THE most obscure of queries pop up in the old postbag from time to time. And well within this category comes one from Fred Long of Whiston whose question concerns wartime Home Guard activities in St Helens.

He writes: "We all know about Dad's Army (the Home Guard) from the comedy series of that name on television. But was there ever a Mum's Army in St Helens? "I've certainly heard that there was such a 'broomstick brigade' in Warrington between 1939-45".

Fred reasons that with uniformed young women playing such an active Services role during the war years, it is conceivable that our more mature local womenfolk may have taken on some sort of Home Guard duties, if only in a support capacity.

H WELL, if so, it's news to me, Fred. Anyone able to throw any light on the subject?