I was joined once more by MIKE DAVIES, chairman of RAYLEIGH TOWN MUSEUM who has previously explained the reason for opening the museum and why he was especially keen to promote the town of Rayleigh, which was, of course the site of the only castle in Essex dating back to the time of the Domesday Book.

But after looking at the many hostelries in Rayleigh last time he was with me, today we ventured back to the dark days of World War II, to take a look at the group of men who formed a group known as Churchill’s so-called Guerrilla Army.

Believe it or not it was not until 1996 that the Ministry of Defence finally released some somewhat scanty details of this organisation.

Of course we all know about the Home Guard but this was a rather more specialised group who had to know how best to turn the familiar fieldscape of south Essex into a savage no-holds-barred battleground.

The most likely invasion points in Essex were considered to be the parallel rivers, Crouch and Thames, which offered the clearest of invasion routes for a thrust to the heart of London.

In such an event, Churchill’s Guerrillas would have roamed the landscape between the two rivers, tormenting garrisons and supply lines, then vanishing into the dark countryside.

From Billericay to Wallasea, from Canvey to Shoebury, every acre was a potential killing ground.

If you missed it you can hear more details from Mike here: –

In the second hour we heard about a man who could probably have used Churchill’s Guerrillas to protect him from his neighbour who has “banned” him from entering his own back garden because it makes his dog bark!

Apparently the neighbour screams at him from over the fence whenever he puts a foot in his garden – or attempts to mow the lawn.

It seems that the neighbour has had a yappy dog for years that barks at everything and anything throughout the day.

But when our hero took in a rescue dog the neighbour complained that his dog gets upset whenever he goes in or out of the garden and that it’s inconsiderate as he’s working from home.

It was a then explained to the complaining neighbour that the garden was being used to train and play with the dog and that it had nothing to do with trying to upset his dog.

Somebody suggested that the next time the neighbour complains perhaps he should be told that if he took the trouble to train his own dog the problem would simply go away on its own.

Seems like a solution.

Hope to see you again tomorrow,
Scott