ARTICLE: Dad’s Army and the Art of Prowling, WW2

I came across a hilarious pamphlet produced in the Second World War and decided I had to share the contents with you. Authored by one Colonel Wade, it was one of several produced for the purpose of educating the Home Guard. To me, prowling is a negative and not something you want to teach people to do. But, I don’t like in a world where a Nazi might be lurking round every corner…

THE ART OF PROWLING

The development of airborne attack has furnished the defence of this country with many new problems, not least of which is the keeping of enormous tracts of land under very close observation.

At any time of the day or night the enemy may descend upon us from the skies either with the idea of attacking us forthwith or of proceeding quietly to some vital part, such as a factory, aerodrome, or railway junction, and there perpetrating some act of sabotage which may do tremendous harm to our war effort or our defences.

In the first case, if they attack in bodies they will be met by fighting patrols, but in the second if they disperse and creep towards their objectives it may be necessary for the defence to cover so much ground and to protect so many places that there are not enough troops to do it by large parties, and the area can only be searched or protected by soldiers patrolling singly or in pairs.

These men may cover quite a large expanse during their tour of duty, and they are commonly called “PROWLERS.”

A prowl can be either a bore or a fascinating pastime, according to the point of view of the prowler. “Prowl” is a splendid word with which to describe moving patrol duties by a soldier. The dictionary definition is: “To wander stealthily as for prey or plunder.” Yes, if the soldier prowls properly he certainly wanders stealthily and his prey is the saboteur. His motto might well be “Furtiveness combined with Curiosity.”

Good prowling does not consist of just walking round —it is an art in itself.

(BBC)