Defence of Houses is one of a series of training books written in 1942 by Colonel G. A. Wade for the newly recruited Home Guard. This reproduction from the Royal Armouries’ archive shows how Second World War trainees learnt to defend themselves amidst the threat of enemy invasion.

Houses are found in infinite variety. Some are suited for defence, others are absolute death-traps.

Think: is it strong? Has it a cellar? Are its surrounding suitable? Is it capable of all-round defence?

Make your defences so good and so cunning that when the enemy begins to attack you can heave a sigh of relief and say, ‘He’s going to ask for it, and he will get it!