21. The citizen army which played so large a part in making secure  the British base for the war with Germany was called into existence for this emergency. The call for Local Defence Volunteers, soon to be renamed the Home Guard, met with an immediate and overwhelming response, and by their help the local defences against the expected parachute attacks were put into such trim as might be. With road blocks established and signposts removed the Englishman found how hard it might be to find his way about his own countryside.