Wooden replica of an Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle, 1940 (c)

This wooden gun was used for training the Home Guard during the early years of World War Two (1939-1945). The latter consisted of individuals too old or too young to be assigned to front-line units, or people in reserved occupations. The organisation was formed as a defence against possible German invasion. The first of the improvised units were poorly equipped and often lacked real rifles with which to learn drill.