Jack Potter Home Guard

Rifles stand stacked ready while farmhands in the uniform and forage caps of parashooters carry on their work at an Essex farm. Every man in the village, except those too old to hold a rifle, has enrolled in the new Defence Corps to protect home and country against German parachutists. Each morning as members of the corps set off to work they carry their rifles. Yesterday about a dozen were busy in a sugar-beet field. At each end rifles were stacked. One man carried his slung across his shoulder. Most of the men have lived in the all their lives. They know every yard of the woods and fields for miles around. Rabbit-shooting has taught them how to use a rifle. Now, to finish training, they are being drilled and instructed by a local farmer, Mr Edward Garnham, who served through the last war. The oldest member of the corps is fifty-five-year-old Jack Potter, who has worked thirty years on the same farm. 'The Germans will get a pretty hot time if they try any tricks around here,' he told the ' Daily Mirror.' ' We're ready for 'em.' Jack's son, twenty eight year old Stanley Potter, echoed his words 'Yes, we'll show 'em,' he said Leon Livingstone and Derek Barrel, both young men waiting to be called up, are ready to do their bit in the meantime. ' We don't want our homes attacked by Huns,' Leon said, 'so we're making sure it doesn't happen before we go away to fight. Our Picture Shows: In the regulation uniform and doubly armed with hoe and service rifle is fifty five year old, Jack Potter, father of seven children. He was first to enlist, 24th May 1940. (Photo by Edward Dean/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)