HOME DEFENCE TEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20631, 12 August 1941, Page 5

HOME DEFENCE TEST

BIRMINGHAM EXERCISES ‘‘INVASION"' REPELLED (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 11. Big-scale civil defence exercises in which the Home Guard and military and civil defence services co-operated were carried out over a wide area of Birmingham and the Black Country during the week-end. The “attacking” forces were regular troops, while Birmingham was defended by its Home Guards and a force of relief troops composed of British, Free French, Dutch and Czechoslovak regulars. It was assumed that an “enemy” force of two divisions and two Panzer tegiments was attacking Birmingham from the south-west and to help the “invasion” paratroops were dropped on the south and north sides of the city in the early hours. The Home Guard severely harassed the “enemy” and when the relief troops came to give assistance a good deal of the ground which had been lost was retaken. Parachute troops proved very effective in holding up reinforcements long enough to allow the main column of the “invaders” to advance to the city centre. One of the city’s main railway stations was taken by the “invaders” and held until the arrival of the relieving forces. At the close of the exercise General Sir R. G. Finlayson, G.0.C., Western Command, who was in charge, expressed satisfaction concerning the operations.