California State Military
Department"California State Defense Guard" authorized by Legislature in 1917. Although officially known as the California State Defense Guard in the legislation, it was universally know as the the California Home Guard or the California Military Reserve. The federal Home Guard Act of 1917 authorized states to use weapons. The California Legislature authorized none to be used as armed support, however it is noted that 5,000 were listed as unauthorized armed support in 1917. California had 100 companies listed as existing in the annual report to the Secretary of War for 1918-1919. A February 5, 1918 Military Bureau report lists California as needing 3,600 arms . The offical War Department records state, "The Governor and Adjutant General headed a State Defense Guard of men 30-50 years of age. Originally ten companies were authorized. Later there were about 100. They had duties of a constabulary and such other duties as the governor might direct, but could not be used in industrial disputes. They were self-armed or armed by local authorities". An article in the San Francisco Chronicle (14 March 1920) stated the Governor ordered its discontinuance, and discharge papers were given.
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
SACRAMENTO, MAY 10, 1917
Under the Act of Congress approved June 3, 1916 (National Defense Act), which provides that armed bodies other than those specified by the War Department may be organized, or permitted to organize, by the States during the period this country is at war, and to further provide for carrying out Chapter 170 of the Penal Code, and Chapter 159 of the Statutes of 1911, State of California, the following rules and regulations will be observed:
1. Whenever a body of men desires to form a Home Guard organization, such body will apply to The Adjutant General of the State for blank muster rolls, and all men desiring membership in the organization will subscribe to the oath printed on said muster rolls. Completed muster rolls will be forwarded to The Adjutant General, through the county defense council of the particular county for approval or disapproval. Upon such muster rolls being approved, a license to drill and parade with arms will be issued by the Governor. In all cases the termination of the war will automatically cancel all licenses.
Eligibility for Membership
2. To be eligible for enrollment in a Home Guard organization, a man must be a citizen of the United States, or have declared his intention of becoming a citizen by taking out his first papers. Candidates for enrollment must be between the ages of eighteen and sixty years.
Organization
3. All Home Guards must be formed into companies of not less than forty, nor more than seventy-five men and three officers: provided, that companies may, in the discretion of The Adjutant General, be organized into battalions or regiments with the necessary headquarters personnel, which personnel shall be in addition to the officers and men comprising companies.
4. Each company shall have one first sergeant and such number of sergeants, not to exceed five, as may be required, such number of corporals as may be required, and not to exceed one for each seven privates. Companies will be designated as "First Company," "Second Company," etc., in accordance with the date of the receipt of the muster rolls in the office of The Adjutant General.
Selection of Officers
5. Each company shall have one captain, one first lieutenant and one second lieutenant. These officers shall be elected by the members of the company at a regular or specially called meeting of the organization. Two-thirds of the members shall constitute a quorum and a majority shall elect. The return of the election, with the name, rank and age of each officer-elect shall be forwarded to the County -Council of Defense, which will approve or disapprove the same, and forward the return to the office of The Adjutant General.
6. The officers-elect will attach to such return of election at least two letters from responsible citizens of their community, certifying to the moral character of the officers. Such officers as may be accepted will be issued a certificate by The Adjutant General, designating them as officers of the Home Guard.
7. The officers shall hold office until the license of the company to which they belong is canceled, provided that they may be removed by the Governor for such causes or breaches of discipline for which officers of the National Guard may be removed, or by a two-thirds vote of the company, or by resignation.
8. Headquarters officers will be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of The Adjutant General, and will hold their respective offices at the pleasure of the Governor.
9. All company non-commissioned officers will be appointed by the company commander, either by selection or examination.
Drills
10. Each organization shall hold one drill each week of one and one-half hours' duration. In addition thereto, school for officers and non-commissioned officers will be held once each week. Any organization failing to hold drills for three consecutive weeks shall have its license canceled.
11. Any member of a Home Guard company who fails to report for three consecutive drills, without good and sufficient excuse, will be dropped from the rolls of the organization. Drills will be in accordance with the United States Army Infantry Drill Regulations.
Kind of Organizations
12. Home Guard organizations will be given licenses to drill and parade with arms as infantry companies only, providing that the Governor may at his discretion permit the organization of such bodies of mounted scouts as he may deem necessary.
13. Uniforms or equipment will not be furnished by the State. It is unlawful to use any part of the uniform now used by the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard or the Naval Militia.
14. Organizations desiring to uniform themselves should, when practicable, select a uniform of the following kind: gray trousers, gray sweater or coat and campaign hat.
Liability for Service
15. Whenever the Governor shall deem it necessary for the public safety, he may call into active service of the State such organizations of the Home Guard as he may deem
necessary.
16. The purposes, briefly defined, for which these organizations may be called into the service of the State, are: to repel invasion, to suppress insurrection, or riot, and to prevent destruction of life or property.
17. It is not contemplated that any organization will ever be called into service for an indefinite period of time, nor that an organization will be sent away from its home station, except in case of extreme emergency.
License
18. The Governor may cancel any and all licenses when in his judgment he deems such action to be for the public good.
By order of the Governor:
J. J. BORREE,
The Adjutant General.
the East:
Collar ornaments are of bronze metal, with the addition of the bronze metal cross rifles.
Shoulder ornaments are as follows: Colonel, three silver metal diamonds on each shoulder. Lieutenant Colonel, two silver metal diamonds on each shoulder. Major gilt metal diamond on each shoulder. Captain, three silver or gilt metal discs; 1st Lieutenant, two discs, and 2d Lieutenant, one metal disc. All officers wear the regulation U. S. Army leather puttee. The regulation U. S. Army saber and Garrison Web belt are also worn. Leather saber knot. The original colored plate of this uniform as adopted is at the Headquarters of the First Regiment.
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Suisun | See Suisun Home Guard |
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Woodland | See Woodland Home Guard |
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Santa Rosa | See Santa Rosa Home Guard |
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Alturas | See Alturas Home Guard |
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Eagle Rock | See Eagle Rock Home Guard |
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Ceres | See Ceres Home Guard |
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Sacramento | See Sacramento Home Guard |
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Sacramento | See Sacramento Home Guard |
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Riverside | See Riverside Home Guard |
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Oakland | See Oakland Home Guard |
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Oakland | See Oakland Home Guard |
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Oakland | See Oakland Home Guard |
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Oakland | See Oakland Home Guard |
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Sacramento | See Sacramento Home Guard |
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Westwood | See Westwood Home Guard |
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Healdsburg | See Healdsburg Home Guard |
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Oak Park (Sacramento) | See Sacramento Home Guard |
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Redwood City | See Redwood City Home Guard |
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Santa Maria | See Santa Maria Home Guard |
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Modesto | See the Modesto Home Guard |
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Pasadena | Possibly an African-American company. See the Pasadena Home Guard |
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Madera | See Madera Home Guard |
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Pasadena | See the Pasadena Home Guard |
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Coalinga | See the Coalinga Home Guard |
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Grass Valley | See the Grass Valley Home Guard |
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Turlock | See the Turlock Home Guard |
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Daly City | See the Daly City Home Guard |
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Stockton | No data yet available |
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Hollywood | Also known as the Lasky Home Guard. Commanded famed director Cecil B. DeMille |
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Long Beach | See the Long Beach Home Guard |
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San Francisco | See the San Francisco Home Guard |
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Sunnyvale | See the Sunnyvale Home Guard |
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San Luis Obispo | See the San Luis Obispo Home Guard |
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San Francisco | See San Francisco Home Guard |
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San Francisco | See San Francisco Home Guard |
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San Francisco | See San Francisco Home Guard |
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San Francisco | See San Francisco Home Guard |
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San Francisco | See San Francisco Home Guard |
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Porterville | No data yet available |
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Orange | See Orange Home Guard |
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San Diego | See Cabrillio Rifles |
