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| Armed police alerted over Chester 'Dads Army' soldiers | Armed police alerted over Chester 'Dads Army' soldiers |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Armed police were called to reports of a machine gun-toting gang - only to find a group of Home Guard battle re-enactors. | Armed police were called to reports of a machine gun-toting gang - only to find a group of Home Guard battle re-enactors. |
| Officers were deployed in Chester on Sunday amid concerns about the men, who were dressed in combat clothing. | Officers were deployed in Chester on Sunday amid concerns about the men, who were dressed in combat clothing. |
| However, they turned out to be a group of war history enthusiasts promoting a battle re-enactment, police said. | However, they turned out to be a group of war history enthusiasts promoting a battle re-enactment, police said. |
| Their weapons, which included several machine guns commonly used in World War Two, were deactivated. | Their weapons, which included several machine guns commonly used in World War Two, were deactivated. |
| Ruth Jones, a fund-raiser at the Royal British Legion, said the men were Home Guard re-enactors and had been invited to a "living history" event later this month. | Ruth Jones, a fund-raiser at the Royal British Legion, said the men were Home Guard re-enactors and had been invited to a "living history" event later this month. |
| The Home Guard was a reserve force of volunteers made up of people who were too old or otherwise ineligible to join the armed forces during the war. | |
| They were famously portrayed in the BBC sitcom Dad's Army, which ran from 1968 to 1977. | They were famously portrayed in the BBC sitcom Dad's Army, which ran from 1968 to 1977. |
| Often repeated, the series featured a group of hapless characters including Private Pike, Corporal Jones and Captain Mainwaring. | Often repeated, the series featured a group of hapless characters including Private Pike, Corporal Jones and Captain Mainwaring. |