Help Needed!

I was very interested to see the recently photograph of officers of the 13^th (Loftus) Battalion Home Guard and I seek the help of fellow Clevelanders to solve a family mystery.

Attached is my maternal uncle, Joseph White (born 3^rd October 1896) in uniform at the wedding of his brother-in-law Clarence Brown on 25^th March 1940 at Liverton Church. He appears to be wearing three medal ribbons. They could not be WWII ribbons as those were not issued until after 1940, but he was old enough to have served in the latter part of the 1914-18 war which would make him eligible for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Indeed, it is conceivable that he might have been in France between 5^th August 1914 and 31^st December 1915, at which latter date he would have been 15 but there is always the possibility he lied about his age when volunteering or we have an incorrect birth date for him. If he was in France, then the third ribbon would be the 1914-18 Star. Graham recalls him being in the Home Guard but The Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow could not find any records for him. [Note: The Home Guard Records held by the Ministry of Defence are apparently far from complete].

I recall him being in the Home Guard as I went with my father, when on leave from the RAF, when he joined with Joe on rifle range practice at the foot of the shale heaps at Liverton Mines. The Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow could not find any records for Uncle Joe, however, The Home Guard Records held by the Ministry of Defence are apparently far from complete.

I seek help, asking if anyone has photographs, or lists of names, of the squaddies of the 13^th (Loftus) Battalion Home Guard. With best wishes – R H Graham Suggett