Page 742 - Reading Mercury

Lieut. Col. Gough, in the course of his address said:
I am honoured to be here at this ceremony which you are so appropriately attending.
I say appropriately because your presence at this ceremony typifies the intimate co-
operation and connections between the community and the military, in all phases of
the war, and particularly with regard to home defence. We are all in the war together.
Major Bryden, all ranks of ‘D’ Company 11th Berks. Battalion Home Guard, and I
want to make it quite clear that when I say all ranks, I include the ladies who have
helped the Home Guard, as they have done.
“You have received from officers much senior to myself, appropriate messages
about the fine achievement of the Home Guard, and the great service that it has
rendered, not only to the nation, but to the whole Allied Cause.
From time to time I have made plain my own high opinion of this Company, as well
as of the whole Battalion. It is only necessary to have seen this parade today to realise
the state of efficiency which you have reached, and the work that you have done. I
want to congratulate you most sincerely on your turn out.
You yourselves from your own efforts know the quality and extent of your own
achievement and that knowledge is one of the greatest satisfactions which a man can
have. You take away with you, that satisfaction and knowledge greatest privileges that
a Commander could have is to have fine men serving under him, in whom he has
confidence. You have given me that privilege.
Before I end, I do want to give you, one and all, my sincere thanks for the past and
good wishes for the future. Thank you for all that you have done to make easy my
task as sub District Commander, and for making it a happy task. The best of good
fortune to you all, and more power to the spirit of the 11th Berks. Battalion Home
Guard.
The Mayor in his address on behalf of the citizens of Wokingham, thanked Col.
Gough for attending the ceremony of the local Home Guard, of which Wokingham is
very proud.
“You and the people of Wokingham” he said addressing Col. Gough and H.G
members “know that had the invasion taken place, whether you had been selected to
face the enemy in some different country or on the outskirts of Wokingham, you
would have been prepared to give your life, if necessary, either for England or
Wokingham.
Many of you, like myself, can remember the early days of the L.D.V. when you
were called upon to register at the Police Station, and I must, on behalf of the town,
extend to Col Anderson, our very grateful thanks to all the important work he carried
out in those very difficult days, and I am sure, despite the very proud moments he
must have had in the past during his military career, this final standing down
ceremony must be as impressive when he remembers the early days, as any he has
had.
“In addition to all the training which has been necessary over these weary years, the
Home Guard, as an organisation, have taken their part in any good cause in the Town
for which I should like to express the Town’s gratitude.
Some of your members have lost their lives, and we all, on this memorable
occasion, remember and reverence their memory.
The Scroll which it is my honour to receive on behalf of the inhabitants of
Wokingham in memory of the 1,070 members of the Home Guard, including 20
women telephonists will be preserved with the records of the Town Council, and will
be a lasting tribute to all those on parade this morning, a tribute of years of hard work
and training, carried on during the time of greatest strain and anxiety, a tribute to your

740