Over the years, I have tried to gather information regarding the National Defence Companies. They were formed on September 1st, 1936 out of the ashes of the Royal Defence Corps. They formed a Reserve for the Territorial Army. This small passage from Manu Forti: A History of the Herefordshire Regiment 1860-1967 will help clarify their role and organization: "In 1939 the United Kingdom was divided into regions for civil defence, each under a regional commissioner. The Welsh Region with headquarters at Cardiff consisted of the whole of Wales, while the counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire were part of the Midland Region, with headquarters at Birmingham. Militarily, Wales, Shropshire and Herefordshire came under Western Command, with headquarters at Chester, and formed Welsh Area with headquarters at Shrewsbury. This area was divided into four zones, each under a zone commander with powers to assist the civil defence authorities in an emergency. Certain vulnerable points laid down by the War Office were to be guarded by troops of the recently formed National Defence Companies (Territorial Army Reserve). In 1939 ex-servicemen between the ages of 45 and 55 were encouraged to enlist in a Reserve Company of their local Territorial battalion, which was to be formed for home defence. It was proposed to form a platoon in each large town in the county and enlistment was for four years, and the rates of pay and allowances were as laid down for the Territorial Army. On being called up for service in one of the groups of the National Defence Companies, men, if passed fit, received a bounty of £5. They were clothed, armed and equipped as in the Territorial Army, and British Legion Headquarters were asked by the War Office to assist in raising a force of 25,000 men. However, as it transpired, events moved too quickly and it was found impracticable to deploy the National Defence Companies, and initially most of the vulnerable points were guarded by Militiamen from the depot in Welsh Area."
The following bit of research has come from many years of reviewing regimental histories and shows how the National Defence Companies were formed into Home Defence Battalions on November 1st, 1939. No. 1 Group (East Kent)(Buffs) 6th (HD) Buffs No. 2 Group (West Kent)(RWK) 8th (HD) Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regt. No. 3 Group East Surrey) 8th (HD) East Surrey Regiment No.4 Group (West Surrey)(Queen's) 11th (HD) Queen’s Regiment No. 5 Group (Sussex) 8th (HD) Royal Sussex Regiment No. 6 Group (Bedford and Hertford) 7th (HD) Bedford & Herford Regiment No. 7 Group (Suffolk) 6th (HD) Suffolk Regiment No. 8 Group (Essex) 7th (HD) Essex Regiment No. 9 Group (Norfolk) 8th (HD) Royal Norfolk Regiment No. 20 Group (Royal Fusiliers, Royal Berks, HAC) 13th (HD) Royal Fusiliers No. 21A Group (KRRC) 7th (HD) King’s Royal Rifle Corps No. 21B Group (KRRC) 13th (HD) Royal Fusiliers & 8th (HD) KRRC No. 22 Group (Middlesex) 10th (HD) Middlesex Regiment No. 23A Group (Surrey) 12th (HD) Queen’s Regiment No. 23B Group (Rifle Brigade) 7th (HD) Rifle Brigade No. 40 Group (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) 10th (HD) Royal Northumberland Fusiliers No. 41 Group (Durham Light Infantry) 13th (HD) Durham Light Infantry No. 42 Group (Green Howards) 8th (HD) Green Howards No. 43 Group (East Yorks) 6th (HD) East Yorkshire Regiment No. 44 Group (West Yorks) 8th (HD) West Yorkshire Regiment No. 45A Group (Leicesters) 6th (HD) Leicestershire Regiment No. 45B Group (Sherwood Foresters) 10th (HD) Sherwood Foresters No. 60 Group (Seaforth High)(A & D Coys Cameron High) 8th (HD) Seaforth High & 6th (HD) Cam High No. 61 Group (Gordons) 19th (HD) Gordon Highlanders No. 62 Group (Black Watch) 8th (HD) Black Watch No. 63 Group (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) 12th & 13th (HD) Argyll & Sutherland High. No. 64 Group (Black Watch) 9th (HD) Black Watch No. 65 Group (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) 14th (HD) Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders No. 66 Group (Royal Scots) 10th (HD) Royal Scots No. 67 Group (Highland Light Infantry) 12th (HD) Highland Light Infantry No. 68A Group (Royal Scots Fusiliers) 10th (HD) Royal Scots Fusiliers No. 68B Group (King's Own Scottish Borderers) 8th (HD) King’s Own Scottish Borderers No. 69 Group (Cameronians) 11th (HD) Cameronians No. 72 Group (Royal Scots) 11th (HD) Royal Scots No. 75 Group (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Absorbed into 65th Group NDC No. 80A Group (Devons inc. Cornish Coy) 10th (HD) Devonshire Regiment No. 80B Group (D and E Coys Somerset Light Infantry) 8th (HD) Somerset Light Infantry No. 81 Group (Dorsets) 6th (HD) Dorsetshire Regiment No. 82 Group (Hampshire) 8th (HD) Hampshire Regiment No. 83 Group (Wiltshire) 6th (HD) Wiltshire Regiment No. 84A Group (Royal Berks) 8th (HD) Royal Berkshire Regiment No. 84B Group (Warwickshire) 11th (HD) Royal Warwickshire Regiment No. 84 C Group (Gloucesters and Worcesters) 8th (HD) Gloucestershire Regiment No. 100 Group (Border and King's Own) 6th (HD) King’s Own No. 101 Group (East Lanes) 6th (HD) East Lancashire Regiment No. 102 Group (Manchester) 11th (HD) Manchester Regiment No. 103A Group (King's) 10th (HD) King’s Regt No. 103B Group (Cheshire) 8th (HD) Cheshire Regt No. 104A Group (South Lancashire) 6th (HD) South Lancashire Regiment No. 104B Group (South Staffs) 9th (HD) South Staffordshire Regiment No. 105 Group (Royal Welch Fusiliers)(KSLI) 11th (HD) Royal Welch Fusiliers No. 106A Group (South Wales Borderers) 5th (HD) South Wales Borderers No. 106B Group (Welch Regiment) 16th (HD) Welch Regiment No. 106C Group (Welch Regiment) 17th (HD) Welch Regiment No. 200 Group (Royal Ulster Rifles) 6th (HD) Royal Ulster Rifles The Groups break down into the following organisation: Home Counties: Nos. 1-5 Groups East Anglia: Nos. 6-9 Groups London: Nos. 20-23 Groups Northumberland: Nos. 40-41 Groups West Riding and Yorkshire: Nos. 42-44 Groups North Midland. No. 45 Group Highland: Nos. 60-65 Groups and No. 75 Group Lowland: Nos. 66-69 Groups and No. 72 Group Wessex: Nos. 80-83 Groups South Midland: No. 84 Group Lancashire and Border: Nos. 100-104 Groups Welsh: Nos. 105-106 Groups Northern Ireland: No. 200 Group Regiments without HD Battalions The Lincolnshire Regiment The Lancashire Fusiliers The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers The Worcestershire Regiment The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) The Northamptonshire Regiment The North Staffordshire Regiment The York and Lancaster Regiment The Royal Irish Fusiliers Battalions formed from other HD Battalions 8th (HD) Border Regiment – Renamed from 6th (HD) King’s Own 7th (HD) Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry – From part of 10th (HD) Devonshire Regiment 6th (HD) King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry – From part 10th (HD) West Yorkshire Regiment 8th (HD) King’s Shropshire Light Infantry – ex-15th (HD) King’s Regiment (ex 2nd/10th King’s)
Does anyone else have more to add to this thread regarding the NDCs? Are there any sources out there about the National Defence Companies? In particular, I would like to see what companies formed each group and what TA battalions they were associated with. I have some of this information but I also have many gaps.
Not sure if this helps but it is part of the War Diary for the 17th Bn Welch Regt which was a HD battalion. 14.11.1939 "Battalion Order No.1. Formation of 'L' (Home Defence Battaion, Souuth Wales Area under ACI 742 of 1939. 'G' and 'H' Companies of 106 Group National Defence Companies absorbed and redesignated as 'F', 'G' and 'H' Companies. Battalion HQ at Drill Hall Milford Haven, 'F' Coy at Carmarthen, 'G' Coy at Swansea and 'H' Coy at Milford Haven.' Each company had a VP allotted to them. War establishment 22 Officers and 497 ORs. On 20th December 1940 new title of 17th HD Bn The Welch Regt. Later in Jan 1940 a note that 'draft of rejects from TA units arrived'.
