot, Station Road, Filton - Major A.J.Chamberlain.
    
    Battle HQ Wallscourt Farm, Filton
    
    Explosives kept at the Air Ministry Depot Compound, Filton Junction.
    
    Observation Posts at Station Road, Filton and Wallscourt Farm, Filton.
    
    
    • Defended Locations
      
      15 Platoon - Wallscourt Farm, Filton - Lt. C.B.Allsopp
      
      16 Platoon - Harry Stoke - Lt.H.Pound
      
      17 Platoon - Wallshut Wood - 2/Lt. O.T.King.

Upon 'Standing Down' on 1/11/44, the 9th Battalion with a strength of 574 (under Lt/Col W.J.Barwell OBE) had their HQ at Somerville Road, St.Andrew's Park; 'A' Company were at Ashley Hill; 'B' Company at Horfield; 'C' Company at Wellington Hill;; and 'D' Company at Wallscourt Farm.

• Affiliated Formations (1942/44)
  
  
  • Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company's Motor Coach Platoon based at the Lawrence Hill depot was attached to the 9th Battalion until transfer to the 16th Battalion on 22/9/42.
  
  
  • One Troop from the 71st (Glos) HAA Battery Home Guard at Bristol 13 (Purdown) Heavy AA site.
  
  
  • 101 Home Guard Rocket Battery at the Z1 (Easton in Gordano) Rocket Site.

Information supplied by John Penny
of Fishponds Local History Society