IT WAS a ‘very proud moment’ for former Home Guard officer Frank Baker Bate, 93, who lives in Launceston, after he received The Defence Medal just in time for Christmas.

Born on June 27, 1924, Mr Bate joined the Home Guard at the age of 17. It is thought he is the only surviving member of the Tresmeer Home Guard and it was through a chance conversation with someone at work that his son, Stephen, found out these medals were being issued.

After the death of his father Mr Bate left Launceston College, where he had been a border, and began working on the family farm — not a career move he had ever intended on pursuing.

When war broke out in 1939 anyone over the age of 18 was able to join up to help the war effort. Mr Bate’s eldest brother joined the cause, but at just 17 he was unable to follow his brother into service. This meant that whilst his older brother was away flying planes Mr Bate was left at home to tend to the fields in his father’s place. It was at this time that he joined the Home Guard.

Mr Bate’s wife knows him better than anyone and spoke to the Post about his time in the Home Guard.

Mr Bate first met his wife, May, at Sunday School when they were three-years-old. Ninety years later they are still together in their house on Western Road and recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Speaking about her husband’s reasons for joining the Home Guard, Mrs Bate said: “I think he would have joined the Home Guard because at the time everyone who was able to did — you would do anything you could to help your country.

“During the war he continued to work on the family farm after his father died. He didn’t plan to work on the farm, but it was a desperate time and food was scarce — people did what they could. But as well as working on the farm he trained with the Home Guard.

“At the time no-one knew what was going to happen. A bomb could easily be dropped at any minute. The Home Guard had to be there on standby just in case an invasion happened, they never ended up doing anything but it was important that they were there.”

She added: “But he is very proud of his medal, he wears it every day.”

It was by chance that Mr Bate’s son, Stephen, found out that former members of the Home Guard could receive The Defence Medal.

He said: “I was speaking to a man at work and he mentioned that his grandfather was one of the only survivors from the Home Guard in his area. We got talking and he said his father had received a medal for his time with the Home Guard. That got me thinking maybe dad would be eligible for a medal.

“After some research we worked out that dad was probably one of the youngest to have joined the Home Guard in Tresmeer and many of the older members have probably passed away now. We believe dad is the only surviving person from the old picture we found in a book on Tresmeer’s history.”

Stephen got to work contacting the Ministry of Defence to find out a bit more about the medals and to see if his father would be eligible for one.

He said: “After finding out a bit more I contacted the Ministry of Defence who confirmed that, provided I could source proof that my father had served in the Home Guard, he would also be in line to receive a medal.

“I came back and told dad what I had learned and he was delighted. So I filled out the forms, attaching a picture that we had luckily come across in a book created on the history of Tresmeer as proof, and wrote on the back of the form asking if it would be possible for the medal to be fast tracked — with dad’s age we wanted to get it to him quickly.”

Stephen said the whole family was delighted when, just a few days before Christmas, a box arrived on their doorstep. He said: “A medal for Christmas, that’s what it was. It was wonderful that they were able to get it to him so soon.

“Like mum said, he is so proud to have received it and he has worn the medal every single day since Christmas!”