Dad’s Army: The Glorious True Story of the Home Guard

The remarkable story of the real 'Dad's Army' in wartime Britain, from the bestselling historian of The Secret Life of Bletchley Park

With the threat of invasion from Hitler's forces looming large in 1940, British men of all ages and backgrounds assembled under the banner of the Home Guard. At its height, this voluntary force, much later nicknamed ‘Dad’s Army’, was made up of almost two million volunteers prepared to defend every corner of the kingdom. Numerous notable figures were involved including George Orwell, A. A. Milne, and C. S. Lewis; many women took part too, including in the Women's Home Defence Force, which was formed in 1941.

In Dad’s Army, Sunday Times bestselling author Sinclair McKay tells the remarkable story of these courageous, highly trained and often pioneering men and women through original archival research, vivid storytelling and insights into the beloved television comedy that has shaped the national memory of the Home Guard.

Far from the stereotype of charming incompetence, McKay shows that the Home Guard were in fact entirely serious in their approach. Many volunteers had fought in the First World War, and radical veterans from the Spanish Civil War taught new techniques in lethal guerilla fighting.

Chocolate-box village greens throughout the country were reimagined as bloody battlefields, with duties including rifle and mortar training, night-time patrols and manning anti-aircraft guns – all on top of volunteers’ everyday jobs. Yet all of this was underpinned by an essential good humour, with moments of levity and camaraderie vital in keeping up a much-needed spirit of defiance.

Rich in character, nostalgia, and fascinating sources, Dad's Army brings to life the extraordinary true story of the Home Guard and the men and women who stood ready to defend Britain during World War II.

Book details

• Format: Hardback
• Pages: 432 pages
• Publisher: Viking
• Published: 21 May 2026
• Dimensions: 223 x 147 x 40 mm
• ISBN: 9780241772324