Example of 1940 Home Guard pike, in private collection.  Best regards, JR.

Home Guard pike, 1940.

Modern photo by Dan Marsh of the 16th/17th century Elizabeth Castle, Jersey, which was modified to act as a "modern" stronghold and headquarters.  Situated on a tidal promontory off St Helier, the island's capital, the Castle offered excellent fields of fire over the south coast of the islands, even allowing for some interruptions of direct sightlines to the west in particular.  However, apart from intermittent antiaircraft engagements, the new guns and bunkers were never engaged.  After the war, many of the German alterations to the Castle were dismantled.  It is now open to the public as a tourist/heritage attraction.  Best regards, JR.

Elizabeth Castle, Jersey.

These lead-weighted wooden skull-splitters were made in various locations throughout Britain to a fairly standard pattern around 1940.  This example was issued to Home Guards in the Lancashire area.  Another manifestation of the shortage of weapons available to the HG in its early stages, but one less unpopular than pikes since they had obvious uses in certain situations.  Best regards, JR.