'Our Dad's Army will never be forgotten'

Members of Paignton Royal British Legion joined with members of Torquay branch, Royal Navy Association, Royal Artillery Association and the Air Training Corp, together with local dignitaries, including Torbay MP Kevin Foster and mayor Mark Spacagna at Corbyn Head to commemorate the Home Guard. Members of the Brixham Battery Heritage Group were also in attendance for a short memorial ceremony.A small triangle of granite on the end of a little headland is the National Monument to the men who will forever be remembered as Dad's Army.
The National Home Guard Memorial is in Torquay is because it marks the night of a terrible tragedy on August 11,1944, when six men were killed and others were seriously injured during a training exercise. The youngest being only 16-years-old.
Witnesses recall a scene of devastation and chaos when the gun exploded. They saw their friends and colleagues badly burned - some killed outright, others in a state of intense shock, covered in blood and dazed would die later.
Wreaths were laid as the men were remembered
Civic mayor Cllr Spacagna said: "The National Home Guard Memorial marks the night of a terrible tragedy when six men were killed and others were seriously injured during a training exercise. This is the reason why I joined members of the Torquay and Paignton branches of the Royal British Legion (RBL), Royal Navy Association, Royal Artillery Association and the Air Training Corp at Corbyn Head to commemorate the Home Guard.
"Standing there, listening to The Last Post, it took you back to that very night and if you closed your eyes, you could only try to imagine the emotion, the fear and the pain felt by those very souls.
The RBL needs your support, if you’re ex service personnel or even if you’re not and you have spare the time to help, please get in touch to become a member. Contact RBL at www.britishlegion.org.uk or call 01803 316931.